Tullytown has been the major dumping site of New York City’s waste for many years. About 8,600-tons-per-day are daily transported to the site! Due to poor waste management, Tullytown has experienced complications such as the release of toxic leachate into the environment and the possible import of radioactive sludge. This page elaborates upon the complexity of the problem and offers solutions.

—–

The Easy Way Out Is Not The “Greener” Way

This Op-Ed would appear in a newspaper like the New York Times. The Times targets a more educated audience and encourages the readership of such people. The audience of this particular piece, with emphasis on the environment, would largely include students (especially university students), environmentalists, and people who have influence over policy issues.

New York City utterly fails in maintaining an environmentally friendly position when it comes to waste disposal. Where exactly is this failure evident? The city seems to relinquish itself of its waste efficiently with its routine street cleaning and sanitation truck pick-ups. Everything seems to be fine as there is no urgency in policy reform. This efficiency, however, is all an illusion masked by the tangible environmental destruction of Tullytown, Philadelphia, the city’s major dumping site. Not even the infamous stereotypes of Staten Island as a major dumping site compare to the situation in Tullytown.
Tullytown was once a simple town with a still significantly lower population density than New York City. Immediate change took place when it was chosen as the largest waste-importing site by the largest waste-exporter of interstate trash. Today, the town has two landfills, one 10,000 ton-per-day site, and the other an 8,600-ton-per-day site. The sublime ten stories high major landfill clearly shows that New York City is solving its own waste problem in a “greener” way by taking away all of the “green” in Tullytown.
A major problem of the waste-exporting site is the heavily polluted rainwater that persistently seeps out. The expertise of local sewage authorities and the National Waste is to blame because an operational plan, to eliminate all of the rainwater trickling down through the dump and siphoned out of the bottom as leachate, still has not been implemented. This water is laced with chemicals from beverages to household cleaners and roadway oils. Traces of ammonia alone in the leachate are so significant that the compound is siphoned off in commercial amounts!
How exactly is this problem being combated? Since 1988, Waste Management seemed to be handling all of the major issues. The program oversees two landfills, a recycling center, and a waste-to-energy plant; some “green” seems to be maintained in this regard. In addition to handling the waste problem, the program provides $5000 to 2,100 taxpayers by fees from the dump. The town gathered a surplus of $54 million and used much of this money to provide itself with a new fire truck, more jobs in law enforcement, new luxury homes, and an elaborate Borough Hall. With such accelerated development, the waste issue seemed to disappear.
Then, in 2008, a plan was initiated to bring radioactive sludge from New York City to Tullytown. It seemed the landfill site would soon glow green. A new and more devastating problem was introduced. Approved by state and federal regulators, more than 50 truckloads of sludge laced with radioactive material from the uniforms of nuclear plant workers were on the way. All of a sudden, urgency in policy reform was advocated. Tullytown began to fight against the new plan. According to Council President Ed Armstrong, the major concern was leakage of radioactive material into the Delaware River, which was a source of drinking water. Reports sent by Waste Management stated the nuclear dump plan clearly. The only problem was that the small report was overlooked because of a 30-foot stack of other reports. Regardless, the problem was clear. New York City opted to strip more “green” from Tullytown.
Fortunately, for Tullytown, land for dumping waste is now scarce. Within less than 5 years, there will no longer be any space to dump more waste. The town will have lost its source of pollution and unfortunately, wealth. On the other hand, this new situation makes it easier for Tullytown to argue against the radioactive waste management plan.
What are alternatives to waste storage that would prevent another tragedy like Tullytown? Rather than focusing on storing waste, cities should divert their efforts to sustainability. Waste must be reused or recycled back into resources; a close-ended loop should be the focus here. If impossible to reuse and recycle, the next priority must be to reduce the volume of waste. This can be done through incinerating waste in order to extract and utilize all its potential energy. Composting is another, better alternative because it causes the accelerated decomposition of the organic matter of waste. Whatever the case is, storage in landfills must be of lowest priority.
With Tullytown out of the way, where will New York City next dump its trash? Who will be bribed by the city into housing its waste? It’s important to note the ecological issues involved before accepting such a bribe. Yes, Tullytown was able to thrive economically but the damaged environment ultimately limited its growth. The town wanted to build ski slopes over its landfill mounds but heat from processed waste underground prevented this. Trees could not even be grown over the site because roots would damage containment barriers. Such an artificial environment could sustain only fake trees. The lesson learned here is landfills are not a “greener” solution.

Editorial

Environmental Change: A Matter of Justice

Dr. Spiro D. Alexandratos, Professor of Chemistry

A glance at any given day’s headlines is enough to tell you that the environment is in crisis. Global warming gets most of the attention, and deservedly so: we throw 30 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year, much of it from the burning of fossil fuels. Anyone who thinks you can throw 30 billion tons of anything anywhere and not have an effect is sadly mistaken. The effect of global warming on the glaciers and the Arctic / Antarctic ecosystems is well known. Perhaps less well known is that the oceans absorb about 22 million tons of CO2 each day. This causes a change in the acidity of the oceans and since marine ecosystems have adapted to a particular acidity over the millennia, any change that occurs over the space of a few decades can be catastrophic to their existence. In early 2009, 155 ocean scientists from 26 countries issued the Monaco Declaration which said, in part: “We are deeply concerned by recent, rapid changes in ocean chemistry and their potential, within decades, to severely affect marine organisms. … Increasing acidity and related changes in seawater chemistry also affect reproduction, behavior, and general physiological function of some marine organisms, such as oysters, sea urchin, and squid.”

This is only one of the numerous environmental issues that need to be addressed. Also important are the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico (currently at 8800 square miles), desertification due to the destruction of forests (worldwide, expanding deserts make approximately 30 million acres useless for cultivation every year), the deforestation of the Amazon, the pollution of Rio de Janeiro and its bay, overfishing in the world’s oceans, and the problem of garbage (in 2004, American households generated 236 million tons of garbage of which 164 million tons were simply thrown away – but thrown away where?).

These issues raise ethical questions about who we are and how we should interact with the environment. It is simply not sustainable for us to pollute the environment as we continue to consume a huge proportion of the Earth’s resources. There is a need for a change in our basic values; one set of values are summarized by the moral imperatives put forth by the Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess under the heading “Deep Ecology.”
The purpose of this website is to bring these issues to light for education and discussion. It is only by educating ourselves that we can hope to change our behavior in a way that recognizes our role in the survival of the Earth and, not coincidentally, ourselves. The issues are not new. Earth Day began in the 1970’s, which is as distant to us today as World War II was to the generation of young people that took part in the first Earth Day. Yet what is different now is that the time for talk is past. We either work to change how we interact with the environment or there will be nothing left with which to interact. The changes we will have made will be irreversible and we will have no hope of adapting.

