Yonkers Insider: New York League of Conservation Voters: Environmental News for May 16th.

 

Here’s what we’re reading this week:

Prioritizing the Environment in the NYC FY23 Budget For the last four months, NYC Council and Administration has been grappling with the task of agreeing on a budget for Fiscal Year 2023. In February, Mayor Adams released his Preliminary Budget, which contained an outline of his priorities and goals for the City. In March, the City Council formally responded to the Mayor’s preliminary budget with a summary of concerns and recommendations to ensure the budget meets the needs of our community. Then, Mayor Adams released the Executive Budget, an updated proposed budget.  Currently, the Council is holding another round of hearings on the budget and will continue to negotiate until passage at the end of June. Read More

Plastic Free Day 2022: NYC schools show support for waste reduction When we think about the impact of plastics on the environment, a few things probably come to mind: plastic bags drifting in the sea, animals tangled in fishing lines, microplastic particles in the soil, a water bottle that will exist on the planet longer than you will. The sheer scale of plastic pollution is almost too much to wrap our heads around, so how can we start to reduce the amount of waste we’re producing? In New York City, some organizations are beginning to work with the younger generations, connecting them with the resources they need to learn about sustainability and waste reduction.    Read More

NYLCV Endorses 18 Candidates Across New York State for Election   The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) announced its second round of endorsements for the 2022 election cycle, supporting 18 candidates for elected office across New York State. Voters care more and more about the environment and fighting climate change. From protecting clean water, clean air and open space, to reducing waste to advocating for clean energy and clean transportation, it is critical that New York voters know which candidates are making the environment a priority.   (NYLCV)

EPR and packaging-reduction bill introduced in New York   The Recycling Partnership, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, the New York League of Conservation Voters and the New York Product Stewardship Council jointly released a statement noting that “with Senator Kaminsky recently advancing EPR legislation (S.1185C) out of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, and Assemblyman Englebright’s introduction of his EPR bill (A 10185), we are urging the legislature and Governor to bring all stakeholders to the table and get a strong, well-designed EPR bill passed and signed into law this year. We have discussed these concepts for years. The time is NOW to empower all New Yorkers with adequate access to recycling.”   (Resource Recycling)

Dozens of Council members, union boss press Adams to make good on parks promise    New York City’s parks may be on the verge of a major staffing shortage, local advocates and city officials are warning, as federally funded positions expire and Mayor Eric Adams prepares to cut overall spending on local green spaces. By the end of next month, the Parks Department will lose roughly 1,800 members of a cleanup corp hired to beautify parks through a one-time infusion of federal stimulus funds. At the same time, the mayor’s latest budget has committed just $600 million to parks for the next fiscal year, a $20 million drop from last year and a far cry from the $1 billion he promised on the campaign trail. As Adams vows to prioritize quality of life concerns, advocates say cuts to park funding could have serious consequences for the city's more than 2,000 green spaces.   (Gothamist)