Have You Voted Yet?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, but you can take advantage of early voting in New York through Sunday, November 5. In this election, depending on your county and district, you may be voting for City Council, District Attorney, and Judicial candidates as well as two ballot proposals. You can learn what you need to know by visiting our Voter Information page.

Come to Our Year-End Meeting to Discuss Our 2024 Policy Agenda

Come join us in-person for our November "Year-End" Membership Meeting on Saturday, November 18 from 10 am - 1 pm. Note the date, November 18, as we have had to move the meeting back a week from our usual second Saturday of the month. Also note that the location for this meeting is TBD (so register now, and we’ll let you know!).

This will be our final membership meeting of the year. In addition to a festive holiday celebration, we will be unveiling our 2024 Policy Agenda, so come and learn about what legislation we will be working to advance next year, share your feedback, and learn how you can get involved. Also, we will have a special presentation on sanitation from our Membership Planning Committee. And you will have an opportunity to learn more about - and get a guided tour of - our new online resource for helping Manhattan residents, organizations, and small businesses learn about low- and no-cost renewable energy upgrades, which improve indoor air quality and reduce utility costs, as well as how to find clean energy jobs.

We're Advancing Environmental Justice at Upcoming Panels

WE ACT staff will be advancing environmental justice perspectives in several upcoming panels on energy issues and climate change. Check them out below:

• State-Level Pathways to Zero-Emissions Electric Grids: Eric Walker will participate in the panel Equity in the Transition to Zero Emissions Electric Grids during this all-day conference exploring New York State's transition to zero-emissions on November 7 from 9 am - 3:30 pm at NYU.
• Energy Opportunity Forum: Catalyzing Energy for Development and Social Progress: Sonal Jessel will join the panel Policy and Practical Solutions for Addressing Energy Insecurity in the United States during this half-day conference on energy insecurity, policy, and sustainability on November 17 from 9 am - 12:15 pm at Columbia University.

Take Action: Gas Utilities Are Harming Your Finances - and Your Health!

Did you know that utilities are building unnecessary gas pipelines and forcing you to pay for them? As if that weren't bad enough, studies show that air pollution from buildings burning gas leads to nearly 2,000 premature deaths each year in New York State.

One way to put an end to this is by passing the NY HEAT Act, which will lower skyrocketing utility bills, saving low- and moderate-income families $75/month. It would force the utilities to stop making you pay for their unnecessary pipelines. And it will help reduce air pollution, and make it easier for New York to reach its emissions reduction targets.

Follow this link to send New York State Governor Kathy Hochul an email asking her to lead the transition to clean energy and put the NY HEAT Act in her 2024 Executive Budget!

Take Action: Tell Your NYC Council Member to Pass the Community Land Act

Many thanks to everyone who joined us and our partners to rally this week for the Community Land Act! This bill is urgently needed to address our city's housing crisis, build community wealth, and advance racial and neighborhood equity. Please take a minute to send a prewritten letter (which you can customize, if you prefer) to your council member urging them to pass this act by the end of the year.

Peggy Shepard to Receive Award from the University of Iowa

Peggy Shepard is receiving the Richard and Barbara Hansen Leadership Award from the University of Iowa College of Public Health on Wednesday, November 8. Established in 2001, this annual award honors persons who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in the public health field and brings them to the University of Iowa campus for interaction with students, faculty, and public health professionals.

WE ACT Workshops for New York State Policymakers at Somos Conference

Our staff will participate in the Somos Puerto Rico Conference, an annual gathering of New York State legislators to discuss policies that impact the Latinx community. We are organizing two workshops for policymakers on November 9.

At 9 am, we will host Understanding the EPA Region 2 Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC), which is sponsored by New York State Assemblymember Amanda Septimo. The TCTAC is a new resource to help organizations and municipalities identify, navigate, and pursue federal funding for environmental justice. The workshop will include a panel discussion featuring Peggy Shepard, South Ward Environmental Alliance Executive Director Kim Gaddy, New York University School of Law's Institute for Policy Integrity Environmental Justice Director (and WE ACT Board Member) Al Huang, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico-Metropolitan Campus Dean of Science and Technology Dr. Yogani Govender, and Hispanic Federation Green Energy and Critical Services Manager Jonathan Castillo Polanco.

At 1:45 pm, we will host Community-Based Solutions to Energy Affordability, Reliable Access, and Efficiency. Sponsored by New York State Senator Cordell Cleare, this workshop will focus on the Build Public Renewables Act and our Manhattan Clean Energy Hub as examples of how we can transition from profit-driven and privately-owned energy to community-rooted, democratic alternatives that benefit all. It will also include a panel discussion featuring Briana Carbajal, Eliza Klein, and Hispanic Federation Green Energy and Critical Services Manager Jonathan Castillo Polanco.

• Solar Uptown Now: Harlem World featured our Introductory Webinar for our EPA Region 2 Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC), a new resource to help organizations and municipalities identify, navigate, and pursue federal funding for environmental justice. In case you missed it, you can watch a video replay of the webinar here.
• National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week: The Sierra Club mentioned our National Building Pollution Report - which shows the extent of the harm caused to people and the environment from buildings burning fossil fuels - in a blog post about the dangers of cooking with gas.
• Climate Education Task Force: The United Federation of Teachers featured the platform of the Climate and Resilience Education Task Force, which WE ACT is a part of, on the cover of their November magazine issue that goes out to 200,000 unionized teachers in New York. The platform calls for increased climate education in New York schools with specific policy actions that the state and schools must take to prepare New York students for a changing climate.