There are signs of change: plaNYC is a good beginning for New York City; a Zero Waste Policy is receiving serious attention, especially in San Francisco; socially responsible investing sends the message that while profits matter, they are not all that matter.

Environmental issues are complex and we invite you to browse through this website and make it a springboard for your own individual activities. We invite your contributions through blogging and through the writing of articles. What have you done? What are you willing to do to change the direction of yourself, your family, your friends, your community?
We mustn’t be so comfortable with how things are that we find no incentive to change: the long term consequences are real and they are dire. Now is the time to change. Now is the time to implement a new set of values. Be informed, understand the options, then act.

Complexity is not an excuse for inaction.

Feature Article

Up and Down With Ecology – The “Issue-Attention Cycle” Article

Further Articles of Interest

An Abstract of Tragedy Article

The Tragedy of the Commons Article

The Issue-Attention Cycle Synopsis

]]> http://macaulay.cuny.edu/eportfolios/thegreenerapple/2009/02/23/197/feed/ 0 http://macaulay.cuny.edu/eportfolios/thegreenerapple/2008/12/11/progress-of-the-land-brownfield-initiatives-of-planyc/ http://macaulay.cuny.edu/eportfolios/thegreenerapple/2008/12/11/progress-of-the-land-brownfield-initiatives-of-planyc/#comments Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:28:11 +0000 greenerapple http://macaulay.cuny.edu/eportfolios/thegreenerapple/?p=106 Land – Brownfields – Initiative 1– Adopt on-site testing to streamline the cleanup process–
OER
Triad pilots are underway.

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/downloads/pdf/one_year_status_report_scorecard.pdf]

Land – Brownfields – Initiative 2– Create remediation guidelines for New York City cleanups–
OER
There’s really no news here, but the PlaNYC report from April 2008 has a bit to say on it. Report is linked below

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/downloads/pdf/one_year_status_report_scorecard.pdf]

Land – Brownfields – Initiative 3– Establish a City office to promote brownfield planning and redevelopment–
OLTPS
The OER, Office of Environmental Remediation was just created June 2008 to deal with brownfield planning testing, and cleanup.
The milestone for the end of 2009 is actually to establish and fully staff an office.

[http://www.observer.com/2008/city-makes-new-office-brownfield-cleanup]

Land – Brownfields – Initiative 4– Expand participation in the current State Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP)–
OLTPS
The city proposed a few things, but nothing has been done.

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/downloads/pdf/one_year_status_report_scorecard.pdf]

Land – Brownfields – Initiative 5– Create a City Program to oversee all additional cleanups–
There was a proposal, but also nothing has been done.

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/downloads/pdf/one_year_status_report_scorecard.pdf]

Land – Brownfields – Initiative 6 – Provide incentives to lower costs of remediation–
There’s really no news here either, but the PlaNYC report from April 2008 has a bit to say on it. Report is linked below

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/downloads/pdf/one_year_status_report_scorecard.pdf]

Land – Brownfields – Initiative 7 – Encourage the State to release community-based redevelopment grants–
NYS DEC/OLTPS
This initiative has been completed. The MOU was signed, releasing funds for Brownfield Opportunity Areas.

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/downloads/pdf/one_year_status_report_scorecard.pdf]

Land – Brownfields – Initiative 8 – Provide incentive to participate in Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) planning–
NYS DEC/OLTPS

There’s really no news here either, but the PlaNYC report from April 2008 has a bit to say on it. Report is linked below

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/downloads/pdf/one_year_status_report_scorecard.pdf]

Land – Brownfields – Initiative 9 – Launch outreach efforts to educate communities about brownfield development–
OER
There’s really no news here either, but the PlaNYC report from April 2008 has a bit to say on it. Report is linked below

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/downloads/pdf/one_year_status_report_scorecard.pdf]

Land – Brownfields – Initiative 10 – Create a database of historic uses across New York City to identify potential brownfields–
OER
There’s really no news here either, but the PlaNYC report from April 2008 has a bit to say on it. Report is linked below

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/downloads/pdf/one_year_status_report_scorecard.pdf]

Land – Brownfields – Initiative 11 – Limit liability of property owners who see to redevelop brownfields–
OER
There’s really no news here either, but the PlaNYC report from April 2008 has a bit to say on it. Report is linked below

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/downloads/pdf/one_year_status_report_scorecard.pdf]

Overall, the Office of Environmental Remediation is relatively new, since it was created in June 2008, and is not yet fully established nor fully staffed. This means that progress in the Brownfield initiatives is going to be delayed, and that there won’t be much progress for a while.

[http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2007b%2Fpr223-07.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1]
[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/press_releases/press_releases.php?id=20291]

Land – Open Space – Initiative 2 – Increase options for competitive athletes –
DPR (Department of Park and Recreation)
The DPR has been renovating and opening a few recreation centers in the city. The J.J. Walker Park and Tony Depaulito Recreation Center started currently undergoing renovation in June 2008. A new soccer field has also been completed and opened this July in Bloomingdale Park. In August, the West Bronx Recreation Center Ballfield also opened up. Renovation started on Van Cortlandt Park’s Parade Ground in October.
The milestone for the end of 2009 is to open fields up for community use on 43 fields. The number of parks opened is a pretty good handful, and there’re more that opened up that aren’t listed here. Check out the DPR’s pressroom linked before for more.

[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/press_releases/press_releases.php?id=20412]
[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/press_releases/press_releases.php?id=20482]
[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/press_releases/press_releases.php?id=20562]
[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/press_releases/press_releases.php?id=20682]
[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/press_releases/press_releases.php]

Land – Open Space – Initiative 3 – Complete underdeveloped destination parks –
DPR (Department of Park and Recreation)
Tompkinsville Park and the Seaside Nature Park reopened in Staten Island. The Floating Pool in Baretto Park opened up earlier this year in June.
The DPR is aiming to complete community outreach and designs for all regional parks by the end of 2009. They also aim to fulfill the potential of at least one major undeveloped park site in every borough. The DPR is doing a pretty good job so far, again there are more renovations and openings posted in the DPR’s website press room.
[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/press_releases/press_releases.php?id=20783]
[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/press_releases/press_releases.php?id=20472]
[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/press_releases/press_releases.php?id=20432]

Land – Open Space – Initiative 4 – Provide more multi-purpose fields –
DPR (Department of Park and Recreation)
Manida Park in Hunt’s point has been renovated with more multipurpose fields. The new soccer field in Bloomingdale Park also shows off new turf, replacing the previous asphalt fields. St. Michael’s Park also has a new turf-field.
The milestone for the end of 2009 is to complete development of all proposed multi-purpose fields. It’s not certain which are all the proposed multi-purpose fields, but the DPR is constantly starting renovation on parks, or opening newly renovated parks, which is excellent.

