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Support Affordable Housing with the Community Land Act
Even if you missed our virtual testimony training session, you can still provide testimony and join our rally for the Community Land Act on Tuesday, June 3rd. The New York City Council will be holding a hearing on the Community Land Act, a set of bills to expand truly affordable housing as well as community and commercial spaces, at 10:00 AM that morning and we’ll have a rally beforehand, starting at 9:00 AM at City Hall. If you are interested in testifying, click here ([link removed]) to register and then click here ([link removed]) for our coalition’s testimony guide to help you prepare.
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Our Parks, Our Backyard: Northern Manhattan Parks Day RESCHEDULED

Due to the weather forecast for tomorrow, we have moved our Northern Manhattan Parks Day to Saturday, June 7th from 12:00-4:00 PM at Marcus Garvey Park, Jackie Robinson Park, Thomas Jefferson Park, Riverside Park, Fort Tryon Park, and Inwood Hill Park. As part of our Our Parks, Our Backyards ([link removed]) campaign to engage Northern Manhattan residents on parks issues and the importance of parks funding, we our encouraging everyone to come out and enjoy the parks in Northern Manhattan. No set agenda. Just come out and take advantage of your local park. Feel free to take a photo and tag us on Facebook (@weactforej ([link removed]) ) or Instagram (@weact4ej ([link removed]) )! RSVP ([link removed])
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Celebrate Juneteenth at the Harlem Juneteenth Parade and Street Festival

Join us on Saturday, June 14th for the 32nd Annual Harlem Juneteenth Parade and Street Festival at Malcolm X Boulevard & 116th Street. Peggy Shepard has been named one of the Grand Marshals for this year’s parade, which is the longest running Juneteenth parade in New York State. The parade starts at 11:00 AM and the street festival runs from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. More Info ([link removed])
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Get Ready to Vote & GOTV Webinar

New York's Primary Election will be on Tuesday, June 24th, and we will be hosting a special Get Out the Vote webinar at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, June 18th (we’ll share a sign-up link next week). In the meantime, you should know that early voting runs from June 14th through 22nd. This election will use Ranked Choice Voting, which you can learn about by watching this informative video ([link removed]) . June 14th is also the last day to register to vote ([link removed]) and apply for an absentee ballot ([link removed]) . Visit this link ([link removed]) to register to vote, and visit this link ([link removed]) to learn about and apply for an absentee ballot. You can find this and more information on WE ACT's Voter Information page at weact.org/vote ([link removed]) !
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June Membership Meeting RESCHEDULED

