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We already sent our Special Holiday edition ([link removed]) of the WE ACT Weekly, but we have received some news that’s too good to wait for the New Year…

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** Big Year-End Wins: Two State & Two City Bills Are Now Laws
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We’re happy to report that we closed out this year with a roar! In our Thanksgiving edition ([link removed]) , we talked about some of our key achievements for the year – including two New York State bills the Governor had yet to sign. It came down to the wire, but she finally signed them!


Banning PFAS and Other Toxic Chemicals from Menstrual Products

As part of the JustGreen Partnership, we helped pass the Ban on PFAS and Toxic Chemicals Bill ([link removed]) , which will regulate the sale and distribution in New York State of menstrual products that contain restricted substances or unsafe chemicals, including PFAS “forever chemicals.” Following days of intense negotiations, and with just about 15 minutes to spare before the midnight deadline on December 19th, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed this bill into law. We thank New York State Senator Nathalia Fernandez and New York State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal for their strong leadership in sponsoring this legislation, along with our fellow advocates in the JustGreen Partnership and beyond – including many of you – for helping advance it, and Governor Hochul for signing it into law. Read Our Statement
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Saving $200 Million Annually on Energy Bills by Repealing the 100-Foot Rule

As part of the Renewable Heat Now coalition, we helped pass legislation that eliminates the 100-foot rule ([link removed]) , which will save ratepayers across the state $200 million per year. The Governor also waited until December 19th before signing this as well. While repealing the 100-foot rule is the only one of the three components of the NY HEAT Act to become law, it’s a huge win for energy affordability in our state. We thank New York State Senator Liz Kruger and New York State Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon for their leadership in sponsoring this legislation, our fellow advocates in the Renewable Heat Now coalition and beyond – including many of you – for helping advance it, and Governor Hochul for signing it into law. Read Our Statement
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Establishing a Maximum Indoor Air Temperature

Landlords in New York City are already required to maintain a minimum indoor air temperature in the winter, so it made sense to establish a maximum indoor air temperature in the summer - given that extreme heat is the deadliest impact of climate change. As part of the Extreme Heat Coalition, we had been strongly advocating for this legislation, along with codifying the City’s Cooling Center program and the formation of a Cool Pavement pilot program in heat-vulnerable communities – both of which already passed into law earlier this year. On December 18th, the New York City Council passed Intro 994 ([link removed].) , which requires landlords to maintain an indoor temperature no higher than 78°F – with 50-percent relative humidity – in occupied apartments when the outdoor temperature is 82°F or higher between June 15th and September 15th. We thank
New York City Council Member Lincoln Restler for his leadership in sponsoring this legislation along with our fellow advocates in the Extreme Heat Coalition and beyond – including many of you – for helping advance it. Read Our Statement ([link removed])


Protecting & Expanding Affordable Housing by Bringing Power to the People

We worked with a number of coalitions to advocate for the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA), which will help protect and expand the supply of affordable housing in New York City. It does so by creating a process for community land trusts and other nonprofit entities to make competitive bids to landlords looking to sell before they can list a multifamily residential building with four or more units on the open market. These entities will have 60 days to notify the building owner and the New York City Department of Housing and Urban Development of their intent to purchase and 120 days to make a competitive offer. On December 19th, the New York City Council passed this legislation, Intro 196 ([link removed]) , into law. This makes it a lot easier for tenants to purchase their buildings and will also help combat gentrification. We thank New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera for her
leadership in sponsoring this legislation along with all of our fellow advocates – including many of you – for helping advance it. Read Our Statement ([link removed])

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** Support These Big Wins: And Double Your Donation If You Act Now
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If you like seeing these policies turned into laws, we hope you will take a moment to support our work with a donation - whatever you can afford. A dedicated supporter is stepping up to match all donations made from now until December 31st, up to $5,000, so your donation will be doubled! Click this secure link to support WE ACT today ([link removed]) !

