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Ringing in the New Year with
Major Environmental Justice Victories in NY

We ended the year with 3 big New York State wins! Three critical laws for environmental justice that we championed were signed into law by Governor Hochul:
* Cumulative Impacts (S.8830/A.2103D) will ensure that permits consider cumulative impacts for new projects that could impact environmental quality in low-income communities and communities of color. It's hard to overstate what a huge victory this law is. Negative environmental impacts that accumulate are one of the worst results of environmental racism. It will be hugely empowering to local communities to fight future threats of pollution and toxins in their neighborhoods.
* Mercury Out of Cosmetics (S.8291A/A.8630A) bans the sale – both in-store and online – of cosmetics and other personal care products that contain mercury, a highly dangerous neurotoxin. Mercury is often used in skin lighteners and other beauty protects marketed to people of color.
* Ban on PFAS in Apparel (S.6291) bans PFAS in, making New York and California the first two states to ban these toxic chemicals in clothing.

We thank the Governor for signing these bills; their legislative sponsors; our fellow advocates in the JustGreen Partnership and others who joined the fight; and our members who all helped push these bills over the finish line. Today our state is safer and more just because of all of our efforts.

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Opposition Gaining Against One45 Truck Depot

WE ACT and other community partners joined a rally hosted by New York City Councilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan to demand affordable housing instead of a proposed truck depot in Harlem. After the community rejected a proposal to build a high-rise on West 145th Street with "affordable" housing that's not affordable to the community, the developer stated they would build a truck depot instead. WE ACT stands with the Councilmember in opposition to this, given that the community is already overburdened with air pollution.

Choosing to impose additional air pollution on this neighborhood is an act of environmental racism. And we support the Councilmember's efforts to negotiate with the developer as long as negotiations are transparent and community driven. But we will never accept a false choice between unaffordable housing and toxic air.
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January Membership Meeting

Join us at 10 am on Saturday, January 14 for our first membership meeting of 2023! It will be held in-person at the Most Worship Prince Hall Grand Lodge, which is located at 454 West 155th Street (between St. Nicholas & Amsterdam).

At this meeting, we’ll be sharing the preliminary results of our Out of Gas, In With Justice ([link removed]) pilot program. We will also talk about the federal Inflation Reduction Act; New York State’s Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act; and the potential impact these wins can have on our communities.
RSVP ([link removed])
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Kick Fossil Fuels Out Of Buildings: Rally & Lobby Day

Join us January 24 in Albany as we demand that Governor Hochul and the legislature pass key climate legislation this year to kick fossil fuels out of buildings.

We will kick off the day with a rally and press conference in the State Capitol to push Governor Hochul to include vital bills in her proposed budget. Then we will break into lobby teams (no prior lobbying experience necessary) to talk to our elected representatives and win their support for these important bills.
Register Here ([link removed])
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* Cumulative Impacts: Sonal Jessel talked to Grist ([link removed]) about why it was so important to get our Cumulative Impacts law signed by the Governor.
* Letter to Biden on Clean Energy: Peggy Shepard was quoted in Common Dream's coverage ([link removed]) of the letter we sent President Biden - as part of a coalition of environmental and environmental justice organizations - with a set of principles to accelerate the transmission infrastructure we need to meet our climate goals while preventing harm to impacted communities. These recommended principles provide a forward-looking roadmap for policymakers to ensure our transmission system can meet the growing demand for clean energy.
* HUD Decarbonization: Annie Carforo co-authored an article in Common Dreams ([link removed]) on the benefits of decarbonization in affordable housing. The article focuses on the petition we filed along with the Public Health Law Center and more than 20 other organizations calling on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) "to invest in the people the federal agency was created to help by applying whole-home upgrades that include the remediation of toxins, weatherization, proper ventilation, insulation, and electrification.
* One45 Truck Depot: Pamela Stewart-Martinez spoke at Councilwoman Kristin Richardson Jordan's rally against the proposed One45 truck stop in Harlem this week, and her remarks were quoted in the Real Deal's coverage ([link removed]) : “This neighborhood has had one of the highest rates of asthma in our nation. Emissions from this diesel truck company will be dangerous.”
* Climate Resolutions: Peggy Shepard was among the voices who shared their New Year's "Climate Resolutions" with the Columbia Climate School's State of the Planet blog ([link removed]) . Have a look at what she will be working towards in 2023!
* Columbia Sustainable Careers Reception: Speaking of Columbia Climate School's State of the Planet, it featured Briana Carbajal - one of the inaugural graduates - in a story ([link removed]) about the school's annual sustainable careers reception, praising the students' "urgency to apply an environmental and social justice framework to the adaptation and mitigation of the climate crisis."

You may have missed some of the news we announced over the holidays:
* Governor Hochul signs ([link removed]) landmark environmental justice legislation reducing the cumulative impacts of pollution on disadvantaged communities.
* Governor Hochul bans ([link removed]) sale of personal care products containing mercury.
* New York State’s Climate Action Council releases plan ([link removed]) to equitably achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets.
* National Clean Air for the Long Haul Coalition calls out ([link removed]) the Environmental Protection Agency for prioritizing industry interests with lax NOx emissions standards.

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Community Land Act Town Hall

Join the Community Land Act Virtual Town Hall Wednesday, January 25 at 7 pm to learn more about and support The Community Land Act bill package which includes:
* Public Land for Public Good (Intro 637) – prioritizing Community Land Trusts and other nonprofits when New York City transfers or sells public land.
* Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (Intro 196) – giving Community Land Trusts a first chance to buy multifamily buildings when they go up for sale.
* A Tenant Opportunity-to-Purchase Resolution.

Email [email protected] to join the town hall and sign the petition in favor of the bill here ([link removed]) !

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Join the Healthy Homes Working Group

WE ACT's Healthy Homes Working Group is eager to expand and welcome more members this year! This working group advocates for policies that hold landlords and city officials accountable on issues including mold, pests, toxic chemicals, and other hazards in the home. They meet the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6 pm. The next meeting is Tuesday, January 10.

Join Here ([link removed])
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Get Involved in Environmental Justice in 2023

Start the new year off right by getting more involved in the fight for environmental justice! In addition to our Healthy Working Group, you can join 6 other working groups who are eager to welcome new participants:
* Climate Justice Working Group: Meets 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6 pm. Join here ([link removed])
* NYCHA Working Group: Next meeting: Tues, January 24 at 6:30 pm. Join Here ([link removed])
* Transportation Working Group: Meets 3rd Monday of each month at 6 pm. Join Here ([link removed])
* Civic Engagement Working Group: Meets 1st Tuesday of each month. Email Pamela at [email protected] to get involved.
* Workforce Development Working Group: Email Charles at [email protected] to get involved.
* Beauty Inside Out Working Group: Meets 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Email Sophia at [email protected] to get involved.

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Check Our Policy Agenda for 2023

Happy New Year! Check out our 2023 Policy Agenda to learn about the policy campaigns and initiatives that we are championing or supporting at the city, state, and federal levels this year.
Read Here ([link removed])
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