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April Monthly Meeting - NYC Electric School Buses: Ready to Roll?
Note New Meeting Date: TUESDAY, APRIL 12 AT 7:30 PM EDT
Last year the New York City Council passed a bill committing to electrify the city’s electric school bus fleet by 2035. Are we on track to meet that goal? What are the obstacles? And how can we move forward? Lauren Kesner O'Brien, program manager for Empire Clean Cities, and Tevin Grant, founder of Evolv-Electric, will share their insights. You must pre-register using this link.
PLEASE NOTE: Beginning with this meeting, we are changing our monthly meeting to the second Tuesday of the month rather than the second Thursday.
Make Hakeem Jeffries a Climate Leader With This Five Minute Phone Call!
Wednesday, March 30th
If you are in Representative Hakeem Jeffries' district, we need your help. Right now, federal legislators are considering carving out climate and clean energy provisions from last year's stalled Build Back Better bill. Representative Jeffries has been practically silent on the climate crisis. This could be our last chance to pass a major climate bill at the federal level for the foreseeable future. We don't have time to wait for leaders who are lethargic on the issue, or missing in action altogether. On March 30th, we're going to flood Representative Jeffries’ office with calls from his constituents. Sign up here, where you'll find the phone number and a simple script. Take this five minute action and make a powerful impact!
Join The National Stop The Money Pipeline Week of Action!
April 2nd - 10th
Join us as we support the National Stop The Money Pipeline’s "Wall Street's Climate Decision" campaign. We’ll put up posters, deliver letters to bank managers, email and call bank executives, and more! Tell the banks not to build a plastics plant in Louisiana and to divest from fossil fuels. Email us at [email protected] to join our mailing list, and keep in touch with upcoming actions!
Join The Power Hour Team and Phone Bank for Climate Justice!
Mondays and Wednesdays
Join us on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT for Power Hour, where we call, tweet, and email our legislators to push for specific climate bills!
On Monday, March 28th, we’ll begin a new campaign for the New York State Teachers' Fossil Fuel Divestment Act. This will dissociate the public school teachers’ retirement system from any stocks, assets, or other obligations included on an exclusion list of coal producers, and oil and gas producers.
On Wednesday, March 23rd and 30th, we will continue our work to defend and strengthen Local Law 97 as well as secure funding for Electric School Buses. Local Law 97 (aka “The Dirty Buildings Bill”) is the boldest municipal climate legislation ever enacted in New York City, and the United States as a whole, and electrifying school fleets is critical for kids and clean air. Join us for the Power Hour!
Climate Check Returns With “Eco-Art: Plastics in Motion”
Climate Check: Stories and Solutions, 350Brooklyn's podcast, has released its fifth episode, "Eco-Art: Plastics in Motion." This episode features Lynn Neuman, artistic director of Artichoke Dance, 350Brooklyn Steering Committee member, and part of the Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice. Find our podcast on your favorite platform here.
Testify! Help Ensure New York State’s Renewable Future!
The New York State Climate Action Council (NYS CAC) has issued a draft plan for ensuring that our landmark climate law, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, is fully enacted. Tell the NYS CAC what works about the plan, and what needs to be stronger. Here's a one-click email from NY Renews and some comment prompts that let you write your own testimony. The first link is related to buildings, and the second is related to electricity. Comment as often as you can!
We Need A Better EPR Bill
Extended Producer Responsibility laws set rules that manufacturers must follow when making packaging. We are in danger of having a weak EPR bill approved with the 2023 budget on April 1, 2022. 350 BK’s Plastic Free Group is urging you to join Beyond Plastics for an emergency organizing Zoom meeting this coming Tuesday, March 22nd at 7:00 PM ET with special guest speaker, Assemblymember Steve Englebright, Chair of the NYS Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation. Register now.
Quick Actions
SPECIAL ELECTION, VOTE TODAY! - Assembly District 43, where did your elected representative go? Assemblymember Diana Richardson recently took a job as the Deputy Brooklyn Borough president, leaving her seat empty! Who's running for her vacant seat, and who will make your voice heard in the New York Assembly? Your vote is always important, but it could make an even bigger difference in this special election. Learn more here, and find out where to vote.
