ASC's Intersections Newsletter — Week of March 1, 2021
Nora's Note
Women labor. No matter. Whether birthing new businesses, new children, new movements or new projects, women labor. We always have. We’ve lost ground this COVID-19 year as childcare competed with careers and something had to give—and 2.3 million women left the workforce. President Biden recognized the work ahead in his Women’s History Month declaration of awareness. As for me, I’m looking to other women business owners to guide the path forward, like Beyonce Knowles Carter’s “Power’s not given to you. You have to take it,” B. Smith’s “I’ve stood on a mountain of no’s for one yes” and the ever-direct Barbara Corcoran’s “The difference between successful people and others is how long they spend time feeling sorry for themselves." Stay tuned for a month of conversations with inspiring women.
New at ASC
Have you checked out our new weekly blog, 21 Digital Trends for 2021, yet? Join ASC digital strategists every Tuesday to learn more about the pros, cons and how-tos of using an emerging technology trend to connect your message with your audience.
Tie Score! We asked for your top challenge in public engagement equity. Here's what you told us: "Ensuring activity participation reflects the demographics of the whole community" and "Providing virtual presentations and content to non-English speakers." Find solutions in the ASC Virtual Engagement Playbook.
Transportation
Senators Reintroduce Legislation to Support Women in Trucking. Women currently represent 24% of the trucking workforce—and just 10% of commercial drivers. To address the barriers women face in the trucking industry, a bipartisan group of Senators has reintroduced the Promoting Women in Trucking Workforce Act. Under this Act, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would create a Women of Trucking Advisory Board to advance training and mentorship opportunities for women in the industry. Read on to learn how the legislation would assist women in the trucking industry.
Gothamist: Data Shows Truck Traffic Roaring Back In NYC, But Fewer Cars And Buses
Bloomberg CityLab: Covid Relief Could Leave Bus Companies Behind
Transport Topics: US Lawmakers Introduce ‘Complete Streets’ Bill
NJ.com: Hoboken, Jersey City take final steps toward a merged Citi Bike system
Greater Greater Washington: New federal legislation could help people purchase e-bikes
City Monitor: Here come the flying taxis
Washington Post: Survey examines the pandemic’s effects on mobility in the D.C. region
amNY: MTA expanding bus access to FEMA vax sites from NYCHA and community centers
Patch: 'Bike To Work Day' Adds Pit Stops For Arlington Telecommuters
Energy/Environment
Winter Storm Led to Excess Pollutants in Texas. During last month’s winter storms, industrial plants in Texas burned over 3.5 million pounds of pollutants while mitigating equipment damage. With these plants disproportionately located in Black and Latino communities, last month's increased emissions of pollutants like carbon monoxide add to a history of environmental racism in communities like Manchester in Southeast Houston. As climate change increases the severity of extreme weather events, equitable solutions will need to be quickly developed—both in Texas and across the U.S. Read on to find out how communities could prepare for the next storm.
Next City: How NYC Is Stopping Textile Waste With Low-Tech Donation Bins
The Hill: 'Recyclable' labels on plastic products are often misleading, says review
Daily Gazette: State pilot program uses tugboats in initial effort to mitigate ice jams
Bloomberg Green: Most Americans Don’t Have Enough Flood Insurance for Climate Change
NPR: It's Not Just Texas. The Entire Energy Grid Needs An Upgrade For Extreme Weather
Inside Climate News: Climate Change is Weakening the Ocean Currents That Shape Weather on Both Sides of the Atlantic
Route Fifty: Pennsylvania County Goes Hydro With its Government Buildings
CNN: A solar panel in space is collecting energy that could one day be beamed to anywhere on Earth
Economic Development
Don’t Flatten the Curve on Urban Innovation. After a challenging year, the world has adapted in ways no one could have imagined— i.e., we’re all excited to go to the doctor to get a shot. Even more notably, the goal of “flattening the curve” led communities to take bold steps on addressing issues in new ways. City streets have been transformed into civic spaces and equity has been shifted into the spotlight. The question remains: How do we keep equity on top and new uses for our cities moving ahead? Read on to see how lessons learned in 2020 might shape the future of cities.
City Monitor: So your city wants to be the next global tech hub
CNBC: The smallest business owners are excited and confused by PPP rules as priority window opens
NY Times: The Jobs the Pandemic May Devastate
Spectrum News 1 NY: New York State Proposes Restaurant Return-to-Work Tax Credit
Governing: Virginia’s Giant Wind Farm Will Need Lots of Technicians
Niagara Frontier Publications: ESD announces completion of infrastructure improvements at Beverly Gray Business Exchange Center
Marketplace: Community banks signal caution about the economic recovery
NorthJersey.com: Teaneck, Ridgewood restaurants get $3M lifeline in state grants to feed hungry families
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