Res. No. 271

Resolution expressing support of ElectrifyNY and its work to improve the environmental and public health outcomes for communities that are most impacted by the negative effects of the transportation sector’s dependency on fossil fuel.

By Council Members Avilés, Gennaro and Gutiérrez

Whereas, Each day, emissions from transportation, largely from cars, buses, and trucks, contribute a large amount of pollution to New York State’s (NYS) air; and

Whereas, For New York City (NYC), according to the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, motor vehicles contribute about 11 percent of the local fine particulate matter and 28 percent of the nitrogen oxide emissions annually; and

Whereas, Although NYS and NYC have made strides to improve environmental and public health outcomes for its communities, air pollution remains a major threat; and

Whereas, ElectrifyNY is a statewide coalition of advocates for environmental justice, public transportation, social justice, and good jobs, formed to combat this threat and ensure that NYS has a clean and equitable electric transportation future; and

Whereas, The coalition includes, among others, the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Environmental Advocates of New York, The Sierra Club, and Jobs to Move America; and

Whereas, According to the coalition, transportation is the largest source of pollution in NYS and the only sector in which pollution levels are higher than they were in 1990; and

Whereas, In addition to this, transportation systems are facing a number of challenges, including underfunding, cutbacks, and limited service in low-income communities; and

Whereas, To rectify these problems and secure a more equitable, environmentally-friendly future, the coalition advocates for advancements in public health, transit, jobs, and state policy, which largely focus on the transition to clean-powered transportation; and

Whereas, Specifically, ElectrifyNY campaigns for NYS to, among other things: set a 55 percent ground transportation emissions reductions target by 2035; convert its vehicles and fleets to zero tailpipe emissions through transparent and equitable processes; ensure that investment is made within its charging infrastructure; and maximize the impacts of the Green Transit Bill and Green Jobs Bills; and

Whereas, ElectrifyNY is working with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to ensure transparency in the procurement, construction, and siting of transportation needs aspects of the Authority’s commitment to transition to a fully clean-emissions bus fleet by 2040; and

Whereas, The coalition is also ensuring that communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution receive assistance from the MTA to mitigate such impacts; and

Whereas, As ElectrifyNY is an important coalition of advocates that looks to ensure that NYS and NYC have an equitable and clean future while ensuring communities most impacted by transportation-related pollution can thrive, it is important for the Council to support its work; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York expresses support of ElectrifyNY and its work to improve the environmental and public health outcomes for communities that are most impacted by the negative effects of the transportation sector’s dependency on fossil fuel.

KK

LS 15775

3/6/24