ASC's Intersections Newsletter — Week of June 17, 2021
Nora's Note
Raising the national conscience. Also called “Jubilee Day”, Juneteenth, the anniversary of the day in 1865 when the last group of enslaved Black Americans were freed, gained recognition this week as a US Federal holiday. Juneteenth is known by many as the actual day of independence in the US, since July 4, 1776 didn’t include everyone—as Frederick Douglas noted, “This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.” Recognizing Juneteenth puts diversity and inclusion at center stage in public engagement communication and underscores the work ahead in fostering social and racial justice in civic planning. We’re excited to meet the challenge.
21 Digital Trends for 2021
Each week, ASC's digital strategists explore the pros, cons and how-tos of using an emerging trend to reach wider, more representative audiences right where they are. In this week's blog, learn how hybrid events are evolving from the pandemic to combine the best of in-person with the best of digital for your next public engagement campaign.
Transportation
In One Year, Vehicle Pollution Caused about 2,000 Deaths in New York. A new study estimates transportation-related emissions pollution contributed to thousands of premature deaths in the New York City area in just one year. While the NYC metropolitan area is already taking steps to reduce emissions, researchers found that 42% of the health impacts seen in New York were connected to vehicle emissions from surrounding states. Read on to learn about a regional approach to reducing the health effects of high ozone and fine particulate matter levels.
Mass Transit: NY's latest vaccine incentive? Free public transportation for a week.
CityLab: A Covid-Era Lesson on Making Roads Safer For Wildlife
CNBC: Aviation is changing, with hydrogen planes, electric propulsion and new regulations
The Conversation: Parking reform could reenergize downtowns – here’s what happened when Buffalo changed its zoning rules
PBS: COVID-19 changed public transportation. Here’s how.
Travel Pulse: CDC Amends Face Mask Requirement for Vaccinated Travelers on Public Transportation, Transit Hubs
Next City: Is Ride-Hailing a Sustainable Transportation Solution for Nonprofits?
The City: Queens Grabs Bigger Share of Subway Ridership as Pandemic Shifts Commutes
Energy/Environment
The DOE makes clean hydrogen this generation’s ‘moonshot’. Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy launched the Energy Earthshots initiative, which aims to accelerate clean energy innovation in order to meet the nation’s climate goals. The initiative’s first project is the “Hydrogen Shot,” which will focus on lowering the price of clean hydrogen from $5 per kilogram to $1 by 2030. Read on to learn more about Energy Earthshots and how emerging clean hydrogen technologies could support a net-zero future.
Utility Dive: As California steels for summer months, storage and demand response efforts could avert blackouts
Energy Monitor: Why solid-state batteries will eventually power your laptop or EV
Metropolis: PUBLIC WATER Presents New York’s Complex Drinking Water System in Miniature
Space News: New study calls for ‘national dialogue’ on future environmental satellites
NY Times: G7 Nations Take Aggressive Climate Action but Hold Back on Coal
CleanTechnica: Offshore Wind Power A Centerpiece of US Department of Energy’s Power Plans
Quartz: The US East Coast is set to become a green energy job powerhouse
Fast Company: Miami is the first city in the world with a chief heat officer
Economic Development
NYS offering $800 million to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. To accelerate the State's economic recovery, New York is offering $800 million in grants to small businesses and small for-profit arts and cultural organizations. Over 330,000 businesses are now eligible to receive up to $50,000 to address COVID-related impacts. The program will give priority to minority-, women- and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, acknowledging the pandemic’s disproportionate impacts on these businesses. Read on for more insights into how business owners will be able to use the grant to cover costs as they continue recovering from the pandemic.
Journal News: NYC to launch wide scale LGBTQ youth workforce development program
Gothamist: Less Than 1% Of Independent Venues Have Gotten "Save Our Stages" Pandemic Relief Funds
Philadelphia: What Will Happen to Center City If Commuters Never Return?
Governing: Where Are the Workers to Rebuild Local Economies?
QNS: NYCEDC grant program helped keep hundreds of Queens businesses afloat during pandemic
Associated Press: US unemployment claims fall to 376,000, sixth straight drop
Bloomberg CityLab: Cities Need More Than Rescue Aid to Fix Their Roads
Smart Cities Dive: NYC bill would have single agency lead smart city tech implementation
Get in touch to learn how our signature approach can work for you.
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