[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/press_releases/press_releases.php?id=20602]
[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/press_releases/press_releases.php?id=20482]
[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/media_advisories/media_advisories.php?id=20728]

Land – Open Space – Initiative 5 – Install new lighting –
DPR (Department of Park and Recreation)
According to the DPR, 36 sites could do with field lighting. One of the places with newly installed lights is Kaiser Park, but otherwise, in most of the press releases, it is left unsaid whether field lights were installed or not.
The goal for the end of 2009 is to install lights on all proposed areas.

[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/planyc/fieldlighting.html]
[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/media_advisories/media_advisories.php?id=20132]

Land – Open Space – Initiative 6 – Create or enhance a public plaza in every community –
DOT (Department of Transportation)
The DOT started a NYC Plaza Program to help identify new potential plazas. In 2006, plans began for a plaza in Downtown Brooklyn. The Grand Army Plaza also started undergoing construction in October 2007.
The milestone for the end of 2009 is to continue development of identified plaza initiatives, and to identify potential new plazas. With the new NYC Plaza Program, this initiative is progressing excellently.

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/sidewalks/publicplaza.shtml]
[http://home2.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pr2006/pr06_17.shtml]
[http://home2.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pr2007/pr07_90.shtml]

Land – Open Space – Initiative 7 – Green the cityscape. –
DPR (Department of Park and Recreation)
At the end of October 2008, 111,111 trees were planted. In November, New Yorkers planted 15,000 more trees. The city is also aiming to have 240 more Greenstreets by the end of 2009.
The city was only aiming to plant 15,000 trees a year for a milestone. The city has surpassed its milestone for this year. How awesome is that? On the other hand, it’s not clear which Greenstreets were newly added, since the DPR website hasn’t really updated its Greenstreets statistics since 2001.

[http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2008b%2Fpr426-08.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1]
[http://www.milliontreesnyc.org/html/newsroom/pr_dig_in_110808.shtml]
[http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/trees_greenstreets.html]

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/about/pr091007.shtml]
[http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2008/04/08/2008-04-08_airport_village_in_jamaica_queens.html]
[http://www.observer.com/2008/real-estate/be-very-very-scared-coney-island-without-rezoning-warns-city-0]
[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/coney_island/index.shtml]

Land – Housing – Initiative 2 – Reclaim underutilized waterfronts –
DCP (Department of City Planning)
The DCP has one proposal and one study up on their website, both are linked below; one proposal for the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, and one study for the East River’s Manhattan waterfront. There are no proposals or studies for the East River’s Astoria waterfront up on the site.
The milestone for this initiative by the end of 2009 is also, “complete current Administration agenda for rezonings and land use study.” Nothing physically has been done yet, but it sounds like they’re only aiming to get the planning out of the way by the end of 2009.

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/gowanus/index.shtml]
[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/erw/index.shtml]

Land – Housing – Initiative 3 – Increase transit options to spur development –
MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority)/OLTPS (Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability)/DOT (Department of Transportation)
The MTA and DOT introduced a Select Bus Service (SBS) lanes on 34th street in Manhattan from 1st avenue to 11th avenue, and also on Fordham Road in the Bronx. Additional SBS bus lanes were to be introduced if congestion pricing came through in June 2008. It did not.
The end of 2009 milestone for this initiative is to “implement increased transit options including BRT to spur development.” So far, BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) has only been utilized only in two places in the city. We don’t know if it’s spurring any development, but it’s certainly good progress! 34th street is incredibly congested, and SBS means not having to wait for everyone in line to pay the bus fare one at a time.

[http://www.mta.info/mta/planning/sbs/]
[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot///html/pr2008/pr08_038.shtml]
[http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2008a%2Fpr101-08.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1]

Land – Housing – Initiative 4 – Expand co-locations with government agencies –
DCAS (Department of Citywide Administrative Services) /HPD (Department of Housing Preservation and Development)
There’s a proposal out to develop a city-owned location in South Bronx for housing and city administrative services
Milestone for the end of 2009 is “Create database of City, State, and Federal land for co-location opportunities and housing.” It’s not clear how the city’s doing this, but from the way initiative 5 is going, it seems to be working a bit.

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/pr2008/pr-10-02-08.shtml]
[http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/downloads/pdf/New-Housing-Market-Place-Plan.pdf]

Land – Housing – Initiative 5 – Adapt outdated buildings to new uses –
DCP (Department of City Planning)/ HPD (Department of Housing Preservation and Development)
1000 Units are preserved for affordable housing for seniors. In Park Slope, where a city-owned parking lot used to be, ground was broken to build a 49 residential studio unit for formerly homeless people.
What is the end of 2009 milestone goal? Use database to identify and execute on initial sites. Considering that plaNYC is aiming to have 6000 units by 2013, 1049 units in one year isn’t bad, even though construction has only started on 49 of them. It’s looking pretty good.

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/pr2008/pr-04-30-08.shtml]
[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/home.html]
[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/erw/index.shtml]
[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/supermarket/index.shtml]
[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/west_shore/index.shtml]

Land – Housing – Initiative 7 – Capture the potential of transportation infrastructure investments –
DCP (Department of City Planning)
The DCP is aiming to “identify rezoning opportunities that arise with new transit projects by the end of 2015.” There’s no study up on the DCP website regarding this initiative.
Considering that the economy isn’t faring too well, and the 2nd avenue subway line is still far from being complete, nothing really can be studied yet.

Land – Housing – Initiative 8 – Deck over railyards, rail lines, and highways –
DCP (Department of City Planning)
The end of 2009 milestone is to “identify which railyards, rail lines, and highways coincide with sustainable development and have capacity for anticipated growth.”
Browsing through the DCP websites, it doesn’t seem they really have identified any of these areas. Perhaps there aren’t any that qualify.

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/home.html]

Land – Housing – Initiative 9 – Develop new financing strategies –
HPD (Department of Housing Preservation and Development)
The HPD’s Housing Trust Fund requires 20% of units to be affordable to households that either earn below or above $20,000-$40,000 per year to be eligible for funding.
The milestone for the end of 2009 is to create the Mayor’s New Housing Marketplace Plan to build 165,000 units of affordable housing. Progress is not bad here; the plan has been created, and it funds 82,500 units, which is halfway of next year’s milestone.

