PROGRESS REPORT
Fighting climate change on all fronts
BY DEBORAH J. GLICK
On July 18, Governor Cuomo
signed the Climate Leadership
and Community
Protection Act into law, thus
ensuring that New York will
embrace the most ambitious
climate goal in the United
States.
This is a major step undertaken
by the state Legislature
at a time when the
national political rhetoric of
the Trump administration is
to deny the effects of climate
change while many in this
country suffer. New York is
the fourth most populous state
in the U.S. and has the thirdlargest
economy. Other state legislatures
may fall behind in addressing
the negative effects of climate change
on farming, infrastructure, housing,
the economy and wildlife. But in New
York we have taken action to achieve
the goal of an economy-wide net-zero
carbon-emission objective.
In recent weeks we witnessed violent
swings in the weather here in New
York City. Clearly, the effects of climate
change are upon us and will only
continue to have increasing dramatic
effect on our daily lives. The widespread
fl ooding on Manhattan’s West
Deborah Glick.
Side during Superstorm Sandy, and
the recent incredible images of fl ash
fl ooding in Brooklyn following a heat
wave and localized blackouts serve as
unfortunate reminders. In reality, our
infrastructure is fragile, outdated, and
ill-equipped to deal with climate instability.
We can marshal government action
and embrace scientifi c research to
plan for a future that allows our society
and economy to cope with this new
reality.
The New York City subways
are a crucial part of
our shared infrastructure.
Ensuring that the Metropolitan
Transportation
Authority is adequately
funded and is improving
service, access and
effi ciency is an objective
of the state government.
In the 2019 state budget,
the Legislature provided
$1.65 billion that will
support $25 billion in new
bonded capital funding that
will be dedicated to the 2020-
24 M.T.A. Capital Plan. The
$1.65 billion is being paid for with
revenue from congestion pricing, online
marketplace taxes and real estate
taxes.
Some improvements in the subways
and with the M.T.A. require additional
legislative approval. This session I
worked with the M.T.A. to pass a bill
allowing for the expansion of a subterranean
easement under Grand Canal
Court Park at Sixth Ave. and Canal St.
This will enable the M.T.A. to expand
a power substation along the A, C, E,
B and D subway lines, allowing for a
greater power supply that will allow for
the operation of trains closer together
and therefore more frequently.
In addition to threats to our infrastructure,
reports released this summer
show a global epidemic of marine life
dying or being threatened by the proliferation
of plastic in the world’s oceans.
In turn, research suggests that microplastics
in oceans are ingested by fi sh
and then eaten by humans, contributing
to the plastic levels in our own
bodily systems. New York has taken
steps to confront this issue by discouraging
behavior that further propagates
single-use plastics. Banning styrofoam
takeout containers and single-use plastic
shopping bags are steps toward
changing our personal behavior for the
good of humanity.
Those who are able should work to
reduce the use of unnecessary plastics,
like utensils, straws, cups and storage
containers.
Extreme weather events, rising water
levels and the strain on infrastructure
can all be directly traced back to the
net-warming of our planet. Our city
and state will continue to endeavor to
ensure that we preserve a sustainable
way of life for future generations.
Glick is assemblymember, 66th District
(Greenwich Village, Soho, Noho,
Tribeca, Little Italy, Hudson Square,
part of the East Village)
Things are going great on Eighth St.
BY WILLIAM KELLEY
The past year has been one of celebration
and capacity building
at the Village Alliance. Over the
past 12 months we marked the 50th anniversary
of the founding of the Greenwich
Village Historic District, as well
as the Stonewall Uprising, which initiated
the L.G.B.T.Q.-rights movement.
During these momentous occasions,
our hard-working street teams have
been dedicated to the small details that
improve quality of life for everyone
— be it sweeping up sidewalk debris,
removing graffi ti, clearing snow from
street corners, caring for greenery or
tracking antisocial behavior.
To improve service delivery in these
areas, the Village Alliance has now digitized
our street conditions and maintenance
reporting, ensuring that the
beautiful and historic Greenwich Village
streetscape and welcoming spirit
of the neighborhood shine through.
Beyond quality of life improvements,
the Village Alliance also advocates for
and promotes local businesses that
contribute to our neighborhood fabric.
We fi rmly believe our small businesses
are a prime reason that Greenwich Village
remains a desirable place to live
and visit, and we work tirelessly on
their behalf.
This past year we launched a mobile
app for our popular Village Access
Card program, unlocking merchant incentives
for a new group of neighbors
who prefer to use mobile devices for
their shopping and dining experiences.
The mobile app is a critical tool to
drive additional foot traffi c to Village
businesses and will allow merchants
to more effi ciently build relationships
with their customers. Find out more at
www.villageaccesscard.com .
As core services and marketing initiatives
defi ne our role in the neighborhood,
the Village Alliance also produces
and hosts events aimed at bringing
the community together. Whether it
is a networking event, a fundraiser,
a lecture or art program, we strive to
showcase local businesses, creative talent
COURTESY VILLAGE ALLIANCE
William Kelley, the executive
director of the Village Alliance
BID.
and academic institutions for both a
local audience and the world beyond.
Our popular street festivals and
performing-arts showcases continue
to draw a diverse mix of residents and
visitors to the neighborhood who fl ock
to perennial favorites like the Positively
8th Street Festival, Creativity Cubed
and Astor Blaster events. Our new
partnership with Joe’s Pub at the Public
Theater brought new creative energy to
Make Music New York, Friday Night
Cabaret and Astor Alive! performances.
Over the past quarter-century, the
Village Alliance has been a major force
in cleaning up our streets, beautifying
public spaces and promoting the best
the Village has to offer. Looking ahead
to the next few months, we are exploring
the possibility of a seasonal market
at Astor Place, as we continue to engage
in new ways to activate what was
once merely a transitory space and now
delights the community with a variety
of free programs for all ages.
Kelley is executive director, Village
Alliance business improvement district.
Schneps Media TVG August 1, 2019 17
/www.villageaccesscard.com
/www.villageaccesscard.com