Due to the 32nd Annual Harlem Juneteenth Parade and Street Festival (see above), we’ve had to reschedule our June Membership Meeting to Saturday, June 28th at 10:00 AM at P.S./I.S. 210 – The 21st Century Academy for Community Leadership, which is located across the street from WE ACT at the corner of 152nd & Amsterdam Avenue (501-503 West 152nd Street). We will be talking about transit justice in our community, including congestion pricing, accessibility, and Fair Fares. Learn More ([link removed])
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What’s in Your Rice?
WE ACT volunteered to assist in a recent study conducted by Healthy Babies Bright Futures, helping purchase rice from grocery stores in our community. The study found that samples from over 100 store-bought rice brands across the United States contained dangerously high levels of arsenic and cadmium. Exposure to arsenic, especially through contaminated food, can lead to serious health effects, including cancer and other chronic diseases. Eating food contaminated with high levels of cadmium can cause digestive issues. The report includes information about health impacts and ways to lower tour exposure. Click here ([link removed]) to learn what is safe and how you can protect your family.
In The Community
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Eric Walker on Community Energy Storage Panel at NY-BEST Conference
Eric Walker participated on the Community Energy Storage panel discussion at the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium’s (NY-BEST) 15th Annual Capture the Energy Conference in Albany on May 15th. The panel highlighted critical challenges in battery storage development, emphasizing the paramount importance of genuine community engagement. Key concerns included deep-rooted distrust of developers, fear of new technologies, and a desire for meaningful local participation. Municipalities and community members seek transparent, long-term relationships that go beyond transactional interactions, with a focus on tangible local benefits like job creation, grid resilience, and energy cost reduction. Fire safety emerged as a significant concern, with first responders stressing the need for education and involvement in project planning. The panel underscored that successful battery storage implementation requires early engagement, active listening, addressing specific community
fears, and creating pathways for local economic opportunity, rather than treating communities as passive recipients of infrastructure projects.
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A Community Conversation on Beauty Justice in the Bronx
On May 23rd, we co-hosted a community conversation about the Beauty Justice Act ([link removed]) , a groundbreaking bill that would ban the most harmful chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products sold in New York State, with Consumer Reports ([link removed]) , Clean + Healthy ([link removed]) , and local community partners. Click here ([link removed]) to urge Governor Hochul to pass the Beauty Justice Act!
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Peggy Shepard on Environmental Justice Panel
On May 29th, Peggy Shepard participated in a panel discussion to help educate members of the Federal Bar Council ([link removed]) about environmental justice. The Federal Bar Council is an organization of lawyers who practice in federal courts within the Second Circuit. Pictured left to right: Raya Salter, Esq., Founder & Executive Director of the Energy Justice Law & Policy Center; Peggy Shepard; the Honorable Barbara S. Jones (retired) of Bracewell LLP (moderator); Lisa Garcia, Esq., Former Regional Administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and Alannah Keddell-Tuckey, Director, Office of Environmental Justice at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
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The Bronx Times ([link removed]) wrote a story about the energy affordability workshop we did with the Association for Energy Affordability; Community Justice Connect, and Smarter Energy Services. It features photos and videos of Annie Carforo presenting along with photos of Cameron Clarke and his presentation. It also noted that we talked about the importance of passing the NY HEAT Act ([link removed]) to help reduce energy bills.
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Uptown Chats Podcast Right Direction Mini-Series: Wind Energy
In the fourth episode of our mini-series focusing on what the Right Direction should be for the U.S. energy policy, Jaron and Lonnie learn more about the growing offshore wind industry in New York City and the workforce development that is needed to support it with help from the City University of New York’s Offshore Wind Advisory Network. Special guests include Robert Zandi of Kingsborough Community College and Alexander Seki of LaGuardia Community College. Listen ([link removed])
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Upcoming Webinar on Land Acquisition Funding for Source Water Protection

Did you know that acquiring lands to protect your source of drinking water is a project that the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program funds? Funding is currently available through the Consolidated Funding Application, and will remain open until 4:00 PM on Thursday, July 31st. Eligible applicants include municipalities, not-for-profits, and soil and water conservation districts. Register ([link removed]) for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s informational webinar on Wednesday, June 11th at 1:00 PM to learn more about the WQIP Program - Land Acquisition Projects for Source Water Protection. For full program details and requirements, including maximum award amounts, required match, and
project type descriptions, view the DEC’s WQIP webpage ([link removed]) .
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Click here ([link removed]) to ask Governor Hochul to sign this bill ([link removed]) banning PFAS and other toxic chemicals from menstrual products sold in New York State.

Click here ([link removed]) to urge Governor Hochul to pass the Beauty Justice Act ([link removed]) , which will ban these toxic chemicals from all personal care products sold in New York State.

Testify ([link removed]) before the New York City Council on Tuesday, June 3rd in support of the Community Land Act ([link removed]) .

Join us for an Albany Advocacy Day ([link removed]) on Thursday, June 5th to help pass the NY HEAT Act ([link removed]) .

Share your suggestions ([link removed]) to improve New York’s tree canopy as part of New York City’s Urban Forest Plan ([link removed]) by June 30th.

Take New York’s air quality survey ([link removed]) to draw attention to Northern Manhattan’s air quality.

Make sure you are registered to vote ([link removed]) in the June Primary Election.

Donate ([link removed]) to support our work!
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EarthShare

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