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/pr2008/pr-09-30-08.shtml]
[http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/pr2008/pr-09-23-08.shtml]

Land – Housing – Initiative 10 – Expand inclusionary zoning –
HPD (Department of Housing Preservation and Development)
The last time the HPD had anything up on inclusionary zoning was in 2006. In Maspeth-Woodside Rezoning, the Inclusionary Housing Program helped create affordable housing. In Greenpoint-Williamsburg, ground was broken to start construction on affordable housing, also under inclusionary zoning.
The milestone for the end of 2009 is to “pursue inclusionary zoning in all appropriate rezonings initiated and reviewed by the city.” It’s not clear where the city is still doing this currently.

[http://home2.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/pr2006/05-25-06.shtml]
[http://home2.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/pr2006/pr-06-26-06.shtml]

Land – Housing – Initiative 11 – Encourage homeownership –
HPD (Department of Housing Preservation and Development)
It’s not clear what the city is doing to encourage homeownership currently, but the milestone for the end of 2009 is also to create the Mayor’s New Housing Marketplace Plan to build 165,000 units of affordable housing. The plan has been created, and it funds 82,500 units, which is again, halfway of next year’s milestone.

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/pr2008/pr-09-23-08.shtml]

Land – Housing – Initiative 12 – Preserve existing stock of affordable housing through New York City –
HPD (Department of Housing Preservation and Development)
The Phoenix Estates in the Bronx was foreclosed, but the city stepped in, and now the rental buildings are being rehabilitated to house 125 families. This occured just earlier this month.
Again, the milestone for the end of 2009 is also to create the Mayor’s New Housing Marketplace Plan to build 165,000 units of affordable housing. The plan has been created, and it funds 82,500 units, which is yet again, halfway of next year’s milestone.

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/pr2008/pr-12-05-08.shtml]
[http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/pr2008/pr-09-23-08.shtml]

5) Air

Reduce road vehicle emissions

· Capture the air quality benefits of our transportation plan

The PlaNYC self-report card directs readers to transportation.

· Improve fuel efficiency of private cars

In February 2008, a State Senator and an Assemblyman introduced the hybrid sales tax legislation to the State Assembly; according to the report card, the City was to seek approval by the end of June. There has been no news since then.

· Reduce emissions from taxis, black cars, and for-hire vehicles

o http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/31/judge-blocks-hybrid-taxi-requirement/?scp=1&sq=PlaNYC&st=cse

A city judge blocked Mayor Bloomberg’s effort to force the taxi industry to convert all taxis to hybrids by 2012. He stated that his decision was based on the fact that the taxi corporations were likely to succeed in their key argument, that the new city regulations had to give way before federal law, which gives the right to regulation fuel economy and emissions standards to federal agencies.

o green “black cars” -http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2008a%2Fpr067-08.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1

In February 2008, Mayor Bloomberg announced that the TLC would require black cars to be hybrid cars, in an effort to increase fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

o http://www.nypost.com/seven/08172008/news/regionalnews/parking_rule_puts_city_eco_effort_in_rev_124803.htm

This New York Post article, dated August 17^th, reports that a policy requiring new housing developments to build off-street parking would increase emissions, not lower them, and that these emissions would offset the “greening” of taxis.

· Replace, retrofit, and refuel diesel trucks

o http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/48621.html

On Halloween, the state gave diesel truck drivers and owners a fright. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced a joint venture with the NYCDEP to cut down on the health impacts that idling, air-polluting diesel trucks and buses have. The DEC plans to regularly, but unannouncedly, engage in enforcement actions in areas where truck traffic is heavy. If a truck has visible plumes of exhaust, it will be pulled over.

· enforcing air quality

o http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2008/2008-11-11-091.asp

o http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/mta-shows-off-new-hybrid-buses/

The first article above is essentially a restatement of the DEC announcement; the second article talks about new hybrid buses, the first of which are being introduced into service this year, and the last order of which will be put into service in 2010.

· Decrease school bus emissions

o http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/48621.html

Reduce other transportation emissions

· Retrofit ferries and promote use of cleaner fuels

According to the PlaNYC self-report card, The DOT has retrofitted three ferries with pollution control equipment, and as of October 2007, a fourth was to go into dry dock to undergo the same process. In February 2008, the retrofit plan was incorporated into Local Law 3, which the Mayor signed. The city also began to fuel ferries using ULSD and B5.

· Seek to partner with the Port Authority to reduce emissions from Port facilities

o http://www.panynj.gov/abouttheportauthority/presscenter/pressreleases/PressRelease/index.php?id=1049

The Port Authority released plans in March 2008 to be totally carbon-neutral by 2010, by reducing emissions and having carbon offsets.

· Reduce emission from construction vehicles

No news is not goods news.

Reduce emissions from buildings

· Capture the air quality benefits of our energy plan

As in PlaNYC, see the energy initiative.

· Promote the use of cleaner burning heating fuels

o Order signed requiring lower greenhouse gas emissions – http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2007b%2Fpr383-07.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1

o Legislation signed requiring ultra-low diesel fuel to be used by city ferries – http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2008a%2Fpr058-08.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/news/lowsulfur.shtml

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/ll77.pdf – amendment

o 11/28/08 – climate protection act – http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/city-moves-to-put-parking-regulations-online/?scp=5&sq=planyc&st=cse

Pursue natural solutions to improve air quality

· Capture the benefits of our open space plan

o Summer Streets – http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/nyregion/10closed.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=summer%20streets&st=cse

· Reforest targeted areas of our parkland

According to the PlaNYC self-report card, the process has been started, with 100,000 trees having been planted. The number of acres to date was not noted, although the initiative calls for 2,000 acres of reforested land.

· Increase tree plantings on lots

o 11/28/07 – Canopy trees, greening, required for parking lots
[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/parking_lots/index.shtml]
[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/parking_lots/index.shtml]

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/northernblvd_presentation.pdf

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/vernonblvd_gallery.pdf

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/hillsideave_presentation.pdf

o http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/politics/88069/mayor-praises-tree-planting-at-harlem-school/Default.aspx

On October 29^th, 2008, NY1 reported that trees had been planted at P.S. 155, in East Harlem, and that 100,000 of the planned 1 million trees had been planted so far.

Understand the scope of the challenge

14. Launch collaborative local air quality study

· http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8545.html

According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, New York is already working with other Northeastern states to improve visibility under the haze issue. Otherwise, there has been no new information on the subject.

3) Transportation

Build and expand transit infrastructure

· Increase capacity on key congested routes

o http://www.nypost.com/seven/11202008/news/regionalnews/bus_passengers_told_to_take_a_walk_139689.htm

o http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/10/2008-11-10_mta_cuts_draconian_12b__rising_-4.html

With the nation and the city in the throes of an economic crisis, the MTA has been considering service cuts to both bus and train lines. The Post and Daily News articles are just two among many local newspapers covering the possible MTA decisions. Both this initiative and “expand transit access to underserved areas” will suffer during the next few years, with little that can be talked about until the economy turns around. There is talk that the Second Avenue line construction would be further delayed because of the current economic climate.

