Plus Upcoming Events, a New Podcast Episode, & More!

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Advocating for Beauty Justice in Albany: Getting Toxic Chemicals Out of Cosmetics

The JustGreen Partnership, which WE ACT co-leads, held a Beauty Justice breakfast briefing in Albany this week to strengthen support for New York State's Beauty Justice Bill (S.4265 ([link removed]) / ([link removed]) A.6969 ([link removed]) ), which will ban the most dangerous toxic chemicals from many beauty products. The bill's lead sponsors - State Senator Lea Webb and Assemblymember Deborah Glick - were on hand along with Senator Karen McMahon and Assemblymembers David Alvarez, Grace Lee and Jo Anne Simon, all of who support the legislation. You can join us for a Beauty Justice Albany Advocacy Day ([link removed]) on February 27 to support this bill and also send this automated letter ([link removed]) to your legislators telling them
to support the bill too!
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Join Us for Our Advocacy Days In Albany!

The testimony of average New Yorkers is crucial for gaining support for environmental justice bills from lawmakers. You can help us advocate to pass laws and change lives by joining us for one (or all!) of the following days. Never gone on an advocacy day with us before? Check out this video ([link removed]) to see what to expect!
* February 27 - Beauty Justice Bill: ([link removed]) Join WE ACT and the JustGreen Partnership, a statewide coalition we co-lead to advocate for a future free of harmful chemicals, as we head to Albany on to lobby for the Beauty Justice Bill. For those who sign-up to attend, we will do a Zoom prep meeting on February 26 from 6 - 7 pm to explain the details of this legislation, provide tips on talking to legislators, and answer any questions you may have.
* March 13 - NY HEAT Act: ([link removed]) Help us advocate for the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition (NY HEAT) Act to lower utility bills and reduce the power of the fossil fuel industry.
* March 19 - Housing Justice for All: ([link removed]) Help us advocate for the Housing Justice for All platform which includes several bills to increase tenant rights and stop rent increases and evictions.
* April 16 - Earth Day: ([link removed]) Celebrate Earth Day by advocating for a variety of environmental justice legislation including the Enhanced Public Participation Plan, the Beauty Justice Bill, and the Lead Paint Right to Know Act.
* May 21 - Childhood Lead Poisoning: ([link removed]) Help us advocate for the prevention of childhood lead poisoning.

Food and transportation between New York City and Albany are always provided along with quick training to help you prepare to advocate!
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Fight For Housing and Climate Justice

The Our Homes Under Our Control ([link removed]) campaign is urging New York State legislators and the Governor to pass legislation that will lower rent and utility bills for everyday New Yorkers, stop subsidizing the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, and give renters more tenant protections and democratic control over their homes and communities.

Join us at our next teach-in on Thursday, March 7 from 6 - 7:30 pm at Buunni Coffee at 4961 Broadway in Inwood where we'll be discussing the campaign, the legislation, and how you can get involved.
RSVP ([link removed])

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Briana Carbajal to Talk About the Global Movement for Climate Justice

On February 21, Briana Carbajal will return to their alma mater, the Columbia Climate School, to speak about international climate justice, including our work at COP28, as part of a Columbia Climate Conversation. ([link removed])

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Annie Carforo to Talk About Climate Migration & Housing

On February 22, Annie Carforo will participate in a 3 pm panel discussion on climate migration and housing as part of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning series on climate-related careers for students.
RSVP ([link removed])

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Peggy Shepard to Talk About Environmental Health Inequities and the Climate Crisis

On February 26, Peggy Shepard will be one of the featured speakers at Designing Health Systems Resilience, a full-day symposium at the New York Academy of Medicine to address the critical challenges our healthcare and public health systems face in the wake of COVID-19 and the escalating climate change crisis.

Learn More and Register Here ([link removed])

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NIEHS Workshop: Engaging with Environmental Justice Communities

Peggy Shepard, Dr. Micaela Martinez, and Jaron Burke will be conducting a workshop, Engaging with Environmental Justice Communities: Letting Communities Take the Lead ([link removed]) , at 10:45 am on February 20 at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 2024 Partnership for Public Health Network Meeting, Climate Change and Environmental Justice: Engaging Diverse Teams, in Durham, North Carolina. They will be discussing our community-based participatory research work, its role in advancing environmental justice, and best-practices for researchers to engage with environmental justice communities.

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The People's Budget 2024 is Launching to Demand a Better Budget from the Mayor

Join the People’s Budget Campaign Launch on Wednesday, March 6 at 11 am at the Tweed Courthouse at 52 Chambers Street in Downtown. The People's Budget Launch will highlight some of the core demands for a people’s budget that offers care, dignity, and justice for all New Yorkers (not cuts or criminalization) and mark the beginning of a four-month public campaign to push the Mayor and the City Council to deliver a better budget for all, including funding for public schools and universities, libraries, essential and social services, and housing.

