ASC's Intersections Newsletter — Week of March 29, 2021
Nora's Note
Grit and grace. Women-owned small business owners shared tips for leadership in difficult times on a NYPA panel I was fortunate to be a member of last week. Inspired by a keynote from Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, Donna Hager, who left a VP position to start her engineering firm Macan Deve, took us on her journey through the pandemic, and panel members served up stories of what got us through. We heard lessons learned from layoffs and rehiring, reorganizing, scouring for funding, shifting to a remote workforce, pivoting products and learning to overcommunicate to keep teams focused on purpose and mission over fear. Some of the best advice I heard was to prepare now to be ready for the crises of the future. I was proud to be among this class of women business owners, who never doubt they will find a solution.
21 Digital Trends for 2021
Each week, ASC's digital strategies explore the pros, cons and how-tos of using emerging technologies to meet your audiences where they are. Read this week's blog to learn how digital workspaces can create a team environment for brainstorming at a distance.
Transportation
MTA Eyes Commuter Rails as Discount Subways Substitute. One of the most visible impacts of the pandemic in New York City has been drastic declines in ridership across the MTA’s subway, bus and rail lines. As the City reopens and new mobility patterns emerge, the MTA must now explore ways to address today's changing transit landscape. Proposed solutions include discounts on commuter rail tickets for local travel within the Bronx and making commuter rail passes more flexible. Read on to learn more about the options transit officials and advocacy groups recommend for the future of New York City transportation.
PBS NewsHour: Buttigieg says new infrastructure plan ‘looking to the future,’ helps long-term job growth
NYTimes: Riders Are Abandoning Buses and Trains. That’s a Problem for Climate Change.
Spectrum News: Bill Proposed to Add Bike and Pedestrian Lanes to MTA Bridges
Mass Transit: LIRR unveils real-time seating availability, accessible trip planning
Transportation Today: NTSB asks FAA to enhance safety regulations for some flights
The Hill: Senators introduce bipartisan bill to expand electric vehicle charging tax credit
Streetsblog NYC : City Council Establishes DOT Crash Investigation Unit
Freight Waves: Transportation costs keep rising as service deteriorates
Energy/Environment
What’s Good for the Ocean May Also Be Good for Business. As global shipping and appetites for wild seafood increase, new businesses and collaborations are working to make the "blue economy" greener. LED-equipped fishing nets, for example, may help reduce the millions of tons of fish thrown away annually. Another emerging technology is artificial intelligence-driven trackers that aim to lower the number of collisions between ships and whales. Read on to learn more about how marine-focused businesses are reducing emissions while supporting the ecosystems they work in.
Inside Climate News: The Best Protection For Forests? The People Who Live In Them.
The Buffalo News: Federal court ruling may clear the way for natural gas pipeline through WNY
Politico: The ‘Green Energy’ That Might Be Ruining the Planet
Route Fifty: Gallup – Americans’ Anxiety About Energy Prices, Supply Sharply Rises
BBC: Consumers pose 'growing threat' to tropical forests
The Inertia: Plastic Pollution — How Chemical Recycling Technology Could Help
Smithsonian Magazine: The Amazon Rainforest Now Emits More Greenhouse Gases Than It Absorbs
Green Biz: 100% increase in tree nursery production needed for U.S. reforestation
Economic Development
NYC Bodegas Are a Window Into Uneven Recovery. For many New Yorkers, bodegas are like a second home—but while the City moves toward recovery, the challenges facing these corner convenience stores remain daunting. Many bodegas in low-income communities have faced a surge in burglaries, a significant drop in sales and difficulties accessing small business loans and COVID-19 vaccines. This begs the question: how is it that these shops dear to the hearts of New Yorkers struggle to receive equitable aid? Read on to learn how three bodegas are navigating recovery.
Next City: New NYC Affordable Housing Must Come With Internet Service, City Says
WIVB: Construction of $30 million Heritage Point project begins at Canalside
Forbes: The 21st Century Case For A New Kind Of Urban Planning
HudsonValley360: Small business booming in Twin Counties
Time Out: New York launches the nation's first vaccine passports
Cities Today: New York to introduce ‘resilience test’ for city-funded capital projects
6sqft: What will post-pandemic real estate look like in NYC? Experts weigh in
CNBC: The Small Business Administration is set to triple loan amounts for businesses hurt by Covid
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