NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS 2019 NYC COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL Scorecard Contents FOREWORD 4 ABOUT THE BILLS 6 A NOTE TO OUR MEMBERS 11 KEY RESULTS 12 AVERAGE SCORES 13 LEADERSHIP 14 COUNCIL SCORES 16 METHODOLOGY 18 2 NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS COVER IMAGE: ©DEBERARR / STOCK.ADOBE.COM ALL IMAGES ON THESE PAGES COURTESY OF NYLCV 2019 NYC COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD 3 Last year was a landmark year for the environment in New York City. As the most recent report from the Intergovern- As our 2019 NYC Scorecard shows, clean mental Panel on Climate Change makes plain, transportation remains one of our biggest we are in a climate crisis—and New York must priorities and it’s clear that the City Council lead the fight against climate change at this time made it a priority as well. We scored a whopping when the federal government is stepping back five bills that reduce emissions from the from international commitments and rolling back transportation sector—the largest contributor to common sense programs, like clean car standards. climate change in our state and nation. Among the In 2019, the City took bold action by adopting new bills is one that supports electrification of school climate legislation: bills were enacted to reduce buses. But electrification will not be enough. emissions from buildings, completely reimagine our That’s why we scored bills that give people more commercial waste system, and improve our streets mobility options, including e-bikes and scooters, to promote safety and sustainability—all policies and improve bus service and the streetscape to that we included in our previous NYC Policy prioritize pedestrians and bike paths so New Agendas and all critical steps in the fight against Yorkers can more easily choose sustainable climate change. modes of transportation. Our primary tool for holding Council Members For example, the City Council passed landmark accountable for supporting the priorities included legislation to develop a master plan for streets in these agendas is our annual New York City that will encourage low-emission transportation, Council Environmental Scorecard. Using our improve mobility, reduce dependency on cars, policy agenda as a guide—and in consultation with decrease pollution, improve air quality, and our partners from environmental, public health, combat climate change. We will work with the conservation and transportation groups—we Administration and our partners to ensure identify priority bills that have passed and those we that this policy is implemented in a timely believe have a chance of becoming law for inclusion and equitable manner. in our scorecard. We then score each Council Member based on their support of these bills. 4 NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS One already-enacted program that complements Council made parks and natural areas a priority this new law is the “busway” on 14th Street in during budget season last year by securing Manhattan. We spent years advocating for this an additional $44 million for NYC Parks and because we knew that it could serve as a model that greenspaces—the largest increase in funding for leads to quicker travel times, improved ridership, parks in over two decades. This funding would not and fewer cars on the road citywide. Now, as we have been secured without our Play Fair founding prepare for the launch of congestion pricing, we partners New Yorkers for Parks and District need more busways like it on major thoroughfares Council 37 and the entire Play Fair coalition, which in every borough and other creative models to will continue to call for bigger investments in provide transportation alternatives. greenspaces in 2020 and beyond. In New York City, buildings are the top source 2019 was an incredible year, but we all know there is of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why the more work to do. In 2020, we will double down on scorecard includes the nation-leading legislation efforts to expand organic waste collection, clean up that established building emissions caps. Intro our school buses, reduce plastic waste, protect our 1253-C, now Local Law 97 of 2019, will ensure tree canopy and other green spaces, and continue that certain major polluters in the residential to make progress on eliminating childhood lead and commercial building sectors do their part to poisoning. fight climate change. This policy was a longtime priority for NYLCV since the single largest step This year will be big for our political system with the City can take to achieve the climate goals set a major election that could shift the balance of out in OneNYC is to drastically reduce emissions power in Washington. No matter what happens from buildings. We thank the legislation’s sponsor, nationally, it is more important than ever for Council Member Costa Constantinides, for his local governments to remain committed to leadership and steadfast commitment to passing the environment and serve as role models for the bill. other cities to follow. Climate change knows no boundaries and as a coastal city, we know all too After years