· Provide new commuter rails access to Manhattan

o http://www.mta.info/capconstr/esas/

The East Side Access project, according to the MTA, “will connect the Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) Main and Port Washington lines in Queens to a new LIRR terminal beneath Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.” So far, contracting is still underway, but the first tunnel of the project has been completed.

· Expand transit access to underserved areas

Improve transit service on existing infrastructure

· Improved and expand bus service

· 3/25/08 – NEW MTA SELECT BUS SERVICE (SBS) SYSTEM –
On going [http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2008a%2Fpr101-08.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1]

· 3/20/08 – NEW EXPRESS BUS ROUTE TO BE DEPLOYED, IF CONGESTION PRICING PASSES -
Failure. [http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2008a%2Fpr095-08.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1]

· http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/bse_map.pdf

As of August 21^st, 2007, 6 of 42 Bus Stop under the Elevated lines have been completed. They are a part of the Safe Routes to Transit program, and exist to improve safety and circulation in these spots.

· http://www.nypost.com/seven/11202008/news/regionalnews/bus_passengers_told_to_take_a_walk_139689.htm

· http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/10/2008-11-10_mta_cuts_draconian_12b__rising_-4.html

As stated previously, budget cuts and the economic crisis make this initiative hard to complete and may possibly freeze any progress for now.

· Improve local commuter rail service

o http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/18/2008-11-18_mtas_planned_cuts_include_everything_fro-2.html

o http://www.nypost.com/seven/10252008/news/regionalnews/nyc_transits_snails_on_rails_135190.htm

As stated previously, budget cuts and the economic crisis make this initiative hard to complete and may possibly freeze any progress for now.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/ssi_map.pdf

As of August 21^st, 2007, 3 of 23 planned subway-sidewalk interface stations have been completed. Like the BSEs, they are a part of the Safe Routes to Transit Program, and they will improve safety and relieve congestion in the spots they are constructed.

· Improve access to existing transit

o October 10 – 16^th, 2008 – http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_284/fultontransit.html

As of October 16^th, 2008, the planned Fulton Street transit station is “over budget and behind schedule”, but the MTA has not yet provided any timetable as to how it plans to proceed.

· Address congested areas around the city

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/hansonpl_3ave.pdf

In Brooklyn, the DOT has made improvements to Hanson Place and Third Avenue, converting Hanson Place to a two-way street, constructed a median on Flatbush Avenue, and closed an uncontrolled slip from Flatbush/4^th Ave. They have also installed temporary multi-way crosswalk signals on Hanson Place, at St. Felix Place, and constructed Greenstreets at Fulton and South Oxford Streets.

o http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/urbanite/blog/2008/10/broadway_third_avenue_deadlies.html

Pedestrian fatalities have fallen on Third Avenue and Broadway, from 2005 to 2007, thanks to city efforts that have attempted to make streets safer for pedestrians.

o http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/urbanite/blog/2008/10/discount_buses_pose_an_idle_th.html

Discount buses in Chinatown and throughout the city are busy clogging city streets, blocking fire hydrants, bus stops, and traffic. The city has begun to take action against companies that are especially egregious in their idling, but other buses still idle on.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/dekalbave_cbpresentation.pdf

This particular news ties in with making the city a more cyclist-friendly place; work has been done on Dekalb and Willoughby Avenues, as well as several intersecting avenues. These improvements have increased cycling space, improved intersection safety for cars, pedestrians, and cyclists, calmed traffic and maintained a proper flow, and provided safe access to these streets.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/hellskitchen.shtml

The city is collecting traffic data in Hell’s Kitchen, from West 29^th Street to West 55^th Street, between 8^th avenue and Route 9A to the west. As of the moment, the city is analyzing the conditions within Hell’s Kitchen in order to make it a safer neighborhood for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. It is also working to reduce traffic congestion.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/grandst_cb_pres.pdf

As of March 2008, the city was planning to create “green refuge islands” at Clinton and Pitt Streets, as well as Bialystoker Place, all on Grand Street. There is a large senior population, and there is a school nearby; therefore, the main purpose of this plan is to increase the safety of the streets.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/mnbridgeareachinatown.pdf

As of July 2007, the city was attempting to make a wide swath of Chinatown, bounded by the Bowery to the west, Allen Street to the east, Division Street to the south, and Hester Street to the north. With three schools in the neighborhood and many seniors, improvements with an eye towards pedestrian safety were looked at carefully.

Promote other substantial modes

· Expand ferry service

o 5/5/08 – City creates subsidized ferry service between Far Rockaway and Manhattan – http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/05/ferry-service-for-6-from-far-rockaway/?scp=52&sq=PlaNYC&st=cse; http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2008a%2Fpr163-08.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1

· Promote cycling

o http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/commuter-cycling-is-soaring-city-says/

10/30/08 – The city announced that the number of cyclists has risen by as much as 35% between 2007 and 2008. The data, according to the article, is “suggestive, not definitive”, but city officials “believe the trend to be genuine”.

o http://nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/installsched.shtml

o http://www.nypost.com/seven/11142008/news/regionalnews/street_plans_make_apple_big_squeezy_138645.htm

By mid-year 2008, 70.6 miles of bike lane over the five boroughs had been added; by November 2008, 48.7 miles had been added to that number, meaning that as of last month, 119.3 new bike lane miles have been added to New York City.

o http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/115215

o http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5imJlY8QsUZi2RKlHorqZi8YSwCYwD94CKMO81

As of November 10^th, 2008, the city is considering regulations that will require new buildings to have locked bike rooms, in order to promote and facilitate cycling.

o http://www.nypost.com/seven/06072008/news/regionalnews/mayor__id_ban_bikes_on_subway_114393.htm

This is just an interesting tidbit from the Post; the mayor, who has been perhaps the biggest advocate of cycling, said that he would ban bikes on the subway, saying that “it might be too crowded”. He also added that he had no control over the matter, and was just offering his opinion; still, an interesting note.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/HUB_Bronx_08.pdf

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/bronxhub_gallery.pdf

This DOT plan has made East 149^th Street, between Willis, Third, and Melrose Avenues more bike friendly, as well as make the area generally more safer in terms of transit. The second link shows the completed improvements.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/9thave.pdf

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/9thavecomp.pdf

From West 23^rd Street to West 31^st Street, on 9^th Avenue, the city will create a fully protected bike path. Improvements to make the avenue more welcoming to pedestrians and safer for all forms of transportation will also be included in the plan; the entire thing was supposed to have been completed in November, but there is no news as to whether or not it has been officially completed. The city is planning the same project for West 16^th to West 23^rd Street on 9^th Ave.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/8thave.pdf

