MAHN Lawmakers Applaud NYC’s Green New Deal
City Council members Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) and Helen Rosenthal (D-Central Park, Lincoln Square), alongside Assembly members Dan Quart (D-Upper East Side, Midtown East), Richard Gottfried (D-Chelsea, Midtown) and Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer yesterday applauded Mayor Bill de Blasio’s announcement of NYC’s New Green Deal. The initiative is a bold and audacious plan to attack global warming on all fronts.
The plan is comprised of $14 billion in new and committed investments, legislation and concrete action at the City level that will ensure a nearly 30 percent additional reduction in emissions by 2030.
The Green New Deal policies are laid out in “OneNYC 2050: Building a Strong and Fair City,” a new, comprehensive plan to prepare our city for the future and leading the way for the nation on how to address the existential threats posed by climate change, economic insecurity, inequity, and rising global intolerance.
“Earth Day is about coming together as a planet and committing to protect our environment, which is why I am so proud this City Council last week took the ambitious step of passing the Climate Mobilization Act, one of the most aggressive legislative mandates any city has ever taken to combat global warming. I am pleased to see that, following last week’s passage of the Climate Mobilization Act, the Administration is expanding these measures to further reduce the effects of climate change in the city. I look forward to working with the Mayor to implement these measures,” said Johnson.
“This legislation and policies implemented by the de Blasio administration will set world-wide standards for cutting emissions while creating good-paying jobs. These efforts are critical to achieving environmental, social, and economic sustainability,” said Rosenthal.
“People around the world are already experiencing the devastating effects of climate change, but the worst is yet to come. With the federal government refusing to take serious action, cities like New York are rising up to the challenge of addressing the most pressing issue of our time,” said Quart.
“Once again, New York City is taking the lead. We’ll show America how to take strong action to protect our planet from the catastrophic effects of global warming,” said Gottfried.
“Climate change is an existential threat, and I thank Mayor de Blasio for accelerating plans to reduce waste and carbon-intensive consumption. The Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board, of which I appoint members to, is looking forward to working with the administration to reach these important goals,” said Brewer.
Brewer Sues Mayor, NYCHA Over Plan For Holmes Towers
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer this week sued Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) over the plan for the Holmes Towers.
The mayor is currently planning to bring in a private developer to put together a mixed-income housing project on First Avenue and 97th Street, without going through the Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP). The news comes a week after Brewer threatened to sue the city over the controversial plan.
State public housing law requires that localities follow a standard approval process. In New York City, ULURP is a standardized procedure whereby applications affecting the land use of the city would be publicly reviewed.
“So far NYCHA and the Mayor are circumventing it on behalf of a building that would violate current zoning for the land. I’ve filed a lawsuit against Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYCHA demanding that the plan for Holmes Towers Infill development on First Avenue and 93rd Street be subject to the City’s Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP) as required by the state public housing law,” said Brewer.
“It’s undemocratic and unlawful. If this development undergoes ULURP, I’m confident the results would turn out even better for NYCHA than a plan cooked up behind closed doors and then merely announced as a fait accompli,” added Brewer.
Nadler Issues Subpoena For Former White House Counsel Don McGahn
House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn) yesterday issued a subpoena to former White House Counsel Donald F. McGahn II for testimony and documents related to the Committee’s ongoing investigation into obstruction of justice, public corruption and other abuses of power by President Donald Trump, his associates and members of his Administration.
Donald Francis McGahn II i served as White House Counsel for U.S. President Donald Trump, from the day of his inauguration through October 17, 2018, a critical time period investigated under the report. The subpoena comes just four days following the release of the redacted Special Counsel Robert Mueller report. The 448-page report is split into two volumes. Volume I deals with the investigation into collaboration (“collusion”) between Russia and the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election. Volume II addresses whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice while in office.
The House Judiciary Committee is seeking public testimony from Mr. McGahn, who is a critical witness to many of the alleged instances of obstruction of justice and other misconduct described in the Special Counsel’s report.
“The Special Counsel’s report, even in redacted form, outlines substantial evidence that President Trump engaged in obstruction and other abuses. It now falls to Congress to determine for itself the full scope of the misconduct and to decide what steps to take in the exercise of our duties of oversight, legislation and constitutional accountability,” said Nadler.
“…the Committee has now asked for documents from Mr. McGahn by May 7, and to hear from him in public on May 21. Mr. McGahn is a critical witness to many of the alleged instances of obstruction of justice and other misconduct described in the Mueller report. His testimony will help shed further light on the President’s attacks on the rule of law, and his attempts to cover up those actions by lying to the American people and requesting others do the same,” added Nadler.
Chin Bill To Enact Fee On Disposable bags Passes As Part of NYC’s Green New Deal
City Council members Margaret Chin (D-Battery Park City, Chinatown) and Brad Lander’s (D-Brooklyn) legislation to include a 5-cent fee on disposable single use bags not covered by the state’s recent agreement to ban plastic bags passed the City Council last week.
Intro 1527, sponsored by Council Members Margaret Chin and Brad Lander, will drive a significant reduction in single-use bag waste – especially waste from paper bags, which are not covered under the state’s ban.
Chin and Lander’s legislation is part of City Council’s effort to reduce waste and combat disastrous effects of climate change. The NYC Department of Sanitation estimates that New Yorkers use about 30,000 tons of paper bags every year. Of those discarded bags, only 25 percent are recycled. Furthermore, the manufacture of paper bags and transportation of paper bag waste produces significant water and ground level air pollution – with low-income communities experiencing the worst effects.
The legislation exempts New Yorkers on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) who use an Electronic Benefits Card.
“This legislation to dramatically reduce paper bag waste will ensure that clogged storm drains, polluted waterways and parkland riddled with non-biodegradable bag waste will be a part of New York City’s past – not its future. While our efforts to create a greener, more resilient City are far from being finished, I am heartened by the process we have been able to make by working together,” said Chin.
