AAEA President's Letter Published in Times Union

"The reality is that existing nuclear energy plants in New York – including Indian Point – provide a number of benefits to the state, including carbon-free, reliable energy and jobs and economic growth. In New York, nuclear accounts for 61 percent of the state’s carbon-free electricity. To put that in perspective, more than 22 million metric tons of carbon dioxide are prevented by New York’s nuclear energy facilities, equal to what would be released in a year by more than 4 million passenger cars. Nuclear energy plants also provide more than a third of New York’s electricity and are the state’s only clean-air source that can produce large amounts of electricity around the clock."

(Full Letter)

Entergy: Always at the Black and Puerto Rican Annual Legislative Conference

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

By Norris McDonald

I have been attending the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators, Inc., Conference off and on for the past 15 years.  Although I am not crazy about going to Albany in the heart of winter, it is always well worth the trip.  It provides an opportunity for me to network with a broad combination of legislators, entrepreneurs, government officials, activists, NGO representatives and a myriad of others at the booths in the convention hall.  This year was the 44th Annual Legislative Conference. 

One thing I have noticed is that Entergy is always there.  They always have a booth that gives away great educational materials, T-shirts and I really like the water bottles.  I load up on their gear.  It is also interesting to stand with whomever is representing the company at their booth, this year it was Marva Butler, and listen to the interactions with the public.  People are always curious about nuclear power and if you can get them past the irrational fears that have been foisted on this technology, you usually get positive feedback.

Norris McDonald and Marva Butler

It was interesting when one lady came up and I asked her if she supported nuclear power. She looked at me in a strange way and then Marva started pitching the amenities of the technology.  The woman told us we were preaching to the choir.  She stated that she lived in Peekskill and was an enthusiastic supporter of Indian Point and nuclear power.  We all laughed out loud.

The New York Urban League reception was sponsored by Entergy.  Their President and CEO Arva Rice, provided a very good description of the organization's mission, goals and accomplishments.  It was also a very good reception that was well attended.

Arva Rice and Norris McDonald

We have supported Indian Point nuclear power plant for 15 years.  I remember when I first starting studying nuclear power and I ended up seeing Indian Point as the first domino that, if knocked down, could lead to other nuclear plants being closed.  That led us to launching a campaign, that continues to this day, to support this vitally important source of emission free electricity generation.

New York State Association of Black & Puerto Rican Legislators Annual Conference

AAEA Participates in Caucus Weekend 2015 Conference in Albany, New York

AAEA President Norris McDonald attended the 2015 conference and met with numerous members of of the New York State Legislature and the New York State Office of the State Comptroller.  This was the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators, Inc., 44th Annual Legislative Conference.

Norris McDonald at Hilton Albany Grand Ballroom

The theme of the 2015 Legislative Conference was "United We Stand: Labor, Civil Rights and Social Justice," which focuses on the diverse history of our workforce and the social, economic, and civil rights issues that played a role in defining today's workplace.  Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes is the Chairwoman of the Association.

The Association is a nonprofit organization that brings together New York State's elected officials of color to raise funds toward college scholarships for graduating high school students of color in members' districts.  Many of the Association's members are also part of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus - an official caucus within the state legislature that participates in the legislative and budgetary processes.

Carl Heastie, Speaker of the NYS Assembly

Assemblyman Charles Barron,& NY City Councilwoman Inez Barron

Assemblyman Michael Blake (Bronx)

While attending the conference, McDonald visited offices of Senate and Assembly members to discuss energy and environmental issues.  He met with New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie in his office. McDonald also discussed environmental justice issues with other members of the legislature at various events during the conference.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli sponsored the 8th Annual Emerging Manager & MWBE Conference as part of the Caucus Weekend Conference.  The purpose of the Emerging Manager Program is to help the New York State Common Retirement Fund to access the next generation of talent in the investment field.  

NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli

Chief Investment Officer
 Vicky Fuller (Common Retirement Fund

McDonald participated in many Caucus meetings, summits, panels, break-out sessions and receptions. The New York Urban League reception was particularly interesting and their President and CEO Arva Rice provided a very good description of the organization's mission, goals and accomplishments.

Arva Rice, President & CEO, NY Urban League

AAEA-NY Supports Liberty Port Ambrose LNG Project

Full Written Statement

AAEA New York Director Dan Durett testified before the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Maritime Administration in support of the Liberty Port Ambrose Liquefied Natural Gas Project.  The project will import natural gas into the United States and will provide diversity in energy delivery.  This gas is needed in lower New York and Long Island.

One hearing was held at the Hilton New York JFK Airport Hotel in Jamaica, New York. Approximately 150 union members attended the hearing and expressed their support for the project.

Dan Durett at the January 7, 2015 Hearing

The other hearing was held at the Sheraton Eaton Hotel in Eatontown, New Jersey.  AAEA President Norris McDonald testified before the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Maritime Administration.  Approximately 100 union members attended the hearing and expressed their support for the project.

Full Written Statement

Norris McDonald at January 8, 2015 Hearing

Norris McDonald at January 8, 2015 Hearing

Norris McDonald at January 7, 2015 Hearing

Port Ambrose is a deepwater port consisting of a submerged buoy system for natural gas deliveries that will be located in federal waters approximately 19 miles from the New York shore.  Each delivery is expected to provide an average of 400 million cubic feet of natural gas per day – enough to meet the energy needs of 1.5 million homes. The majority of these deliveries will occur during the peak demand periods of winter and summer.

Support The Liberty Port Ambrose LNG Project

AAEA - New York supports the Liberty Port Ambrose Liquefied Natural Gas Project

Port Ambrose is a deepwater port consisting of a submerged buoy system for natural gas deliveries that will be located in federal waters approximately 19 miles from the New York shore.  Each delivery is expected to provide an average of 400 million cubic feet of natural gas per day – enough to meet the energy needs of 1.5 million homes. The majority of these deliveries will occur during the peak demand periods of winter and summer.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supplies will arrive at Port Ambrose via specially designed Shuttle & Regasification Vessels (SRVs). Once the SRV is connected to the submerged buoy system, the LNG will be re-gasified on board and natural gas will be transferred into a new twenty-two mile subsea pipeline that will connect offshore into the existing Transco Lower New York Bay Lateral pipeline serving Long Island and New York City

The Liberty Port Ambrose Liquefied Natural Gas Project will import LNG that will be delivered from purpose-built LNG regasification vessels (LNGRVs) or Shuttle & Regasification Vessels (SRVs), vaporized on site and delivered through subsea manifolds and lateral pipelines to a buried main line connecting to the existing Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company (Transco) Lower New York Bay Lateral in New York State waters.  

On September 28, 2012, Liberty Natural Gas, LLC (Liberty), submitted an application to the

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) seeking a federal license to construct, own, and operate a deepwater port for the import and regasification of liquefied natural gas in federal waters off the coasts of New York and New Jersey

As stated in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement:

The purpose for licensing LNG deepwater ports is to provide a reliable and timely supply of natural gas and increase energy diversity, while considering impacts on the environment, safety, and security.

AAEA - New York agrees with the purpose of the project.

New York City Winter Natural Gas Prices Expected to Remain High

Boston Too 

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, based on Bloomberg
Note: November through March are considered winter months. Forward prices for 2014-15 and 2015-16 are as of 10/29/2014.

---

Despite expectations of a milder winter for 2014, marketers anticipate high prices for natural gas in Boston and New York City. Natural gas prices are expected to be lower than last winter, but higher than the average of previous winters, particularly in Boston.

Boston. Average forward prices in Boston this winter are expected to be $13.70 per million British thermal unit (MMBtu), which is $2.33/MMBtu lower than the winter of 2013-14 but much higher than previous winters. Higher natural gas prices are partly because the pipeline industry has not added any new capacity to flow more Marcellus gas into Boston and because production from eastern Canada and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Everett (Boston) and Canaport (New Brunswick) terminals are not high enough to serve New England peak demand.

