New York League of Conservation Voters
(212) 361-6350, Ext. 206
For Immediate Release: March 8, 2019
Contact: Shachar Sharon, ssharon@nylcv.org
NYLCV Releases 2018 NYC Council Environmental Scorecard
Brooklyn Members Score Higher and Fewer Failing Marks
New York, N.Y. – Today, the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) released its 2018 NYC Council Environmental Scorecard, in which Council Members are evaluated based on their support of environmental issues in the previous year. This year, 21 Members received a perfect score of 100 and the Brooklyn delegation was the most improved.
Each Council Member’s score is calculated based on voting and sponsorship records on 13 key environmental bills identified in this year’s scorecard that promote clean energy, improve public health, and encourage sustainable transportation. As the only organization that provides a New York City Council environmental scorecard, NYLCV’s independent assessment of the Council’s record is important for determining which Council Members are working to protect New York City’s environment and which are not.
NYLCV’s President Julie Tighe said, “We are excited that so many Council Members support the environment and have taken pro-environmental actions as part of our scorecard. Kudos to the 44 Council Members who earned high marks this year! With the executive branch in Washington undermining years of environmental progress, it is more important than ever for local governments to fill that void. We will work with legislative leaders to enact policies to encourage the use of renewable energy, decrease emissions, and reduce waste – all top NYLCV priorities. Together, we are also fighting to protect public health, and our recreation and open space resources for generations to come.”
The full document is available here.
Highlights Include:
- The average score this year was again 88, showing that the environment rates as a top priority for Council Members.
- Twenty-one Council Members, over 42% of the Council, scored a perfect 100.
- Forty-four Council Members scored higher than 80%.
- With a borough average score of 94, compared to 87 last year, the Brooklyn delegation was the most improved and had the largest number of perfect scores.
- The Staten Island delegation, with an average of 46, scored the lowest for the fifth consecutive year and significantly decreased its score from last year.
- Five Council Members received a failing score, down from 10 last year.
Scores of key committee chairs
Consumer Affairs: Rafael Espinal, 100
Environmental Protection: Costa Constantinides, 100
Health: Mark Levine, 100
Parks & Recreation: Barry Grodenchik, 92
Sanitation & Solid Waste: Antonio Reynoso, 100
Transportation: Ydanis Rodriguez, 100
Perfect Score of 100
Bronx – Fernando Cabrera, Rafael Salamanca, Ritchie Torres
Brooklyn – Inez Barron, Robert Cornegy, Laurie Cumbo, Rafael Espinal, Mathieu Eugene, Stephen Levin, Alan Maisel, Antonio Reynoso, Jumaane Williams
Manhattan – Margaret Chin, Helen Rosenthal, Mark Levine, Ydanis Rodriguez
Queens – Adrienne Adams, Costa Constantinides, Donovan Richards, Eric Ulrich, Jimmy Van Bramer
Failing Scores (under 70%)
23-Joseph Borelli, Ruben Diaz Sr., Steven Matteo
62- Kalman Yeger
64- Andy King
NYLCV’s top priorities from the 2018 New York City Policy Agenda included removing toxins from the environment, planning for future mobility systems, and making the City’s climate goals real. The scorecard is the League’s primary tool for holding Council Members accountable for progress on these goals. Bills that encourage wind energy, advance electric scooters and bicycles, and combat lead poisoning are included in this year’s scorecard.
NYLCV also conducted extensive consultation with partner organizations in the transportation, environmental justice, public health, conservation, parks, and clean-energy communities to select bills for inclusion in the scorecard. Relying heavily on their input, NYLCV drafted an initial list of more than three-dozen bills. The final list was pared down to 13 to indicate the highest collective priorities.
Council Members earned points by casting pro-environment votes or by co-sponsoring bills. Negative votes count against the final score. Votes missed due to medical absences were not factored into the score. Bills that passed during 2018 were graded on whether or not each legislator took the pro-environment vote. Bills that did not reach a vote during 2018 were graded on co-sponsorship. As is NYLCV’s tradition, Council Speaker Corey Johnson was not graded.
The New York League of Conservation Voters is the only non-partisan, statewide environmental organization in New York that takes a pragmatic approach to fighting for clean water, healthy air, renewable energy, and open space. For more information, visit www.nylcv.org.
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