The city is also working on 8^th avenue, from Bank Street to 23^rd Street, in order to make it more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly. Like on 9^th Avenue, the city will be building a fully protected bike path, creating “pedestrian refuges”, and building conflict-free crosswalks. This plan was also supposed to have been completed in November, but there has been no official declaration of its completion.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/clarendonpresentation.pdf

The city has a similar plan in Brooklyn, on Clarendon Ave., between Flatbush Ave. and Bedford Ave. The plan calls for reducing lane width, which will reduce speeds, improving bicycle access by marking lanes, and calming traffic, which will make the avenue safer for pedestrians. The plan was supposed to have been fully implemented in “spring 2008”.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/106stpres.pdf

Another street under consideration for the above treatment is 106^th Street, between Central Park West and Riverside Drive. According to the plan, installation is supposed to be in July 2008.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/gapimprovements.pdf

As of March 2007, the city was looking at ways to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety on the routes around and leading to Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn. With a number of fatalities through the years, the city deemed it time to take a hard look at what could be improved in the area. But since March 2007, the only news has been from several April 2007 blog reports that this was going to happen.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/cityhall_park_path.pdf

In June 2008, the DOT set forth a proposal to link the Hudson River bike lane to the Brooklyn Bridge bike path. The plan is to use Warren Street as this link; the current plan would create a buffer (using paint, as has been used on other city streets), without a loss of moving lanes or parking. No completion date was given; and there has been no news since.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/broadwaykentbedford.pdf

In May 2008, the city unveiled another proposal that would make a city street safer for pedestrians and include a cycling space. On Broadway in Williamburg, between Kent Ave. and Bedford Ave., the city plans to make the automobile moving lanes smaller, create a bicycle lane, and create a median with a turning lane to encourage yielding and reduce sudden changes. Pedestrians would be safer and more comfortable.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/manbrgbicycle.pdf

In May 2008, the NYC Dot presented a plan to Community Board 3. The plan had the goals of increasing bike access to the Manhattan Bridge and to increase pedestrian safety in the surrounding area. The plan called for the installation of bike lanes through several thoroughfares, increased crosswalk signal times, general crosswalk improvements, and finally, pedestrian refuge islands and left turn bays at key intersections. Like several other projects listed on this page, no dates were given.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/clintonstpresentation.pdf

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/broadwaywburg_gallery.pdf

In March 2008, the DOT unveiled one of the few pure bicycle-aimed improvement plans: the Clinton Street Williamburg Bridge access project. The plan calls for a bike lane down Clinton Street, between Houston Street and East Broadway. There would also be new two-way access to Grand Street bicycle lanes. This plan is also one of the few projects to be definitively completed; we could find no announcement, but the second link shows the completed bike lanes.

Improve traffic flow by reducing congestion

· Pilot congestion pricing

o http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2008a%2Fpr126-08.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1

o http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/fea/20080414/202/2491

o http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/07/congestion-pricing-plan-is-dead-assembly-speaker-says/?scp=15&sq=planyc&st=cse

The three articles above chronicle the failure of the congestion pricing plan to pass through the State Assembly.

o editorial on inability to recover from failure – http://www.observer.com/2008/year-planyc-2030-performance-promise-and-limits

o http://www.nysun.com/new-york/congestion-pricing-is-popular-among-ideas/85907/

This was a relatively recent article looking for ways to deal with budget cuts in the wake of the current economic crisis.

· Manage roads more efficiently

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/hansonpl_3ave.pdf

Repeat: In Brooklyn, the DOT has made improvements to Hanson Place and Third Avenue, converting Hanson Place to a two-way street, constructed a median on Flatbush Avenue, and closed an uncontrolled slip from Flatbush/4^th Ave. They have also installed temporary multi-way crosswalk signals on Hanson Place, at St. Felix Place, and constructed Greenstreets at Fulton and South Oxford Streets.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/ststanislaus.pdf

o http://www.junipercivic.com/LatestNewsArticle.asp?nid=260

A study commissioned by the DOT found that there was excessive large vehicle traffic near St. Stanislaus School, as well as speeding on Grand Ave. Steps were proposed, including the construction of a median in what is currently a small street dividing a traffic island; discouraging trucks from using Grand Ave., providing shorter crosswalks, and encouraging the reduction of vehicular speeds. The project was proposed to Community Board 5, Queens, in April 2008, with the idea that 4 – 6 weeks of construction over the summer would get the job done. The project has just begun, with concerns already exhibited about the implementation. According to community members, the Truck bypass has not yet been implemented, but the city is beginning construction of the median, which would defeat the purpose of re-routing trucks and increasing the safety of students and other pedestrians.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/jewelave.pdf

This was proposed in June 2007 to Community Board 8, Queens, with the intent to make the intersection of 164^th Street and Jewel Ave. safer, after several fatalities over the past decade. The plan would resolve turning conflicts at the intersection and issues regarding pedestrian crossings. The plan proposed that Jewel Ave. be converted into a one-way avenue, with increased pedestrian crossing times and shorter-width car lanes. No news has been heard since this proposal was submitted.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/Safe_Seniors_LES_CB3_09_08.pdf

The DOT commissioned a study covering an irregular area of the Lower East Side, extending as far north as Delancey St., as far south as Madison St., as far east as Governeur St., and as far east as the Bowery. What the study found was that 6 senior citizens had been fatally hit by cars while crossing and at least 2 dozen more had been injured in the same way. The city approved longer crossing times for all intersections within the bounds of the study area, and planned to install refuge islands throughout the area. The city also planned to ban turns onto certain streets, eliminating the danger of being hit while crossing certain crosswalks. Elements of the plan were supposed to have been completed by October 2008, but archival and internet research has found nothing as of yet.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/HUB_Bronx_08.pdf

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/bronxhub_gallery.pdf

Repeat: This DOT plan has made East 149^th Street, between Willis, Third, and Melrose Avenues more bike friendly, as well as make the area generally more safer in terms of transit. The second link shows the completed improvements.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/bkbrgaccess.pdf

In May 2008, the DOT prepared a plan regarding Adams and Tillary Streets in downtown Brooklyn. The issues were long wait times for all forms of transportation, congestion, noise and air quality, illegal southbound left turns from the center lane, and vehicle and pedestrian conflicts (which a colleague and I agree must be an unusual euphemism for “accident”). The proposed solutions were to provide increased crossing times for pedestrians, improve pedestrian and cyclist access to the Brooklyn Bridge promenade, accommodation of southbound turns by rerouting them at certain peak hours and slowing speeds, thereby lowering noise and air pollution, and to “reduce vehicle and pedestrian conflicts”, presumably through the increase of the crossing times and re-routing of automobiles.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/madisonsqimprov.pdf

