And Now a Word from Our Environment

News on the recently released NYC environmental justice for all report

https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/096-21/recovery-all-us-mayor-de-blasio-launches-first-ever-nyc-environmental-justice-all-report

What do congestion pricing, bad air quality in subway stations,car only roads, scooters, e-bikes and bike share have in common. They are all part of the transportation puzzle in NYC and Staten Island. And maybe some of the answers to solving the traffic problems of the region.

I report on my visit to the Heavenly Harvest Community Garden and this unique garden and community gardeners, many who are cancer survivors.

A new ruling will protect the drinking water for 15 million people in 4 states as the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware voted to ban fracking in the Delaware River Basin.  

This episode covers environmental news items about:

The River North development

https://newyorkyimby.com/2021/02/compass-announces-sale-of-major-mixed-use-development-site-in-st-george-in-staten-island.html

https://www.silive.com/news/2020/10/750-unit-high-rise-apartment-towers-with-affordable-housing-proposed-for-st-george.html?outputType=amp

https://www.silive.com/news/2021/02/second-high-rise-project-proposed-for-st-george.html?outputType=amp

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Amazon's contribution to air pollution and traffic congestion

https://usa.streetsblog.org/2021/02/05/a-look-back-at-bezos-bloody-polluting-legacy-on-u-s-roadways/

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Graniteville Wetlands

https://atlantic2.sierraclub.org/content/staten-island-wetlands-danger

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GroundHog Day

https://nypost.com/2021/02/02/viewers-fume-over-pre-recorded-staten-island-groundhog-day-event/

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George Washington Carver, Environmentalist

https://grist.org/fix/george-washington-carver-environmental-legacy/?

A summary of environmental news and events from Staten Island, New York City and New York State. The events took place in January 2021, including a New Year's Day Beach Walk that is also the subject of this podcast. https://anchor.fm/ecobytes/episodes/New-Years-Day-Beach-Walk-2021-eovo75

Community Gardening Part 1

A lot happens during a 31 year career working with community gardeners. A lot goes into the making of a community garden assistance organization and the folks who work there. In this episode Lenny Librizzi and Gerard Lordahl tell stories that highlight their careers and important moments in the history of community gardens during the years they worked together from 1986 to 2017. Many other people played important roles in creating, maintaining and saving the community gardens. The 15,000 to 20,000 community gardeners were and continue to be an inspiration for all the gardeners have done for New York City.

Some of the groups mentioned:

GrowNYC

Green Guerillas

GreenThumb

ACGA

Brooklyn Queens Land Trust

Bronx Land Trust

Manhattan Land Trust

Brooklyn Alliance of Neighborhood Gardens

New York Restoration Project

Community Gardening Blog

Every New Years Day for the past 31 years, Staten Island Environmentalists have gathered at Great Kills Park, part of Gateway National Recreation Area to take a mile and a half beach walk. This tradition has become a way to review the past year's environmental highlights and to inform each other about upcoming issues affecting our environment. Also it is a great opportunity to see friends. I took the walk miked up and did a bit of narration. You will hear that, along with the sound of the wind, ocean and my fellow walkers. 

The good news is that the economics of energy has made solar and wind cost competitive. It looks like fracking won't have to be banned. Fracking is expensive and investors are looking more to alternatives.

We hint at the next topic for discussion, Transportation. That is a complex energy issue that we will discuss in future episodes.

There is so much about offshore oil drilling that is threatening to our environment. Potentially many accidents waiting to happen.