Friday, October 29, 2021, 7 pm

Roulette Brooklyn

509 Atlantic Avenue

(corner of 3rd Avenue, 1 block from Barclay’s)

We are looking forward to seeing many of you at our 30th anniversary Gala in October - in the meantime, we recap highlights from last month!

In June, NYC-EJA's coalition work with Save Our Compost culminated in victories for Big Reuse and the Lower East Side Ecology Center. Additionally, Climate Works for All released a report on transitioning toward green, healthy schools that focus on climate goals, and the Forest for All NYC Coalition released the NYC Urban Forest Agenda. NYC-EJA is also excited to introduce our new Transportation Planner, Kevin Garcia! Read more below!

As the largest school district in the country, New York City public schools were among the worst-hit institutions as COVID-19 ravaged through the City last year. The shutdown of schools disrupted the lives of countless students, teachers, and families. To highlight the importance of recovery efforts in public schools, the Climate Works for All Coalition released a report titled Creating Green, Healthy Schools: An Equitable Action Plan for the Next Mayor of New York City on June 3rd. The report offers the next mayoral administration an action plan to invest in the City’s public schools to make them resilient, equitable, and healthy communities for all students. It is the first report that emphasizes the need for solar installation and HVAC system upgrades to enhance safety and equity in public schools while creating good-paying jobs that will help the City achieve its climate goals.

Last month, NYC-EJA joined the Forest for All NYC coalition in the release of the NYC Urban Forest Agenda that provides a roadmap to protect, maintain, and expand our urban forest. New York City must prioritize nature-based solutions that address disproportionate heat vulnerability and air quality issues, while providing greater access to green spaces. The report presented key recommendations including increasing tree canopy cover, supporting community-scale urban forest plans and goals, cultivating urban forest careers, increasing and equitably distributing funding for urban forestry projects, and much more. The NYC Urban Forest Agenda provides a roadmap to help NYC build a more resilient and equitable city. Read more at Forest for All NYC.

After months of uncertainty and advocacy, Deputy Mayor Vicki Been announced that the Lower East Side Ecology Center will return to its site in East River Park following completion of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project. Meanwhile, Big Reuse’s license has been extended for a year, while they have yet to secure a permanent home in place of their Queensboro Bridge site. We are grateful for the advocacy of thousands across the City as we have fought to preserve these pillars of composting and environmental education in NYC against eviction threats. Moving forward, we will continue to advocate for robust universal organics collection (that is, not geographically partial or voluntary services), local-scale organics processing and diversion, and just compensation for compost work.

We are excited to welcome Kevin Garcia as NYC-EJA's new Transportation Planner!

Before joining NYC-EJA, Kevin was the Bus Campaign Manager with Tri-State Transportation Campaign where he organized bus riders to raise awareness about issues facing the majority of NJ Transit riders. He helped win a bus network redesign, a commitment from the state governor to electrify NJ Transit’s bus fleet, and established the Bus Riders’ Bill of Rights. Kevin has led outreach efforts for an economic mobility nonprofit to increase wages and earnings for low to moderate income families and public housing residents in New York City. Prior to this, he worked with the NYC Department of Sanitation’s curbside organics collection pilot program outreach team to inform New Yorkers on composting and recycling. In college, Kevin led the canvassing operations for the mayoral reelection campaign and worked with the Public Facilities department for the City of Bridgeport in drafting a Complete Streets proposal for the downtown area. He is currently pursuing a Masters in City and Regional Planning at Pratt Institute and graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in Mathematics and Philosophy.