Early Voting for New York's August 23 Primary Is Now Available
New York State's second primary will be held on Tuesday, August 23 for the U.S. House of Representatives and New York State Senate races. No primary will be held this year for the U.S. Senate or the New York State Comptroller and Attorney General races because none of the candidates are being challenged within their own party. Early voting is available through August 21, and Election Day will be on November 8. Learn what you need to know and find your polling site here.
VICTORY: Johnson & Johnson Agrees to Stop Selling Talc Powder Worldwide
Peggy Shepard testified at the Johnson & Johnson shareholders meeting back in April, helping make the case to shareholders as to why they should urge the company to end global sales of its talc-based powder. Studies have linked the asbestos found in talc powder to cancer. And in the 1970s, Johnson & Johnson’s own scientists proposed switching to the safer cornstarch ingredient. But talc was cheaper, so they continued to sell it, marketing it heavily to women of color. The company eventually pulled it from store shelves in North America, claiming that there was a lack of demand, which was likely caused by the nearly 38,000 lawsuits from cancer victims. And we are pleased to report that the effort was ultimately successful, with Johnson & Johnson finally agreeing to end sales worldwide in 2023. Watch the video testimony from the shareholders meeting here.
Congress Passes Major Climate Legislation Read Our Response & Learn More
Late Friday (which is why this newsletter is late getting to your inbox), the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. In terms of climate justice, there are a lot of good provisions in the bill, but there are also a number of bad things. Read our response to the passage of this legislation, which President Biden is expected to sign in the coming days. Also, Dana Johnson helped explain the pros and cons of the bill in Canary Media.
Peggy Shepard Helps Kickoff Harlem Week with Climate Event
Peggy Shepard joined New York State Senator Cordell Cleare as one of the speakers at the Harlem Week kickoff event, which focused on achieving climate justice in Harlem. The event on Wednesday was emceed by Fox 5 TV News Anchor Arthur Chi'en and lead by Lloyd Williams, the President and CEO of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event along with the Columbia Climate School, City College of New York, and West Harlem Development Corporation. Columbia University’s Special Advisor, Climate & Sustainability Dan Zarrilli moderated a panel, which included Columbia University School of Social Work Associate Professor Dr. Courtney Cogburn, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Deputy Commissioner of Equity & Justice Adriana Espinoza, Nature Conservancy New York Division Cities Director Emily Maxwell, and West Harlem Development Corporation Chairperson Judge Milton Tingling. And to top it all off, Peggy was presented with an award from the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce for her “pioneering leadership in educating our nation on the significant concerns of climate change.” The award features an original art collage, SUN-WIND-WATER-EARTH by Ademola Olugebefola, and was presented by Stephanie Francis (below left) and Tony Rodgers (below right) of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. Watch the video of this event here, read the coverage in the Hill and AMNY, and see the Harlem Week schedule here.
A Roadmap to End Childhood Lead-Poisoning in New York City
Any day that begins with Lonnie Portis is a good day, and Thursday was no exception. He (above left) was the emcee at the New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning’s press conference at City Hall, where we formally released the coalition’s Roadmap to Eliminating Lead Poisoning in New York City (PDF). Liz Reyes (above right) spoke alongside a number of other advocates and City Council members. You can watch the video replay of the event here, download the press release here (PDF), and download the roadmap – detailing the legislation we’re advancing to end childhood lead poisoning in the city – here (PDF).
WE ACT Rallies for a Zero Waste City
We had a great turnout for the Zero Waste Rally at City Hall on Thursday. Lonnie Portis spoke about the importance of advancing the five bills designed to get New York City to zero waste, and why waste is such a concern for environmental justice communities. Learn more about waste justice and the five bills here.
Has Your Neighborhood Experienced Extreme Heat of Flooding? Let’s Tell City Council About the Impact of Extreme Weather in Northern Manhattan
Has your community been impacted by extreme heat and flooding this summer? What about infrastructure challenges caused by extreme weather, such as sinkholes? Then we need you to share that experience with the New York City Council. On Tuesday, August 16 at 10:00 AM, the New York City Council's Committee on Resiliency and Waterfronts, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Committee on Environmental Protection will have an oversight hearing to discuss flooding and heatwaves as well as sinkholes and other infrastructure challenges resulting from extreme weather. This is our chance to let the new City Council know about how our community is being impacted, so please come testify. RSVP here and we will help you prepare your oral or written testimony (whichever you prefer).
Learn About Permitting Reform The Latest Tool to Silence Our Voices
At 1:00 PM on Thursday, August 18, we will host a panel discussion on the “API Permitting Reform Bill.” This nefarious legislation will permanently erode important tools for democratizing federal projects in communities of color and areas of low income while prolonging our reliance on fossil fuels. In other words, polluters will have an easier path to securing permits to pollute our communities, while we will have a more difficult time voicing our opposition.
Register here to join us for this important discussion with Seven Directions of Service’s Dr. Crystal Cavalier; Indigenous Environmental Network’s Dallas Goldtooth; Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights’ Grace Tuttle; and Earthjustice’s Raul Garcia. And in case you are wondering why it’s called the “API” Permit Reform Bill, that’s because when the draft text of the bill, Senator Manchin’s side deal, was leaked to the public, it had watermarks from the American Petroleum Institute. In other words, it was drafted by the fossil fuel lobbyists. So, come learn what you need to know to join us in this fight. RSVP here.