of negotiation, the City Council also well that we must act to make our community enacted legislation to create a commercial waste more resilient. New York City has already begun zone system that will reduce emissions from doing so, and we look forward to working with garbage collection, decrease traffic congestion the Administration and Council to continue this and improve safety for workers and pedestrians. progress in 2020! This historic reform will also incentivize waste reduction, cleaner fleets, investments in organics processing, and lead to more green jobs. Congratulations to the Transform Don’t Trash Coalition and Council Member Antonio Reynoso for this huge accomplishment! Thanks to the advocacy of our Play Fair for Parks Julie Tighe campaign, Speaker Corey Johnson and the City PRESIDENT, NYLCV 2019 NYC COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD 5 About the Bills BUILDINGS EMISSIONS CAPS INTRO 1253-C (CONSTANTINIDES) This law establishes the Office of Building Energy and Emissions Performance and sets greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) limits for certain buildings over 25,000 square feet in NYC. Currently, buildings make up the lion's share of GHG emissions in the City, at over 70% of total emissions. The legislation’s goal is to ensure NYC meets its target of a 40% reduction in GHGs by 2030 and 80% by 2050, based on a 2005 baseline. Building owners will be required to meet strict building emissions limits or face penalties. Intro 1253-C was introduced on November 28, 2018 and heard by the Committee on Environmental Protection on December 4, 2018. The bill passed on April 18, 2019 by a vote of 45-2. NYLCV PRESIDENT JULIE TIGHE SPEAKS AT A RALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE CLIMATE MOBILIZATION ACT IN APRIL 2019 6 NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS COMMERCIAL WASTE ZONES INTRO 1574-A (REYNOSO) This law will transform the way NYC handles commercial waste by estab- lishing commercial waste zones. The city will be divided into 20 geographic zones with up to three commercial waste carters operating in each zone. Under Intro 1574-A, the Department of Sanitation will designate the zones and carters will submit proposals as part of a formal bidding process to provide waste collection services to businesses in specific zones. Carters will have to follow strict and much needed envi- ronmental, safety, and labor standards in order to be selected. The commer- cial waste zone system is estimated to reduce emissions from garbage collection by as much as two-thirds, decrease traffic congestion and reduce miles traveled by commercial garbage trucks by 50%, making our streets safer and more pedestrian-friendly. The leg- islation is the culmination of years of input by environmental groups, labor, NYLCV PRESIDENT JULIE TIGHE SPEAKS AT NYLCV'S PRESS CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE industry, the City Council, and DSNY. BENEFITS OF THE 14TH STREET BUSWAY Intro 1574-A was introduced on May 29, 2019 and heard by the Committee on and mass transit for individuals with options much more attractive. That’s Sanitation and Solid Waste Management reduced mobility, hearing, or visual why the Streets Master Plan is critical on June 27, 2019. The bill passed on impairment. Among other things, the to NYC’s environment. Intro 1557-A October 30, 2019 by a vote of 34-14. legislation requires that within the was introduced on May 29, 2019 and plan’s first two years, the City will add heard by the Committee on Transporta- TRANSIT MASTER PLAN one million square feet of pedestri- tion on June 12, 2019. The bill passed on INTRO 1557-A (SPEAKER JOHNSON) an space, and over the course of five October 30, 2019 by a vote of 37-9. This law requires the Department of years, add 250 miles of protected bike Transportation (DOT) to issue and lanes and 150 miles of protected bus COMMUNITY CHOICE implement a master plan for streets, lanes. Intro 1557-A also requires DOT AGGREGATION sidewalks, and pedestrian spaces every to conduct a public education cam- INTRO 140-A (LEVIN) five years. The first master plan is due paign and post updates to the plan. This law requires the Mayor’s by December 2021. The plan prioritiz- With fewer cars on the road, pollu- Office of Sustainability to conduct es and promotes the safety of pedes- tion will decrease and air quality will a feasibility study on implementing trians and cyclists, use of mass transit, improve, but in order to encourage a community choice aggregation the reduction of traffic congestion New Yorkers to get out of their cars (CCA) program in New York and emissions, and improved access in favor of more sustainable modes of City. CCA is a program allowing to streets, sidewalks, public spaces, transportation, we have to make those municipalities to purchase power 2019 NYC COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD 7 MAYOR BILL de BLASIO SIGNS HISTORIC LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING COMMERCIAL WASTE ZONES IN NOVEMBER 2019 for residents and businesses in SINGLE-USE PAPER BAG FEE RENEWABLE RIKERS - bulk, making clean energy more INTRO 1527 (LANDER) WASTEWATER TREATMENT cost-competitive.