New York City. Forward prices for New York City for the winters of 2014-15 and 2015-16 are significantly lower than the spot prices for the unusually cold winter of 2013-14. The forward prices are still slightly higher than the spot prices for the 2012-13 winter, even though several pipeline expansion projects within the past two years have added new capacity to flow more natural gas from the Marcellus region into New York City.

Since the beginning of 2014, the pipeline industry has added 2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of capacity in the Northeast and plans to add another 0.4 Bcf/d by the end of 2014. Significantly more pipeline projects were completed between 2012 and 2014 than in previous years, reflecting the need to expand the natural gas infrastructure in the Northeast to serve growing natural gas production in this region, particularly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Natural Gas Pipeline Projects

---

Major pipeline projects in 2014 include the following:

• Texas Eastern Transmission's TEAM 2014 expansion was partially completed as of October 29. This project expands the Texas Eastern system with looping and new compressor stations, which enables the system to transport an additional 0.6 Bcf/d of natural gas from western Pennsylvania and West Virginia to market areas in New Jersey, New York, and Ohio.
• The West Side Expansion Project (Smithfield III) was completed on October 27, 2014. This project enables Columbia Gas Transmission to flow 0.44 Bcf/d of gas from the Waynesburg, Pennsylvania and Smithfield, West Virginia areas to Leach, Kentucky, where the gas will be transported to the Gulf Coast on the Columbia Gulf Transmission pipeline.
• The Seneca lateral reversal project was completed on June 18, 2014. This project enables the Rockies Express Pipeline to flow 0.25 Bcf/d of gas west to points in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. (DOE-EIA)

DEC To Modify Permits for Danskammer

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has tentatively determined to renew and modify several permits for the Danskammer power plant, which a new owner plans to reopen.  They include air, acid rain and pollution-discharge-elimination permits. The DEC says applications for those permits and one to withdraw water from the Hudson River are complete.

Among the modifications is one requested by the facility owner, to remove the coal firing process. Danskammer’s four units burn natural gas, and two can also burn oil.

The water withdrawal permit would allow the facility to continue taking up to 455 million gallons per day.

 

Comments on the application and draft permits must be submitted in writing to Christopher M. Hogan, NYSDEC Division of Environmental Permits, 825 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233, or by email to DEPPermitting@dec.ny.gov, by Sept. 19. (Record Online 8/21/2014)

AAEA Comments at DEC Hearing on 42 / 62 / 92 Outage Proposal

AAEA Working With 4-Walls Project

Rich Thomas - NYAREA - 'Forty Under Forty' - City & State

NYISO: "New York Power Grid Prepared for Summer"

NYISO Says Sufficient Resources Available to Meet Expected Demand Statewide

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) reported today that electricity supplies in New York state are expected to be adequate to meet forecasted demand this summer.

Summer Demand Forecast


The NYISO forecasts that New York’s 2014 summer peak demand will reach 33,666 megawatts (MW). The forecasted peak is below the record peak demand set last summer, when a heat wave produced power consumption of 33,956 MW on July 19, 2013.

Peak demand is a measurement of the average total electric demand by consumers for a one-hour period. One megawatt of electricity can serve approximately 800 to 1,000 homes.

Summer heat is responsible for electric power system peaks in New York as air conditioners that increase overall power usage are called upon to counteract rising temperatures. While the electricity system must be prepared to address peak load conditions, average demand is typically far less.

The peak forecast is based on normal summer weather conditions, with temperatures in New York City about 95 degrees Fahrenheit (°F). If extreme summer weather produces heat waves of 100°F in New York City and elsewhere, peak demand across the state could increase to approximately 36,000 MW.


Resource Availability

The total capacity of power resources available to New York in summer 2014 is expected to be 41,298 MW. The total includes 37,978 MW of generating capacity from New York power plants, 1,189 MW in demand response resources (programs under which consumers reduce usage) and 2,130 MW of import capability that could be used to supply energy from neighboring regions to New York.