As we mentioned above, Dana Johnson was heavily featured in Canary Media'scoverage of the Inflation Reduction Act. And Peggy Shepard was featured in coverage of the Harlem Week Climate Event in both the Hill and AMNY.
Naadiya Hutchinson was featured in a Washington Informer article on the need for diversity in the environmental movement. Dana Johnson called attention to some of the downsides of the Inflation Reduction Act in The City. And our success in helping pass Local Law 154, Gas Free NYC, was highlighted in CleanTechnica.
Video Replay: Funding the Environmental Justice Movement
In case you missed the panel Peggy was on at the 8th Annual Symposium on Environmental Justice and Health Disparities, you can watch the video replay here as she, Dr. Beverly Wright of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, and Dr. Robert Bullard of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice discuss how to fund the movement.
Calling for Cleaner Cars
To reduce air pollution, including the emissions that cause climate change, we were among the groups that sent the Biden administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Department of Transportation a letter urging them to set longer-term light duty vehicle standards for model years 2027 & beyond, moving towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2030 and putting us on a path to 100-percent zero emission electric vehicle sales by 2035. Read our letter here (PDF).
How Do You Feel About Congestion Pricing? Come Tell the City What You Think
The Central Business District Tolling Program is the official name of what we call congestion pricing. New York City has done an environmental assessment of the program, which you can view here. We urge you to take the time to review it and submit your comments online here, email them to [email protected], call 646-252-7440, or sign up via the links below to comment during one of the public hearings:
Don't Miss the Electric School Bus! Friday is the Deadline for Schools to Apply
Friday, August 19 is the deadline to apply for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus program. Click here to learn how you can help your school district transition to electric school buses, reducing air pollution and improving public health in your community.
Are You New to WE ACT? Join Our Online New Member Orientation Session
We will be providing a virtual orientation for new members and those looking to learn more about WE ACT and the work we do. Join us at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, August 24. RSVP here.
WE ACT's 2022 Gala Save the Date for Our In-Person Celebration
Yes, folks, our 2022 Gala will be in-person! Join us from 6:00-9:00 PM at International House on Thursday, October 27 to celebrate all of this year’s achievements at our annual Gala! After two years of Zoomed Galas, this will be a special one that you don't want to miss. We’ll be honoring Dr. Beverly L. Wright, Founder and Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice; Jessica Ottney Mahar, New York Director of Policy & Strategy at The Nature Conservancy; and Mychal Johnson, Co-Founder of South Bronx Unite. Mark your calendar and RSVP here.
Take Our Cosmetics Survey Help Shape Our Beauty Inside Out Campaign
As a part of our Beauty Inside Out campaign, we are surveying girls and femme-identifying people of color between 13-17 years of age that live in Northern Manhattan (West Harlem, Central Harlem, East Harlem, Inwood, and Washington Heights). The survey will help us better understand how girls and femme-identifying people of color use and feel about certain types of cosmetic products and how this might affect their health.
The survey takes 15-20 minutes, and respondents that complete the survey will receive a $6 Subway Restaurant gift card. If you are between the ages of 13-17, parental permission is required. And since the pandemic interrupted our survey, we should note that anyone who already took the survey is not eligible.
If you are interested in participating, please complete this Google form. Once the form is completed, a parent/legal guardian will be contacted, and you will be informed of the next steps.
New York Providing Utility Debt Relief for Low-Income Households
As you may recall, we have been advocating for utility debt relief because more than 1 million New Yorkers are struggling to pay their utility bills. This crisis has hit low-income communities and communities of color the hardest, as they must spend a disproportionate amount of their household income on utility bills. And with the COVID-19 pandemic hitting these same communities the hardest, it’s not surprising that many have found themselves behind on their utility bills.
Get Debt Relief
Thanks to the New York State Public Service Commission, Governor Kathy Hochul, and the State Legislature, $250 million will be distributed to those in need, helping pay down household utility debt. Current utility customers participating in the Energy Affordability Program (EAP) will receive a one-time bill credit that eliminates arrears accrued through May 1, 2022. But if you are in a low-income household that is not already enrolled in your utility’s EAP program, you can still enroll to receive this credit.
WE ACT Will Help
If you are interested in enrolling, sign up here for help in navigating this process. You can also contact Briana Carbajal at [email protected].
Council Member Carmen De La Rosa's Mobile Office
New York City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa will be having a mobile office at West 181st Street & Fort Washington Avenue on Thursday, August 18 from 12:00-4:00 PM. Stop by to ask questions and learn what resources are available through her office. Be sure to tell her that WE ACT says hello!
Help Us Fight for Environmental Justice
As you may have noticed, the WE ACT team has been growing. More on that in the future. Right now, we need your help to continue this growth. We are looking to hire the following positions:
In our New York City office:
Director of Environmental Health
Energy Justice Policy Specialist
Bilingual Community Organizer
In our Washington, DC office
National Coalition Manager
Federal Regulatory Affairs Manager (Attorney)
Clean Air & Water Policy Manager (Attorney)
Senior Communications Manager
Environmental Justice Research Analyst
Visit weact.org/careers to download the job descriptions and apply for any of these positions. Join our team!
