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Manchin's Dirty Deal Stopped!

Tremendous news came on Tuesday when Senator Manchin announced that he would withdraw his proposed federal permitting reforms that would have benefited the fossil fuel industry from Congress's continuing resolution bill. The move comes after widespread opposition from environmental justice advocates, including WE ACT, and many legislators in the House and Senate. This is a huge victory for our movement and shows the power we have when we organize and speak out.

While Manchin's permitting reform language is dead for now, it is possible that he will try to reintroduce it into other bills in the future. We will continue the fight against this dangerous reform, and any others that benefit fossil fuels over frontline folks, anywhere and anytime, for as long as it takes to protect our communities.

Photo courtesy of Adrien Salazar, Policy Director at the Grassroots Global Justice Alliance.
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EPA Announces New Environmental Justice Office

We had another huge victory ([link removed]) for the environmental justice movement this week when Michael Regan, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced the creation of a new Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights office at the federal agency.

The new office will include over 200 EPA staff members, both at the agency’s headquarters and in the 10 regional EPA offices across the country. Staff will both bolster Title VI compliance, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin, and help environmental justice communities access the $3 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act dedicated to a climate and environmental justice block grant program. Stay tuned for more to come on this exciting development!

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Environmental Health and Justice Leadership Training for Youth

We are collaborating with Start:Empowerment to host a virtual series of our award-winning Environmental Health and Justice Leadership Training (EHJLT) for youth and young activists under 25! There will be four modules in total covering different topics within environmental justice, with each session lasting 90 minutes. These workshops will include an optional project for participants to practice putting their newfound knowledge and skills to use, and will culminate in an EXPO for participants to share what they've been working on. NOTE: Participants are required to attend at least two workshops to join the EXPO.

Register Here ([link removed])

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Governor Hochul Signs Extreme Heat Bill

Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation (S.8431-A/A.10001-B) to study the impacts of extreme heat conditions in disadvantaged communities such as East Harlem. The bill directs the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in consultation with the environmental justice interagency coordinating council and the climate justice working group, to study the impacts of disproportionate heat conditions in urban areas. The study will identify urban disadvantaged communities with concentrations of heat islands, include recommendations on how to identify, prevent and address adverse health and environmental impacts from urban heat island effects, and identify potential funding to address such impacts.

In response to the bill signing, Sonal Jessel said, "Not only is extreme heat the deadliest impact of climate change, it kills Black/African American people twice as often as other racial and ethnic groups in New York City. We thank Governor Hochul for her leadership on addressing this critical environmental justice issue, and we look forward to providing the Department of Environmental Conservation any assistance we can."

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* As the EPA Introduces Its Environmental Justice Office, We Remember the Black Women Who Led the Battle: Peggy Shepard was given a shoutout ([link removed]) by EPA Administrator Michael Regan in Government Executive's coverage of the agency's introduction of its Environmental Justice Office and a look back on the Black women that have led the movement.
* More Coverage of the EPA Announcement: Peggy Shepard was also quoted in E&E News' coverage ([link removed]) of the EPA announcement.
* Manchin's Dirty Permitting Deal: Naadiya Hutchinson was quoted in the National Catholic Reporter's coverage ([link removed]) of the fight to stop the permitting reform bill, calling for the passage of the Environmental Justice for All Act:
* 2022 Summer Heat Impacts the Worst in 4 Years: Sonal Jessel appeared in The City's article ([link removed]) on the health impacts of this summer's heatwaves, noting the work we did in signing up community members for home energy assistance and utility debt relief programs. The article also appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle.

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Save the Date! Membership Meeting October 8

Save the date for our October Membership Meeting at 10 am on Saturday, October 8th. We will preview the results of our Out of Gas, In with Justice pilot program and talk about Participatory Budgeting.
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5K for UN Day: Portion of Proceeds Go To WE ACT

Run, bike, or walk with United Nations Association of New York (UNA-NYC) to celebrate the UN’s anniversary and recognize its tireless efforts to create a world in which everyone thrives in peace, dignity, and equality on a healthy planet.

The event is virtual, which means you may complete it at any time between October 16th and October 29th, anywhere in the world. You can choose between two distances: 5K and 10K. We are excited to announce that a portion of the proceeds for this year's race will go to WE ACT!
Register Here ([link removed])

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WE ACT's 2022 Gala In-Person!

Have you bought your Gala tickets yet? Join us from 6 - 9 pm at International House on Thursday, October 27th to celebrate all of this year’s achievements! After two years of zoom Galas, this will be a special in-person 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.

RSVP Here ([link removed])
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Take Our Transportation Survey!

WE ACT is considering starting transportation working group again but we need your help on what to focus on! Tell us your thoughts on the what the most pressing transportation related environmental needs are in the city.
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Register to Vote in New York by October 14!

The important midterm elections are happening on November 8th. If you are not already registered to vote in New York, register ([link removed]) by October 14th to vote in this year's elections!
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Let's Talk About Heat Challenge

The Let’s Talk About Heat Challenge winners are raising awareness of extreme heat risks for more vulnerable groups and individuals and offering tips on how to protect themselves from extreme heat .

Join Annie Carforo and others in this webinar on Thursday, October 6th at 2pm to hear from winners as they share the their heat safety messages and learn how you can help build capacity to communicate the risks of extreme heat.
Register Here ([link removed])
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City Strategies to Turn Good Intentions Into New Miles of Lead Free Water

Lead service line replacement (LSLR) replacement often brings to mind torn up streets and traffic jams. Even so, there are effective strategies to obtain consent for LSLR and prioritize LSLR at childcare centers (and other locations with young children).

Yuwa Vosper will speak at this event along with Denver Water and Cleveland Water who will share their successful models, including identification of sensitive populations, outreach models, and partnership development with childcare councils, trusted community voices, and residents.
Register Here ([link removed])
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LiLY Awards Gala

Peggy Shepard will be honored by Lifeforce in Later Years (LiLY) as one of three New York Trailblazers to be awarded on October 17th at Columbia University’s historic Low Library. In addition to Peggy, LiLY will also honor Ronald D. Adelman, MD (Co-Chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Co-Director of Cornell University’s Center for Aging Research) and Arthur A. Gianelli (President Of Mount Sinai Morningside & Chief Transformation Officer for Mount Sinai Health System).
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Now Hiring: Help Us Fight for Environmental Justice!

As you may have noticed, the WE ACT team ([link removed]) has been growing and 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)
Policy Director, Clean Air & Water (Attorney)
Senior Communications Manager
Environmental Justice Research Analyst

Visit weact.org/careers ([link removed]) to download the job descriptions and apply for any of these positions. Join our team!
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