ASC's Intersections Newsletter — Week of June 13, 2022
Nora's Note
Looking in the Mirror. Sunday, June 19 is the second official national observation of Juneteenth, and June 20 will be the first time it will be a state and federal holiday. Also called Jubilee Day, Juneteenth is the anniversary of the day the U.S. military arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to announce all enslaved people were free, finally enforcing President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Recognized as the effective end of slavery in the US, many Americans consider Juneteenth to be the true Independence Day. There is no shortage of opportunities to join in to celebrate freedom. Try the Unity Concert in Prospect Park, Lincoln Center’s Juneteenth Celebration, or festivals in Albany and Buffalo. NYC Mayor Eric Adams said, “Holding a mirror to our nation’s past atrocities is never easy, but it is necessary.” The day is a powerful reminder of the progress we’ve made as a nation—and of the work ahead to make racial and social justice central in civic engagement initiatives.
Transportation
Most New Yorkers would switch to mass transit under congestion pricing-like charge to drive into Manhattan. According to a recent survey, 42% of New Yorkers would drive less and 64% would switch to mass transit if congestion pricing was implemented in New York City. The MTA is developing a congestion pricing program that would toll vehicles entering Manhattan’s Central Business District. Advocates hope this will decrease car usage, emissions and traffic congestion. Read more for further commuting insights from the recent survey. (Source: amNY)
Syracuse.com: Gas prices down after NY tax break, jump up nationally
Transport Topics: New York Seeks Input on EV Charging Stations
Bloomberg: Electric Vehicle Outlook Is Even Brighter If the World Bikes and Takes the Bus
The Hill: EVs heading into price ranges fit for mass adoption
Forbes: Broadband Could Revolutionize The Transportation Industry
The Trucker: Trucking industry should ‘expect the unexpected’ this hurricane season
Rochester City Newspaper: Monroe County seeks input for ‘people-powered transportation’ plan
Mass Transit: CT to build five all-new train stations, using nearly $32 million in state, federal funds
Energy/Environment
New U.S. solar forecast—rosier, but still trouble. Solar installations fell to their lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic in the first quarter of 2022, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The drop in solar installations has slowed the U.S.’s transition to clean energy; however, a recent waiver on new solar tariffs issued by the White House is expected to reduce the cost of domestic solar installations. Read more for an in-depth analysis of the current state of the solar industry. (Source: E&E News)
Grist: Coastal cities are already sinking
Gothamist: Giant wind turbine ports prepare to transform NYC's coastal woodlands
Washington Post: Climate change is forcing schools to close early for ‘heat days’
Smart Cities Dive: As more cities declare crises around climate and affordability, does change follow?
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Half of N.J. lives in ‘overburdened’ neighborhoods including parts of Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Deptford, says proposed environmental justice law
Utility Dive: DOE aims to decarbonize heavy industry with $8B hydrogen hub project
NJ.com: N.J. to order emergency rules on new construction in areas slammed by floods
NY Times: More Than 22 Million in Southwest Brace for Dangerous Heat
Economic Development
Less Parking Could Mean More Housing. To ease housing shortages, a growing number of municipalities—and some West Coast states—may eliminate minimum parking requirements in residential and commercial developments. Policymakers believe reducing or eliminating parking minimums will encourage the development of more compact, transit-friendly communities zoned for high-density residences, which will contribute to the growth of the housing supply amid the current housing shortage. Read more to learn about the positive environmental impacts of eliminating parking minimums. (Source: Pew Stateline)
Route Fifty: The Big Debate Around Statehouses—What to Do With Budget Surpluses
CNBC: New York just passed a bill cracking down on bitcoin mining — here’s everything that’s in it
Governing: SRO Housing, Nearly Zoned Out of Existence, Could Re-Emerge
CityLab: More People Are Moving to Manhattan Than Before the Pandemic
Spectrum News 1: How oversight of New York economic development spending could expand
GovTech: Where’s That $1B in State, Local Cybersecurity Grants?
NBC News: Unemployment may be low, but labor participation is a challenge for Biden
The City: $375 in Food Benefits Per Child Are Coming to All NYC Public School Families
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