October 22 Newsletter: Trees and NYC 25x25, Vision Zero Cities journal, South Brooklyn fast ferry
As the seasons begin to change and the leaves begin to fall, we’re reminded of how important trees are for our public health.
This summer, record-breaking heat harmed communities with less trees more than those with more trees. The result? Black, brown, and lower-income communities bore the brunt of heat-related illness more than wealthier, whiter parts of the city.
Converting car space into green space, as NYC 25x25 proposes, could correct some of the negative effects of car traffic and reduce the urban heat island effect. One tree can remove the equivalent of 11,000 miles of car emissions from the atmosphere every year, and in New York City, that adds up to $5.60 in benefits for every dollar spent planting trees.
Three Things To Know
1️⃣ Read the latest Vision Zero Cities Journal. Learn from renowned academics, leading urban planners, and more on the lessons they learned from school streets, creating public art, stopping highways, and more.
2️⃣ Next week: City Council to hold a hearing on making streets safer. On October 26, the City Council’s Transportation Committee will hold an oversight hearing on Vision Zero — covering pedestrian and cyclist safety improvements, stopping illegal placard parking, and discouraging car usage. This includes Int. 2159-2020, which would allow everyday New Yorkers to report illegally parked vehicles. Sign up to testify at the hearing and tell them we need bold action now.
3️⃣ Here’s what we’re reading this week. In the news:
Streetsblog takes a look at DOT’s plan for the 34th Avenue Open Street.
Writing in CityLab, TA Executive Director Danny Harris shares why electric trucks won’t save us.
Free, secure bike parking is coming to Grand Central Station. amNY covers Oonee’s pilot program.
Three NYC teens make the case for The Tube: an inter-borough bike highway.
Two Things to Do
1️⃣ Tompkinsville Quarry ribbon cutting tomorrow. The Tompkinsville Quarry isn't new. It's simply the best way to define a waterfront that we've allowed to crumble after decades of disinvestment. Join us tomorrow, Saturday, October 23, as we call for the changes that can turn our quarry into a community space worth celebrating.
2️⃣ Join us for a rally for a South Brooklyn ferry. A ferry hasn’t sailed between St. George and South Brooklyn since 1964. Let’s change that! Join the TA Staten Island Activist Committee for a rally on October 28 at 6 p.m. calling on a new fast ferry route to connect St. George and South Brooklyn.
One Action To Take Now
What do you want to see from the next administration? Early voting in this year’s New York City election begins tomorrow. We want to know what you want to see from the next administration’s transportation platform, whether it’s safe cycling routes, Open Streets, bus rapid transit, or anything in between. Let us know at feedback@transalt.org.