A surplus of capacity is available for the state as a whole, but transmission constraints narrow the margins of supply for downstate regions.

While power resources remain sufficient to address forecasted demand, the margin of surplus capacity has narrowed in recent years. The resources available this summer are approximately 150 MW below last year’s total and more than 2,200 MW below the 2012 total. Since the start of summer 2012, power plants with more than 2,000 MW of generating capacity have retired or suspended operations.

Reliability Requirements

The ability of New York’s power system to meet the needs of all electricity customers at all times is established by rigorous reliability requirements. The standard for resource adequacy sets requirements for reserves over and above the amount needed to meet forecasted peak demand. In 2014, the standard requires that 39,389 MW be available to serve New York, a reserve margin of 17 percent above the summer peak demand forecast.

Demand Response and Energy Efficiency

In addition to power plant generating capacity and the capability of importing power, peak demands conditions can be addressed by demand response resources. These programs enlist large users of electricity and aggregations of smaller power customers to reduce their electricity consumption when called upon by the NYISO.  (NYISO Press Release)

EPA to Lift Suspension and Debarment of BP

Agreement contains strong provisions to continue safety and ethics improvements in order to comply

The Environmental Protection Agency and BP today executed an agreement resolving all suspension and debarment actions against BP that barred the company from doing business with the federal government following the company’s guilty plea in the Deepwater Horizon disaster of April 2010. The administrative agreement will be in place for five years.

“This is a fair agreement that requires BP to improve its practices in order to meet the terms we’ve outlined together,” said EPA Assistant Administrator of Administration and Resources Craig Hooks. “Many months of discussions and assessments have led up to this point, and I’m confident we’ve secured strong provisions to protect the integrity of federal procurement programs.”

Under the agreement, BP is required to retain an independent auditor approved by EPA who will conduct an annual review and report on BP’s compliance with the agreement. There are also specific provisions addressing ethics compliance, corporate governance, and process safety. The agreement additionally provides EPA the authority to take appropriate corrective action in the event the agreement is breached. EPA coordinated this matter with the Department of Interior, Defense Logistics Agency and U.S. Coast Guard.

Since November 2012, EPA has suspended 25 BP entities and disqualified BP Exploration and Production, Inc. from performing federal contract work at its corporate facility in Houston, Texas, stemming from its criminal conviction in the U.S. Government’s Deepwater Horizon case. Suspensions are issued where there is an immediate need to protect the public interest supported by adequate evidence. The suspension did not affect existing agreements BP had with the government.  The agreement announced today takes effect immediately. (EPA)

East Harlem Natural Gas Explosion

Two Manhattan apartment buildings exploded on Wednesday in East Harlem and the death toll currently stands at seven people with many others missing.  A gas leak-triggered the explosion that reduced the area to a pile of smashed bricks, splinters and mangled metal.  The explosion injured more than 60 people, with searchers still trying to locate others.   The site is at Park Avenue and 116th Street and the blast erupted at about 9:30 a.m., around 15 minutes after a neighboring resident reported smelling gas. The Con Edison utility said it immediately sent workers to check out the report, but they didn't arrive until it was too late.

   

A tenant in one of the destroyed buildings said residents had complained to the landlord about smelling gas as recently as Tuesday.  A few weeks ago city fire officials were called about the odor, which was so bad that a tenant on the top floor broke open the door to the roof for ventilation.
   
The fire department said a check of its records found no instances in the past month in which tenants of the two buildings reported gas odors or leaks.

Con Ed said there was only one gas odor complaint on record with the utility from either address, and it was last May, at the building next door to Borrero's. It was a small leak in customer piping and was fixed.
   

Con Ed said it remains to be seen whether the leak was in a company main or in customer-installed inside plumbing. The gas main that serves the area was made of plastic and cast iron, and the iron dated to 1887.
   
Age is not in and of itself an issue with cast iron. Con Edison has a cast iron replacement program and the pipe was not slated to be removed in the next three-year period.