RSVP ([link removed])
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WE ACT Featured in Reuters Story on Climate Change & Public Health

Sparked by an America Is All In ([link removed]) panel Peggy Shepard participated in at COP28, Reuters published a great story ([link removed]) on the link between climate change and public health. It features our Out of Gas, In with Justice ([link removed]) pilot program as well as our concern about wasting money on unproven solutions like carbon capture, utilization, and storage when it could be better spent on decarbonization and electrification, especially in affordable housing. The article includes quotes from Peggy as well as Annie Carforo, credits Peggy’s involvement in the creation of Justice40, and references our success in helping to pass the All Electric Buildings Act, which will ensure that future buildings do not produce the 70 percent of overall emissions they currently do in New York
City.

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REPLAY: Remembering the Unsung Heroes of Environmental Justice

Check out the replay ([link removed]) of the Unsung Heroes Of Environmental Justice Movement webinar hosted by the United Church of Christ in celebration of Black History Month, featuring some familiar faces including Peggy Shepard and Vernice Miller-Travis talking about Cecil Corbin-Mark!

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Webinar to Help Cities Draft Climate Justice Legislation

WE ACT teamed up with Columbia Climate School's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Climate Mayors, C40 Cities, and Urban Sustainability Directors Network to present Dismantling Injustice: A M.O.D.E.L. for Empowering Communities ([link removed]) . Five model bills were featured that mayors and other electeds can use to advance climate justice in their communities. Watch a similar webinar ([link removed]) we did on these model bills last year.

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* Mayor Failing to Enforce Local Law 97: Eliza Klein wrote a powerful Op-Ed ([link removed]) in City Limits calling on the Mayor to adequately fund Local Law 97 implementation. This law requires buildings – the source of approximately 70 percent of New York City’s emissions – to meet strict emission reduction guidelines. And the City only plans to hire 11 inspectors to make sure its 50,000-plus buildings comply with the new law, which would clearly undermine it.
* LNG Pause: Forbes shared the video ([link removed]) of Congresswoman Nanette Barragán referencing our Wrong Direction campaign ([link removed]) , which featured Hilton Kelly ([link removed]) as one of the people being impacted by pollution from LNG facilities, in her statement on the House floor.
* New Pollution Rules: As part of the Clean Air for the Long Haul coalition, we offered a tempered response ([link removed]) to the Environmental Protection Agency’s new soot pollution standard, which is certainly an improvement but not nearly enough. Anastasia Gordon was quoted in a Washington Informer story ([link removed]) on this.
* Membership Meeting: The Columbia Spectator ([link removed]) gave a nice play-by-play report on our February Membership Meeting. Be sure to RSVP for our next Membership Meeting on March 9 ([link removed]) and enjoy the event live and in-person!

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Lead Free Kids New York Ad in City & State

Alex Ogle designed an ad for Lead Free Kids New York ([link removed]) , the statewide coalition we are part of to end childhood lead poisoning, that appeared on the inside front cover ([link removed]) of City & State New York’s February 5 issue. The coalition is advocating for the passage of the Lead Paint Right to Know Act, and you can help us advocate for it too by joining us ([link removed]) for an Albany Advocacy Day on May 21!
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Participate in Columbia’s Indoor Air Temperature Study

Extreme heat is the deadliest impact of climate change, and it disproportionately harms people of color. To better understand how extreme heat – and extreme cold – are impacting our indoor environments, researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health have launched the HEATE (Heat Exposure And Temperature Equity) Project, and are currently looking for residents of apartment buildings to participate in this important study. Participants will have two small temperature sensors installed in their home to record indoor air temperatures from this winter season until the end of summer 2024. Each household will be compensated $50 for their participation, and you must be 18 or older to take part. Follow this link ([link removed]) to participate, or reach out to Columbia’s Robbie M. Parks at [email protected] with questions.
I Want to Participate! ([link removed])
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New Episode Out: Show Me The Money!

Check out the new Uptown Chats episode! This week, Jaron and Lonnie explore how the budget gets decided at the city and state level in New York with the help from WE ACT’s State Legislative Manager Briana Carbajal and Uptown Chats very own Lonnie Portis, who is WE ACT’s New York City Policy and Advocacy Manager.
Listen Here ([link removed])
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Get Involved: Apply to Become a Community Board Member

Joining your local Community Board is a great way to effect change in your neighborhood. Applications are now open, with a February 23 deadline.
Learn More and Apply ([link removed])
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