ASC's Intersections Newsletter — Week of February 7, 2022
Nora's Note
Health and Wellness for All. Every year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) chooses a theme to focus on throughout Black History Month. In honor of the Black medical practitioners and health care providers who have been working hard to keep us safe and healthy during the pandemic, ASALH has designated this year’s theme as Black Health and Wellness. As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shed light on the social and racial injustices that impact public health and the need for environmental justice in the United States, let’s keep in mind the important work that remains ahead in making health and wellness available to all.
Transportation
Smart Cities Dive: D.C. joins growing list of cities requiring new buildings to include EV parking. Under a local law passed in Washington, D.C., last year, new buildings with at least three off-road parking spaces must make 20% of their parking spaces able to accommodate Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The law is a step towards addressing public concern about the availability of EV charging stations. Read more to learn how the City Council intends to use this policy to meet zero-emissions goals in Washington, D.C.
Spectrum News: New York considers commercial licensing plan to alleviate bus, truck driver shortage
NY Times: Will East Harlem Ever Get Its Long-Delayed Subway?
Transport Topics: Road Deaths Rise at Record Pace as Risky Driving Persists
Trib Live: $25.3M in federal funding set aside to replace Pittsburgh's collapsed Fern Hollow Bridge
Fast Company: The gas station of the future will have treadmills, gardens, and solar panels—but no gas
Brooklyn Paper: Tonnage Sensors on the BQE Will Take a Year to Set Up
NJ.com: Delivery of NJ Transit’s first electric buses will be delayed until later this year
NY Daily News: MTA vows massive expansion of transit in NYC come 2030, largest transportation boost in decades
Energy/Environment
Grist: New York environmental justice leaders propose new definition for ‘disadvantaged communities.’ Under New York State's 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), up to 40% of state investment in clean energy must benefit disadvantaged communities (DACs). However, the passage of the law raised a central question—what is a DAC? After nearly 18 months of research, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the Climate Justice Working Group have advanced a set of criteria to identify DACs. Read more to learn more about the metrics included in the draft definition that will soon go into a public comment period.
E&E News: EPA, Supreme Court jockey to define Clean Water Act’s reach
NextGov: Using AI, ML Will Help the Government Tackle Climate Change, Experts Say
ABC 7: Mayor Eric Adams announces New York City climate leadership team
Utility Dive: A year after widespread blackouts, Texas grid prepares for looming winter freeze
Axios: New metric shows how severe global warming is getting
NBC News: Black neighborhoods at risk as climate change accelerates flooding
Canary Media: New York takes early lead as large-scale offshore wind starts rolling in the US
LoHud: Yonkers hooks into renewable energy program
Economic Development
CityLab: The Pandemic Scramble to Legalize Home-Based Businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in home-based businesses, with more business owners operating out of their kitchens or garages. While these new enterprises have contributed an estimated $500 billion to the U.S. economy, many business owners are facing potential closure due to local zoning codes that limit home-based business operations. With the rise of remote work, many states, towns and cities are working to create new protections for home-based businesses. Read more to see what changes localities are making to their zoning codes.
Route Fifty: White House Releases Guidebook for Infrastructure Law
Commercial Observer: NYC Sees Jump in Construction Projects, Especially in Boroughs
Governing: In the Competition for Infrastructure Dollars, Struggling Places Need a Leg Up
Pew Stateline: Evictions Rise to Pre-Pandemic Levels
CNBC: Small business owners are optimistic, but still face challenges almost two years into the pandemic
NPR: More than half of teachers are looking for the exits, a poll says
NY Times: A Normal Supply Chain? It’s ‘Unlikely’ in 2022.
City Limits: Administrative Obstacles Jam Up Moving Process for NYC Shelter Residents
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