A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team is investigating. The agency investigates pipeline accidents in addition to transportation disasters.  The NTSB team investigators will be looking at how Con Edison handles reports of gas odors and issues with the pipe and will be constructing a timeline of events.  (AP, NECN, 3/12/2014)

New York City Environmental Justice Hearing

DIRECTOR'S CORNER

By Dan Durett

AAEA President Norris McDonald and I testified at the New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection on Friday, February 28, 2014.  The title of the hearing was: "Oversight - Air quality impacts and ways to measure and address them in NYC environmental justice communities."  The committee has a new chairman, Donovan Richards, and apparently a refreshing new interest in examining environmental justice issues in New York City.

Donovan Richards, Norris McDonald

AAEA - NY is promoting a New York City Environemental Justice Act that would provide protection for environmental justice communities.  AAEA derived the legislation from a draft of the National Environmental Justice Act [at the link behind the NY EJ Act].

It was an incredible four hour hearing.  Stakeholders from throughout the city testified to the need for protection from disproportionate pollution.  Leading environmental justice activists presented the chair and committee with testimonial after testimonial about the vulnerability and lack of protection from pollution. 

The first panel included the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Carter Strickland and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Assistant Commissioner Thomas Matte. 

Dan Durett at the NY City Council Environmental Justice Hearing

Norris McDonald's testimony focused on asthma and my testimony focused on pollution sites.

Hearing video [AAEA appearance begins at 2:20.50]             

AAEA "Times Herald' Article Says Keep Danskammer Closed

"Coal Plant Should Not Reopen"

Times Union [FULL OP ED]

Excerpts:

Why is the New York state contemplating giving new life to what was one of the worst coal polluting plants in the country?

With coal power responsible for thousands of deaths annually and a host of major pollution problems, including high-levels of carbon pollution and other toxic emissions that lead to smog, soot, and asthma, New York must move beyond this energy source.

Fortunately, a diverse group of organizations are working to prevent this

.

New York City Councilman Donovan Richards

New Chairman of the New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection



Donovan Richards

Donovan Richards is a Democratic New York City Council member from the borough of Queens representing New York City’s 31st District.  During June 2011, Donovan Richards became the chief of staff for New York City Councilmand James Sanders. After Sanders was elected to the New York State Senate, Richards was elected to the New York City Council during a 2013 special election.

Incumbent Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton) — who won a special election in February for the southeast Queens seat vacated by his mentor, state Sen. James Sanders (D-Jamaica) — won his first term in City Hall with 92 percent of Tuesday’s vote. Richards had the second-largest number of votes among the borough's council races with 17,226. (Wiki, Facebook)

Notice: New York City Council To Hold Air Quality EJ Hearing

The New York City Council

Committee on Environmental Protection

Councilmember donovan richards, Chairman

 

REPORT of the Infrasturcture Division

Robert Newman, legislative director

 

TO:                              Invited Guests

FROM:                        Samara Swanston, Counsel to the

                                    Environmental Protection Committee

Re:      Air quality Impacts and ways to measure and address them in NYC environmental justice communities

Date: 2/28/14

Time: 1:p.m.

Location: 250 Broadway, 16^th FL Committee Room

We would very much appreciate an opportunity to hear your ideas and perspectives on the above Oversight Hearing topic.

Please testify in person and it will be real time live streamed on Time Warner Channel 74 or submit comments in writing.

Con Edison Urges 7,000 Harlem Residents to Cut Back Their Energy Use

 

 

Salty winter roads are frying Harlem’s underground electrical system and necessitating an uptown crackdown on energy consumption.

A dangerous mix of melted snow and salt, now a ubiquitous presence on city streets, is eating through upper Manhattan’s subterranean web of electrical cables.

Con Edison warned residents who live in a pocket stretching from W. 131th St. to W. 153rd St., between Riverside Dr. and Broadway, to stop using “non-essential” appliances until further notice.

The utility issued the call for conservation as Mother Nature continued to freeze up the five boroughs with what seems to be a never-ending series of storms.