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/madisonsq_gallery.pdf

This particular project was proposed in March 2008 to Manhattan Community Board 5, with the intent of reducing “illogical traffic patterns”, creating a safer environment for pedestrians, and utilizing the space at 23^rd Street and Madison Ave. more efficiently. In particular, traffic splits were a concern with regards to pedestrian safety. The project called for the simplification of traffic patterns by filling in the middle of the avenue and using that space as a series of plazas. Consequently, traffic would be more controlled and crosswalks would be shorter. The project was completed over the summer; the second link above shows the results.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/stanleyave.pdf

This project was proposed in 2007, with the intent to improve safety and lower speeds along Stanley Avenue in Brooklyn. The intent was to narrow the avenue to one lane in each direction, and to provide safety bars in advance of school crosswalks to give students further protection. The project was supposed to have been implemented in July 2007; research has come up negative so far.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/lewisave.pdf

This project for Lewis Avenue in Brooklyn simply called for the narrowing of lanes in order to reduce speeding. Project implementation was supposed to begin September 2007; no news has been found as to the results. Of course, this project and the previous project rely heavily on paint, calling into question the interest of media in reporting on the implementation and completion of these two projects.

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/broadwayblvd.pdf

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/broadwayblvd_gallery.pdf

In May 2008, the DOT proposed to make improvements to the “Fashion Corridor” – Broadway between Herald Square and Times Square, a seven block stretch. The project intended to create pedestrian “living rooms”, a protected bicycle path, and to narrow down automobile travel lanes. The “living rooms” would consist of plants, a roadbed surface equipment, and furniture to facilitate comfort while shopping or being a tourist. The project was completed by the end of Summer 2008; the second link provided above shows the completed corridor.

· Strengthen enforcement of traffic violations

According to the PlaNYC self-report card, a state assemblyman and a state senator introduced legislation in March 2008 that would authorize the use of cameras to photograph license plates so that violators in bus lanes could be fined. Research is ongoing with regards to enforcement.

· Facilitate freight movements

According to the PlaNYC report card, the New York State DOT initiated a 24 month “managed use lane study” to observe freight movements in April 2007. In September 2007, it held the first review meeting and has held a number of meetings since (as of 4/22/08). Ostensibly, the Lane Study will be completed in 2009.

· http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/World_Class_Streets_Gehl_08.pdf – builds on PlaNYC

Achieve a state of good repair on our roads and transit system

· Close the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s state of good repair gap

According to the PlaNYC self-report card, the MTA had proposed more than 20 billion dollars in core programs, 4.9 billion of which was to be dedicated to repair. With the economic crisis, it has to be wondered where they will get the money from; tax-payers can only pay so much.

· Reach a state of good repair on the city’s roads and bridges

o http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/11/2008-11-11_kosciuszko_bridge_cant_span_a_river_of_r.html

This article, appearing in the November 11^th edition of the Daily News, details the problems that have arisen in attempting to tear down the Kosciuzko Bridge in order to build a new, better bridge. The project had been delayed for a year, but then officials were notified that Native American tribes, long since relocated to other states, had ancestral lands at the site and needed to be notified.

o http://www.amny.com/news/local/am-mta0916,0,1942814.story

The AMNY article, appearing in the September 16^th edition, offers the idea, raised by a Columbia professor, that the MTA buy the Williamsburg and Manhattan Bridges from the city for a dollar each. If the MTA was to charge tolls on either side of those bridges, then the revenues would potentially be in the hundreds of millions.

Develop new funding sources

16 Establish a new regional transit financing authority

The only news was that a proposed source of revenue, the congestion pricing plan, had been defeated. No further news has been found on this subject.

Water Quality

Continue implementing infrastructure upgrades

· Develop and implement Long-Term Control Plans

o ens-newswire.com

o webdocs.nyccouncil.info

Progress with this sub-initiative has been good; on January 22^nd, 2007, the City Council established a law amending New York City’s administrative code to allow the drafting of a storm-water management plan. The Draft Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan was issued October 3^rd, 2008, with the idea that it will be fully enacted within two years. According to the PlaNYC self-report card, this initiative is “completed”, with the city having submitted 18 Waterbody/Watershed plans for bodies of water to the New York State Department of Conservation.

· Expand wet weather capacity at treatment plants

As of 4/22/08, the city was continuing construction at the Newtown Creek and 26^thWard Waste Water Treatment Plants to increase the volume of water that the plants could process. Otherwise, no news is not good news.

Pursue proven solutions to prevent stormwater from entering the system

· Increase use of High Level Storm Sewers (HLSS)

The last known news found comes from the April 2008 PlaNYC self-report card; in April 2007, the city completed the drainage plan for the installation of High Level Storm Sewers in the Laurelton section of Queens. The DEP had also “identified” areas to install new High Level Storm Sewers. Otherwise, no news is not good news.

· Capture the benefits of our open space plan

See open space initiatives.

· Expand the Bluebelt program

By April 2008, the city had acquired 39 acres of property for the New Creek Bluebelt in SI, and was working on acquiring approximately 70 more acres. Otherwise, no news is not good news.

Expand, track, and analyze new Best Management Practices (BMPs) on a broad scale

· Form an interagency BMP taskforce

o nyc.gov – plaNYC 2030 plan

o swimmablenyc.info

o nyc.gov - water quality task force

According to the PLANYC website, the city launched the Interagency Best Management Practices Task Force in May (despite marking progress “as of 4/22/08”. The task force held several meetings, and was charged with the implementation of Local Law 5. According to both swimmablenyc.info and nyc.gov, the IBMP task force last held a meeting on October 7^th; the results of the meeting were not posted.

· Pilot promising BMPs

This section is under investigation.

· Require greening of parking lots

o Green Standards for Parking Lots Begin Public Review

The last bit of news was that the city would begin a public review for new regulations regarding the greening of parking lots; this was June 6^th, 2007. No news regarding these rules found as of the moment.

· Provide incentives for green roofs

o NY Times – Green Roofs

o U.S. Dept. of Energy – N.Y.C. Green Roofs

o Green Roof Tax Incentive

o http://www.nyecospaces.com/2007/04/green-roofs.html – City?

o http://greenhomenyc.org/post/324 – city

o http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/187963357.html -

o http://www.habitatmag.com/publication_content/save_the_environment_save_the_world/green_roofs_abatement_alt_energy_initiatives- state

While this is not the direct effort of New York City agencies, on August 18^th, 2008, Governor David Paterson signed a law providing, among other things, 1-year tax abatements for buildings that had at least half a green roof.

· Protect wetlands

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/plan/water_quality-protect-wetlands.shtml

As of 4/22/08, the city had formed a wetlands policy task force in October 2007; the task force was supposed to make recommendations. No news has been posted since.

