An Environmentally-Just Manhattan

Climate change is going to make New York hotter and its weather more volatile. Pollutants from cars, waste, paint, and storm runoff permeate the City. And these issues do not affect all populations equally. Black and Brown New Yorkers suffer higher rates of asthma in the City because of airborne pollutants. Cool, tree-lined areas are not distributed equally. And protection from the worst effects of climate change are not equal.

As Borough President, I will impact land use in Manhattan, have a capital budget to spend, appoint members to the Solid Waste Advisory Board, and appoint members to our Community Boards. With that in mind, I wanted to tell you about my plan for creating an environmentally-just Manhattan.

Parks and Tree-Lined Streets. With rising temperatures, we need to increase the amount of natural cooling in our cityscape. That means more trees and more green space. Right now, people of color have the least access to parks and green space. Any zoning change that comes before my office will need to expand green space to get my approval. I am also committed to making public green space available within a five-minute walk for all New Yorkers. That is one reason why I signed onto the Transportation Alternatives 25x25 pledge to return 25 percent of space currently devoted to cars to people by 2025.

Storm Surge Barriers Without Losing Green Space. We must consider flooding and flood plains in every new rezoning, and invest in adapting the City for our future by investing in storm surge protections like the New York Harbor Storm-Surge Barrier and flooding protections for the subway system. But we cannot do it in the way proposed at East River Park, which takes away vital green space in the City at a time when people need it most. I am committed to nominations to Community Boards that reflect all of these concerns.

Transit Access Everywhere. We must expand bike, pedestrian, and bus infrastructure. A vibrant, green, livable, and equitable Manhattan is one in which cars are not at the center of our planning. With bicycle and pedestrian deaths at tragic highs, many bus routes disrupted by traffic, and climate change increasing heat in our open streets, we are moving farther away from those goals. This is particularly true for Black and Brown New Yorkers who are likely to live farther from subway stops. I will focus on capital projects that make commuting, living, and walking in Manhattan faster, healthier, and safer, and ensure that all communities benefit from this planning.

Solid Waste Reform. The Borough President makes appointments to the Solid Waste Advisory Board. The burden of trash disposal — where trash is taken, and the consistency of trash removal — is unequally distributed throughout the City. In particular, trash removal increases harmful particulates in the air in primarily Black and Brown neighborhoods. While recent steps have improved trash equity in the City, I will appoint members to the SWAB that further the mission of waste equity, while also pushing for containerization to combat the public health hazard of loose bags of trash on our sidewalks and streets.

Expanding Green Infrastructure. Expanding green infrastructure is a core priority in delivering my campaign’s vision for an equitable, livable and sustainable New York. Pollutants from storm surge and runoff are among the most troublesome pollutants in urban areas. I will use the need for increased protection for bike lanes and dedicated bus lanes on our streets to expand green infrastructure in our City. I will fight to increase soil-based medians to create dedicated bus and bike lanes, improving transportation reliability and transportation safety while also preventing storm runoff.