Officials urged residents to refrain from using dishwashers, washing machines, dryers and non-essential lights.

About 7,000 residents are impacted by the request, which Con Ed stressed is voluntary but has no end-date in sight.  (Daily New, 2/6/2014)

Ebony Power 100: 2013

EBONY MAGAZINE TO CELEBRATE THE 2013 EBONY POWER 100 LIST
 AT JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER’S FREDERICK P. ROSE HALL TIME WARNER CENTER

ON NOVEMBER 4, 2013, PRESENTED BY NATIONWIDE INSURANCE

 

 Berry Gordy, Motown Records Founder, Will Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Entertainer Nick Cannon to Host; Legendary Pop Group The Jacksons, Cast of Broadway Hit “Motown The Musical” and Famed Rockjazz Pianist ELEW to Perform
 

EBONY® Magazine, the curator of the African-American experience, past, present and future, today announced that it will host a gala event in New York City at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall on Monday evening, November 4, 2013 to celebrate the honorees on its annual EBONY Power 100 list. This is the second year that the event is presented by Nationwide Insurance.
 

The EBONY Power 100 list salutes the achievements of the most influential African-Americans in the country. Among the game changers honored this year are President Barack Obama, actress Kerry Washington, NBA legend and entrepreneur Earvin "Magic" Johnson, actor Michael B. Jordan, film director Lee Daniels, chefs Marcus Samuelsson and Roblé Ali and activists Harry Belafonte and Marian Wright Edelman.
 

Nick Cannon

Hosting the star-studded evening will be Power 100 list honoree Nick Cannon, the multi-faceted entertainer, actor, DJ, comedian and musician. For the past five seasons, Cannon has served as the host of "America's Got Talent," NBC's top-rated summer reality competition series.
 

Berry Gordy

Berry Gordy, the legendary founder of Motown Records, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Gordy was influential in the careers of such extraordinary talents as the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, the Supremes and the Temptations. Under his direction, Motown became a model for black capitalism, pride and self-expression. A gifted songwriter, Gordy also penned and co-wrote hits for Smokey Robinson, Jackie Wilson and Etta James. In addition, he has produced several movies, including “Mahogany” and “Lady Sings the Blues.”
 

The Motown themed evening will include a special performance by The Jacksons, one of the biggest acts in pop music history. The Jackson brothers—a preteen Michael, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon and Jackie—found their way to Berry Gordy’s hit-making Motown Records in the late 1960s.

 

 

Also scheduled to appear is the cast of Berry Gordy’s four-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway hit “Motown The Musical,” and famed American rockjazz pianist ELEW.
 

DJ KISS, who has spun for many of the world’s biggest celebrities and added her signature sound to the hottest fashion, music and charity events, will play throughout the evening and at the after-party along with Cannon. 
 

James Beard Award-winning chef and author Marcus Samuelsson, owner of Red Rooster Harlem in New York City, is designing the menu for the gala. The internationally acclaimed Samuelsson, who was also named to the EBONY Power 100 list, has cooked for President Obama, served as a judge for “Chopped” and has recently joined the second season of "The Taste" as a mentor. He is also the youngest chef ever to receive a three-star rating from The New York Times.
 

In addition to Nationwide, EBONY Power 100 Gala sponsors include United Airlines,Chevrolet, Ariel Investments, and McDonald’s. Wines for the evening are generously provided by Coral Brown of Brown Estate Vineyards, Napa Valley.
 

The 2013 Power 100 list will appear in the December/January issue of EBONY on newsstands the week of November 4. The full list of the EBONY Power 100 can be found here.
 

About EBONY: EBONY is the No. 1 source for an authoritative perspective on the African-American community. The monthly magazine, now in its 68th year, reaches nearly 11 million readers. EBONY features the best thinkers, trendsetters, hottest celebrities and next-generation leaders of African-Americans. EBONY ignites conversation, promotes empowerment and celebrates aspiration. Available nationwide on newsstands and the iPad, EBONY is the heart, the soul and the pulse of African-Americans (Ebony Press Release)

Sandy Regional Assembly Recovery Agenda

What is the Sandy Regional Assembly?