Water -

Water Network

Ensure the quality of our drinking water

· Continue the Watershed Protection Program

o November 2008 issue -http://www.dec.ny.gov/environmentdec/48113.html

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/watershed_protection/html/helpprotect.html

According to the November 2008 issue of “Environment DEC”, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is currently accepting grant applications for Water Quality Improvement Projects under the aegis of the NYC watershed program. There is also a page on the New York City website detailing how citizens can be involved in the Watershed Protection Program, from helping during clean-ups to being more efficient and conscientious of waste.

· Construct an ultraviolet disinfection plant for the Catskill and Delaware systems

o http://media-newswire.com/release_1047807.html

The Media Newswire article, dated 4/16/2007, reported the EPA is proposing that the city be allowed not to filter water from the Catskill/Delaware systems for another 10 years; and gave the date for the completion of the UV disinfection plant as August 2012. No further progress reported.

· Build the Croton Filtration Plant

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/advisories/discolored_water_statement.shtml

o http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/28/nyregion/28filter.html?ref=nyregion

o http://www.water-technology.net/projects/crotonfiltration/

The New York Times reported in September 2007 that the Croton Filtration Plant would cost closer to 2.8 billion dollars, instead of the previously estimated 2.1 billion dollars. Watertechnology.net reports that the Filtration Plant is set to open in 2012; while the New York City government put out a statement on November 14^th, 2008, regarding discolored water in parts of Manhattan and the Bronx. The discolored water, according to the New York City government, was due to the temporary reactivation of the Croton Water Supply System.

Create redundancy for aqueducts to New York City

· Launch a major new water conservation effort

o http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/25599.html

· Maximize existing facilities

o http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/harbor_water/wwsystem-makeadifference.shtml

There has not been any major stories regarding this initiative; however, the New York City website has a number of tips on how citizens can make the best of what they have.

· Evaluate new water sources

No news is not good news.

Modernize in-city distribution

· Complete Water Tunnel No. 3

o http://www.water-technology.net/projects/new_york/

o http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CEEDD113AF936A15752C1A965958260

In this case, news may not be good news. A November 1993 article states that the Water Tunnel would be completed in 2000. According to Watertechnology.net, the Water Tunnel is expected to be finished in 2020. Clearly, there is a problem with construction here.

· Complete a backup tunnel to Staten Island

According to the PlaNYC report card, the DEP had nearly completed the design for the tunnel. No news has been reported since.

· Accelerate upgrades to water main infrastructure

o http://www.win-water.org/news/062308article.shtml

The most recent news on these upgrades comes from the PlaNYC report card and states that the DEP has launched a planning process; in similar news, as of June 2008, New York City had been fined for the state of its sewage system.

It is late November of 2008. The much anticipated Presidential election has come to an end and us New Yorkers have returned to our daily lives. The economic depression looming in the back of our minds and in our wallets brings home our dysfunctional global economy based on money that doesn’t exist. President Obama’s economic, environmental and social challenge is so formidable it seems impossible to overcome. However, Hazel Henderson, an expert on the economy and its social and environmental effects is more hopeful than ever. Henderson believes that causation of the world’s social and environmental deficiencies is the world’s disproportionate focus on money and now that the fundamental flaws in the economy have been exposed, it has become apparent that the economy’s defective system must be drastically reformed.

Though Hazel Henderson has spent most of her life in the U.S. she was born in the small town of Clevedon, England in 1933. Clevedon, which is on the west coast of England, was once a community largely based on fishing and farming. The town was once an example of the eco-friendly, sustainable development we now strive so hard for. Clevedon was compact, so all you needed to get around was a bicycle. Most families grew vegetables in their gardens or “victory plots” and had their own hens. It was in this place that Henderson acquired a deep understanding of how the survival of the human raced is dependent on nature.

In 1957 Henderson moved to New York City . As a mother raising her children in New York City in the 60s, Henderson began to harbor serious concerns about the effects the City’s pollution on her 2-year-old daughter. Henderson also organized other mothers at a local park to create Citizens for Clean Air in 1964. Eventually, Citizens for Clean Air membership would reach 40,000.

As an environmental activist, Henderson was able to get mass media to run the organization’s ads promoting cleaning up New York City’s air. Soon enough, Henderson was on television and radio programs debating pollution with representatives of power companies and automobile companies. However, Henderson’s lack of knowledge in economics was a reoccurring response to her claims: “every time I wanted to organize something there was always some economist telling me it would be uneconomic”. And so Henderson decided that to continue as an environmental activist, she had to learn economics.

After teaching herself economics Henderson realized that one of the largest problems with the global economy is that success is measured in GNP (Gross national product). Logically, a developing nation striving to gain the same status as established nations will sacrifice the environment if monetary wealth is the only measure of success. Henderson instead proposes the Calvert-Henderson Quality of Life Indicators, which is a “new tool for assessing national trends”. The Calvert-Henderson Quality of Life Indicators consist of twelve indicators: education, employment, energy, the environment, health, human rights, income, infrastructure, national security, public safety, recreation and shelter . Changing the “measuring-stick” from GNP to a Calvert-Henderson Indicator system is a very large part of the necessary changes to the economy.

How is the U.S. doing on the Calvert Henderson Indicators? The U.S. health indicator shows that “The United States provides more health care services at higher costs per capita than any other country in the world – but with no better outcomes than countries spending much less..[and]… 40 million Americans currently have no health insurance”. The U.S. Infrastructure indicator states that the August 2003 New York City blackout and 2001 Terrorist attacks bring to light inadequacies in our infrastructure. The indicator also noted that the U.S. has privatized much of what used to be publicly funded areas such as energy, water, and telephone services. The U.S.’ Quality of Life Indicators did not match up to our view of the U.S. as such a successful society, and it seems our flawed economic structure may have finally backfired.

In terms of the current economic depression, Henderson has laid out 5 major proposals for the short-term that can be implemented without congressional legislation, as well as longer term steps requiring congressional approval. Henderson also commends President elect Obama’s decision to not attend the G-20 Bretton Woods II summit. Obama made it clear that he is not going to jump right into the old ways.

As the time until Barack Obama comes to office narrows and we watch his initial moves in preparation for office, many of us fear that the economic depression will cause many pressing concerns to be put on the “back-burner” such as the environment, education and healthcare. However, Henderson clearly shows us that the economy is mutually tied-in with the environment. Henderson provides knowledgeable and hopeful insight that even economists stop to listen to. Henderson’s website, Ethical Markets, has apparently been receiving more hits than ever before. Especially now that we know the old ways don’t work. Perhaps the greatest depression since the 30s will be the start to a lift towards drastic improvements for the environment. At least Henderson hopes so.

Click here for the full paper.

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