Politics News: New York City

Every year, NYLCV reviews the NYC Mayor’s Executive Budget and sets budget priorities that help advance New York City’s sustainability agenda.

A special election for NYC Public Advocate will occur on February 26th. While NYLCV has decided not to make an endorsement in this race, we reviewed candidates’ records and solicited answers to an environmental questionnaire.

At a City Council Environmental Protection Committee hearing last week, NYLCV testified in support of groundbreaking legislation that would make New York City the first in the world to set carbon emissions standards for buildings, which generate 70% of greenhouse gases in the City.

The City Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection held a hearing last week on legislation that would set greenhouse gas emissions for buildings over 25,000 square feet.

A coalition of over 40 environmental, governmental, housing, labor, and real estate groups recently unveiled the Blueprint For Efficiency plan to mandate dramatic energy use cuts in New York City’s large buildings. In conjunction with the plans release, City Council Member Costa Constantinides announced plans to introduce legislation this fall that would reflect much of the plan’s recommendations. The plan and accompanying legislation come after two years of discussions and negotiations between the city administration, City Council, and stakeholder groups on how to address the biggest contributor to the city’s greenhouse gas emissions - buildings.