NO ASTORIA PRG - Got five minutes? Submit a comment and help us defy NRG's Astoria Plant Permit Appeal. If you've never fought a zombie before, now is a great time to start! Comment prompts and submission opportunity provided here.
LOCAL LAW 97 PETITION - Have you signed yet? Our goal is to acquire two hundred signatures to support this landmark legislation, and we only have a few more days to get there. Please sign now, then encourage everyone in your household to sign as well! It’s quick! It’s easy! It’s our future! Sign now!
NEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES
Fridays For Future: Global Climate Strike!
Friday, March 25th
Support the call for climate action from Fridays for Future NYC! On Friday, March 25th, join our colleagues in a march from Brooklyn Borough Hall, and across the Brooklyn Bridge to Foley Square. The march begins at 1:30 pm EDT. Fridays for Future NYC’s demands include the Climate Can't Wait 2022 legislative package, the Green New Deal for Schools, and No North Brooklyn Pipeline.
Exploring the Earth's Climate Crisis - A Community Event, Mondays and Saturdays beginning March 28th and April 2nd
This is a three session Zoom workshop hosted by Park Slope United Methodist Church in association with a worldwide climate teach-in organized by Bard College. Its principal objectives are to better understand what is causing the climate crisis, and to explore the solutions. Energy will be the main focus of this highly participatory discussion; we will explore our communal knowledge of science, experience, and spiritual insight. Everyone is invited! Participants may join on Mondays from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm EDT, or Saturdays from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm EDT. Click here to register.
Week One: Science - March 28th or April 2nd.
Week Two: Stories - April 4th or April 9th.
Week Three: Spirit - April 11th or April 16th.
Gas Free NY Albany Lobbying Day
Today, Tuesday, March 22nd
Join NYCC on Tuesday, March 22nd to lobby for an expedited timeline for the Gas Free NY Bill. Sign up using this form. For questions regarding the mobilization you call or email Atqiya Khan at Communities for Change. (954) 562-3809. [email protected]
Get involved in one of our workgroups!
350Brooklyn is volunteer-powered. At the heart of these efforts are our campaigns and committees. Follow the links below for more information on how to join.
City Action Committee’s mission is to make Brooklyn and New York City leaders not only in climate policy but also in the long-term actions and engagement needed to make those policies effective. Current campaigns include The Renewable Rikers Act, Fighting Peaker Plants, Electric School Buses, and the Department of Sustainability and Climate Change. Use this google form to connect with City Action.
The Climate Idea Exchange works to deepen public understanding of the climate crisis, breaking it down into manageable topics and showing how to take action locally. We work both independently and in collaboration with Brooklyn Public Library, and we're developing a podcast series. email [email protected].
350BK Families organizes activities that bring children, youth, and their adults together for the climate. Current projects include pushing for the creation of 529 college savings plans that are free of fossil fuel investments. email [email protected].
Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice is a diverse coalition focused on equity, inclusion, justice, and economic and environmental sustainability. 350Brooklyn is part of this coalition, which is working to ensure that the rezoning of the Gowanus area honors the needs of all community members. email [email protected].
Legislation focuses on federal and New York State climate legislation. Current campaigns are NY Renews (to pass the Climate Community Investment Act), the Green New Deal, and stopping the repowering of the Gowanus power plant (with 350BK's City Action). email [email protected].
The Media Committee is 350Brooklyn's all-around in-house media team. This group writes press releases and promotional copy, creates graphics, keeps tabs on 350BK's social media presence, and runs the new 350BK blog. email [email protected].
Stop the Money Pipeline plans and participates in direct actions that pressure financial institutions to stop funding deforestation and fossil fuel industries. We are part of a national movement targeting New York-based corporations, including Chase Bank and BlackRock Investment Management. email [email protected].
Plastic Free works to eliminate plastic pollution and reduce reliance on single-use plastic products. We meet via Zoom to work on a variety of projects including legislative lobbying efforts, campaigns promoting going plastic free, and neighborhood efforts to reduce waste. email [email protected].
No time but able to donate? While we are an affiliate of 350.org, we are programmatically independent and our financial support comes solely from our members. Can you offer financial support, at any level? Donate here.