The Sandy Regional Assembly is an association of environmental justice organizations, community-based groups, labor unions and our allies from Superstorm Sandy-impacted and storm surge-vulnerable areas in New York City, New Jersey and Long Island. Nearly 200 participants representing over 40 organizations participated in a January 2013 meeting to assess the aftermath of Sandy and the role of local communities in the Sandy Recovery process. Together we are advocating for a grassroots-led recovery that includes priorities of low-income people, communities of color, immigrants, and workers.

What happened?

Superstorm Sandy devastated local communities and resulted in billions of dollars in damages. Coastal areas were particularly vulnerable to the unprecedented storm surge while communities located outside of the immediate impact areas experienced massive power outages, interruptions in food and transportation networks, gas shortages, hospital evacuations, and fires. Vulnerable coastal areas in New York and New Jersey are home to low-income, communities of color. As the Post-Sandy NYU Furman Center analysis revealingly reported, most of Sandy’s victims were low income New Yorkers. Sandy impacted nearly 20% of all NYCHA properties, (i.e., 402 buildings with over 35,000 units) and "nearly one-third of owners (29.9%) and two-thirds of renters (64.9%) directly impacted by Sandy had household incomes of less than $30,000 per year."¹ Given those statistics, it is likely that further demographic analysis will show that people of color were disproportionately impacted by the storm. Sandy showed that when disaster hits, our communities are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather and climate change, like flooding, storm surge, erosion, high winds and sea level rise - which are increasing in both frequency and severity.

What is the role of community-based organizations & why do they need to be part of the planning process moving forward?

After Sandy, community-based organizations, neighbors, volunteers, and low-wage workers served as first – and last - responders and provided critical post-disaster support in impacted areas. Community-based organizations in NY/NJ have long demonstrated the capacity to work collectively to support neighborhoods from the ground up. Our resilience is built on decades of work establishing ties with our local communities, longstanding networks of volunteers, and effective organizing strategies. Sandy showed how communities that were resilient and organized before Sandy, were also the most resilient after disaster hit.

It is imperative that low-income and communities of color be an integral part of the Sandy Recovery decision-making process and help hold recovery projects accountable after funds are allocated. This means having a place at the table when recovery plans are made and funds are allocated; working to ensure that recovery efforts are coordinated locally and regionally; and demanding transparency from elected officials and appointed task forces. Low-income communities of color are on the frontline of climate change impacts - but we are also leaders in making our communities, homes, and workplaces safe and resilient now and in the future.

Recovery Agenda

The Sandy Regional Assembly has identified the following common Goals and Recommendations in order to make sure that the priorities of vulnerable communities in the NY/NJ region are included in the Sandy Recovery process:

Recommendations:

a. Develop community-based green infrastructure and climate adaptation projects.

b. Reduce vulnerabilities in critical energy, transportation, and food distribution networks by creating redundant, distributed, sustainable systems that serve the needs of our communities.
c. Strengthen resiliency in public housing, expand affordable housing, and reduce displacement.

d. Secure local recovery jobs that pay wages and benefits at the established industry standards.

e. Create community oversight and inclusive decision-making.f. Prevent environmental hazards after disasters. g. Assess environmental health impacts.
h. Mitigate industrial waterfront threats and update NYC’s Waterfront Revitalization Program.

i. Address the needs of vulnerable populations (communities of color, low-income communities, seniors, children, youth, persons with disabilities, patients requiring permanent medical assistance, immigrants, linguistically-isolated households, etc.)
 j. Improve evacuation and disaster response planning.

k. Train volunteers & local CERT teams.

l. Support community hubs for climate resiliency planning & disaster response.

m. Support local climate resilience and community-based planning initiatives.

n. Support comprehensive community-based disaster preparedness plans using ground-up grassroots planning principles.

(Sandy Regional Assembly Recovery Agenda)