ASC's Intersections Newsletter — Week of January 4, 2021
Nora's Note
#LoseSmallLoseBig. On January 13, the nation's biggest employer will deliver an agenda to gain further help from Congress. Who is that biggest employer, you may ask? Why it’s the 30 million small businesses that employ nearly half the private sector workforce in the US. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Voices will meet with our representatives for a third time—the second during the pandemic—to ensure small business has a say in upcoming legislation related to economic recovery. Arch Street Communications is proud to be part of the national choir that will deliver the message: When we lose small, we lose big.
Transportation
Soaring skylights brighten commuter hub. 2021 kicked off with the opening of a $1.6B train hall upgrade, with skylights, artwork and new services, at New York's Penn Station, the busiest train station in North America. Last week’s opening of Moynihan Train Hall expands the station’s previous concourse space by 50 percent to support Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak operations. The new hall also features new passenger lounges and additional platform access points. Additional features that are currently under construction include retail and dining spaces and a pedestrian pathway to Hudson Yards. Read on to learn more about how the new hall ties into other future plans at Penn Station.
Transport Topics: Railroads Install Crash-Prevention System Ahead of US Deadline
The Verge: New York City subway now supports tap-to-pay at all stations
Transportation Today: USDOT issues new drone rules
FOX 5 NY: New York's 750-mile Empire State Trail completed
City Monitor: Trackless trams may be the best alternative to light rail
NPR: Wheels Come Off For Bus Companies, Closing Down Travel Options For Poorer Americans
Mass Transit: Cuomo pushes electric bus initiative
Entrepreneur: The Growing Problem of Transit Equity
Energy/Environment
How fixing New York’s aging buildings can drive a sustainable future. Buildings emit nearly 70 percent of New York City’s total carbon emissions, but projects like Brooklyn’s Casa Pasiva seek to make existing buildings more energy efficient. The project will retrofit nine apartment buildings with features that include new heating and cooling systems and facades with better insulation. These renovations align with Passive House energy efficiency standards and are expected to reduce the buildings’ total energy costs by 80 percent. Ninety percent of the City’s existing buildings are expected to still exist in 2050, making retrofit projects an important step in meeting City and State greenhouse gas emission goals. Read on to learn more about how projects like Casa Pasiva may have an impact on a national scale.
Grist: After a century of growth, have carbon emissions reached their peak?
Utility Dive: To build a zero-carbon grid, we first need to model it accurately
Fast Company: The U.S. can get to net-zero emissions by 2050. Here’s how
Scientific American: Could Floating Cities Be a Haven as Coastlines Submerge?
Inside Climate News: Fueled by Climate Change, Wildfires Threaten Toxic Superfund Sites
Environment + Energy Leader: New York City Will Begin Development of 100 MW Battery Storage Project
PV Magazine: ‘Water battery’ a winner for Australian university
GreenBiz: 2020 was a breakthrough year for climate tech, and there’s more to come in 2021
Economic Development
How We Can Rebuild NYC’s Hospitality and Retail Industries. Retail and hospitality are key industries in large cities, and New York City is no exception. When COVID-19 hit, these sectors were devastated by the loss of revenue and jobs, and continue to struggle to get back on its feet. While the holidays usually attract millions to New York streets, hotels, eateries and stores saw a dramatic drop in tourists that help keep the City's economy flourishing. Creative solutions can lead to industries and workforces that are protected, stabilized and better equipped for what may happen in 2021. One proposed solution is for these industries to partner with workforce development organizations to connect employees with skills training. Read on to see what other solutions may help retail and hospitality recover in the new year and beyond.
Chicago Tribune: Jobs in shipping and e-commerce are booming, but they’re inconveniently located. New transit solutions are helping workers commute.
Marketplace: For small businesses in rural areas, rising COVID-19 numbers spell economic trouble
Niagara Frontier Publications: Erie County 'Back to Business' program delivers millions of dollars in aid to local businesses
Route Fifty: Heading Into 2021, State and Local Budget Gloom Lingers
Forbes: How Policies Aimed At Female Founders And Investors Can Reignite The Economy And Close The Gap In Opportunity
Next City: How Tulsa Is Reconnecting Immigrants and Refugees to High-Skill Careers
QNS: Queens small businesses to receive $15M grant under new program launching in January
NPR: What's Ahead For The Economy In 2021?
New at ASC
Our recent webinar “How to Maximize Your Virtual Engagement" with CEOs Nora Madonick (ASC) and Rebecca Karp (Karp Strategies) is now available on-demand.
Learn to use new technology to reach and engage audiences
Find out what works and what doesn’t
Take away guidance from real-world scenarios
The webinar showcased the teams' collaboration—Toolkit for Virtual Engagement—and you can download it today at ascRemote to build a strategy to meet your audiences where they are to advance the civic planning projects and initiatives that will speed recovery.
Get in touch to learn how our signature approach can work for you.
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