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** Talking EJNYC on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show
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In case you missed Peggy Shepard and Paul Onyx Lozito, Deputy Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice, on WNYC Radio’s Brian Lehrer Show on December 16th, you can listen to it on YouTube ([link removed]) . They talked about the City's EJNYC Report and the community input we are seeking for the EJNYC Plan. Click here ([link removed]) to learn more about the report and the plan, and click here ([link removed]) to listen to the interview.

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** Powering Up for Health: A Roadmap for Energy Affordability
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Energy affordability is a growing challenge, especially in New York, but there are solutions. Caleb Smith is among the authors of Powering Up for Health: Policy Solutions for Energy Insecurity in New York City ([link removed]) , a new policy brief published in partnership with Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. It provides a roadmap for local and state officials seeking to equitably address energy affordability. Read the Report ([link removed])

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** Polluters Are Getting Even Richer at the Growing Expense of Our Communities
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Yosef Robele co-authored a blog post with Brielle Green, Senior Legislative Counsel at Earthjustice, on how the Trump administration – with support of Congressional Republicans – is rewriting the rules so that industries producing pollution can get richer while people of color and low-income continue to bear the disproportionate burdens of that pollution. Read ([link removed])

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** The Heat Is On: Apply to HEAP for Help with Winter Heating Costs
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Staying warm shouldn’t be a luxury. The Home Energy Assistance Program ([link removed]) (HEAP) is now open – and it’s a critical resource for low-income frontline communities facing rising energy burdens and winter heating costs.

Too many New Yorkers are forced to choose between heat, food, and rent because of unaffordable utility bills and aging, inequitable energy systems. HEAP can help provide a credit toward your heating bill, whether you use electric, gas, oil, propane, or other fuels.


Check to see if you qualify and apply at MyBenefits.ny.gov ([link removed]) . You can learn more and apply at otda.ny.gov/programs/heap or by calling 1-800-342-3009, but our friends at PULP recommend MyBenefits.ny.gov ([link removed]) as it could be quicker. Learn More & Apply ([link removed])

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** Mark Your Calendar: January Membership Meeting
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Mark your calendar for our first Membership Meeting of the year! We will be meeting from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM on Saturday, January 17th. We’ll announce the location in the New Year, but the main topic of discussion will be our plans and priorities for 2026. RSVP ([link removed])


And while you have your calendar open, you can add all of our 2026 Membership Meetings: Upcoming Events ([link removed])

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** Uptown Chats Podcast: Year-End Special with Leslie Fields
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Jaron and Lonnie wrap up the year with Leslie Fields, our Chief Federal Officer, who shares stories from the environmental justice movement, including her role in creating our Federal Policy Office in Washington, D.C. Listen ([link removed])

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** Take Action: Support Climate Education in New York State’s Schools
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The New York Board of Regents published a proposed amendment of section 100.2 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to require instruction in climate education ([link removed]) in our schools. They are accepting public comments from now until January 19th, 2026. These comments will help them determine how to vote on the proposed amendment in March 2026, so hearing from you is critical.


As a member of Climate & Resilience Education Task Force, we strongly endorse this amendment, and hope you do as well. Click here ([link removed]) to learn how you can submit comments to let them know that interdisciplinary P-12 climate education is essential in New York State. Support the Required Instruction in Climate Education ([link removed])

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** Comfort & Joy in the Community
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Marciely Alvarado (far left) attended NYCHA's Lexington Development Winter Festival on December 13th with (left to right) Community Board 11 member Michelle Wiltshire-Clement, Santa Claus, Police Officer Dorian Dowe from PSA 5, and Christina Johnson, TA President of NYCHA Lexington Development. Happy Holidays!

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Email (mailto:[email protected])

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has 26 days left to sign two of our bills into law. We need your help in reminding her to do so!


Click here ([link removed]) to ask the Governor to sign into law the legislation that repeals the 100-foot rule, saving New Yorkers $200 million annually ([link removed]) .

Click
here ([link removed]) to ask the Governor to sign into law the legislation banning PFAS and other toxic chemicals from menstrual products sold in New York State ([link removed]) .


And if you want to make sure that we can still successfully advocate for legislation like this, please make a donation ([link removed]) to support our work!

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