Learn About WE ACT En Español with Manny De Los Santos

WE ACT is increasing our organizing in the Spanish-speaking communities in Northern Manhattan. Join our bilingual organizing team and New York State Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos for a bilingual community presentation geared toward Spanish speakers on WE ACT, our work, and how you can get involved. Tuesday, November 14, at 6 pm at 504 West 158th Street.

Watch: Learn How Our TCTAC Can Assist With Environmental Justice Funding

Do you want to learn how to access and pursue environmental justice funding opportunities, ranging from federal environmental health grants to state workforce development programs and private foundation grants? Watch this webinar and learn about our new Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC), which will serve EPA Region 2. The TCTAC will provide free training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding. Learn more, and request technical assistance, by visiting weact.org/TCTAC.

Learn About Clean Energy Upgrades and Give Us Your Feedback

The Manhattan Clean Energy Hub has officially launched and is ready to assist Manhattan residents with affordable or no-cost energy upgrades, accessing energy incentives, transitioning to solar, green jobs training, and more. Visit the Hub to learn more about how you can help make Manhattan more sustainable, equitable, and green.

And please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about clean energy. Take our survey to help us learn more about how we can better connect New York residents to clean energy upgrades and green jobs - and be entered to win $100!

Get Involved: Join a WE ACT Working Group!

Workforce Development Working Group
Tuesday, November 7, 6 - 7:45 pm
Looking for a Green Career? Our Worker Training Working Group will be hosting a Career Fair on November 7 at 6 pm for Northern Manhattan residents interested in learning about green careers. We will also have a representative from District Council 9 Union on-hand to discuss the benefits of joining a union.

Healthy Homes Working Group
Tuesday, November 14, 6 pm
Join the next Healthy Homes Working Group Meeting to provide your input on how to protect community members from lead exposure in their homes. They will be joined by a representative from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

WE ACT at UN Conference to Keep Mercury Out of Personal Care Products

As you may know, WE ACT has been fighting to limit our exposure to mercury - a dangerous neurotoxin - because people of color are exposed to disproportionately high levels of toxics. Dr. Micaela Martinez has been in Geneva for the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury, where an annual global discussion takes place on how to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of this highly toxic substance. She also contributed to a new report that was released at the conference about the dangerous online marketing of skin lighteners that contain mercury and target people of color around the world. Stay tuned for even more news next week!

Watch: Former Vice President Al Gore Speaking at Our Gala

We were honored to host Former Vice President Al Gore as our guest speaker at our 35th Anniversary Gala last month. In case you were not able to attend, you can catch a portion of the fiery speech he gave in honor of WE ACT and the environmental justice movement. You can also still make a contribution in support of our work and our 35th anniversary!

Watch: Learn About Lead Poisoning in New York City

The New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning, which WE ACT is a member of, hosted a webinar about the lead poisoning crisis in New York City and what needs to be done to address it. 

Help Us Monitor Air Quality in Manhattan

Are you a Manhattan resident interested in helping us measure air quality in our neighborhoods? Consider becoming an air monitor volunteer with WE ACT's new Community Air Monitoring Program (CAMP). This program is meant to increase access to air quality monitoring and data for community members, especially those living in Northern Manhattan. By participating in CAMP, you will receive: 

• Access to hyperlocal air quality data 
• Free training about air quality monitoring and data analysis

Participants who complete the program will have the opportunity to work with up to two air sensors and assist with analysis for data collected from these sensors for a minimum one year commitment. All Manhattan residents are welcome to apply, but we are especially looking for volunteers to monitor air quality in Washington Heights, Inwood, and West Harlem.

The data collected from this program will help us assess the impact of congestion pricing on air quality Uptown as well as measure the relationship between outdoor and indoor air quality.

Surveys: Share Your Insight and Opinions

Please take some time to share your experiences in these quick surveys to help us influence policy in New York and get Uptown perspectives in front of policymakers!

Communities Speak Survey On Life in New York City
WE ACT has teamed up with Communities Speak to gather data on what living in New York City is really like. Communities Speak collects information on the experiences of New Yorkers across the five boroughs that is shared with city policymakers and helps make sure that policy in our city is made with the needs of our community in mind. Take the survey here.

Energy Allies Survey on the Statewide Utilities and Energy
Energy Allies is seeking community insight from average New Yorkers about their experience with the state's energy system. The information collected from this survey will be instrumental in tailoring a specialized energy justice training program for New York, addressing knowledge gaps, and fostering increased community engagement within the energy sector. Plus, everyone who completes the survey will be entered to win $50! Take the survey here.

Survey on Transportation in New York State
Take this two minute survey and share your thoughts with the New York State Department of Transportation on how the transportation system in New York is working for you. Take the survey here.

Save Money on Your Utility Bills

The New York State Energy Affordability Program / Low-Income Bill Discount Program provides income-eligible consumers with a discount on their monthly electric and/or gas bills, as well as other benefits, depending on your particular utility’s program. Find out if you qualify and how this program can save you money on your energy bills.

Tell Us About Your Asthma

We are developing a Unified Asthma Policy Agenda that addresses housing, transportation, workers, land use, healthcare, climate, education, and more with asthma in mind - and we would like your help! Do you or someone you know have asthma? We would love to interview you about your experience, your challenges, and your ideas to learn how we can better advocate for policies that impact your health. Click here and our team will reach out to you!

Take the Uptown Chats Podcast Survey

Have you listened to Uptown Chats yet? Uptown Chats is WE ACT's podcast on all things environmental justice in Northern Manhattan. Follow Uptown Chats on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or stream directly from Castos. Have an idea for future episodes? Let us know by taking the Uptown Chats survey to help plan next year’s episodes!