Transcript: On Earth Day, Mamdani Administration Releases NYCHA Sustainability Agenda and Marks Environmental Progress Across City Government
Zohran Mamdani on NYC Mayor's Office transcripts.
Passages
Good morning, Queens. Good morning, Woodside. Happy Earth Day. I want to reflect on the words of the late great Val Kilmer in the not-fully-appreciated-in-its-time 1995 Michael Mann classic “Heat.” When speaking about his love interest Ashley Judd, he said, “For me, the sun rises and sets with her, man.” For too long, the sun has risen and set on New Yorkers living in apartments without reliable heat, or warmth [from] inefficient fossil fuel-guzzling boilers. Today, as we mark the 56th anniversary of Earth Day, we are telling our own very different story of heat, one where we transition thousands of NYCHA apartments from inefficient systems to clean, beautiful heat pumps over the next five years. This transition lives at the heart of New York City's third ever NYCHA sustainability agenda, which sets our city on a path to tackle the climate crisis at the scale needed. It sets sustainability goals that include everything from thousands of induction stoves in NYCHA apartments to electric vehicle charging stations in NYCHA parking lots to hiring NYCHA residents to fill green jobs. This agenda builds on progress that we have already been achieving here in New York City. In February of this year, we invested $38.4 million in heat pumps at Beach 41st Street Houses. And we did so in large part because of the success we saw in the investment of heat pumps right here at Woodside Houses. And so that is what this is about: seeing what works in this city and then building on it so that more and more New Yorkers can benefit from it. It was a pleasure to be there with so many of the same people that we stand with today. And we know that our Solar Electric Generating System Tax Abatement also just hit a major milestone for this year: 4,000 people benefiting and $20 million in exemptions. Reports on Local Law 97, which mandates buildings larger than 25,000 square feet, must meet strict greenhouse gas limits, shows that 93 percent of buildings are filing as they should. Building a cleaner, greener New York City and better serving NYCHA residents are not mutually exclusive goals. We can show the world that meeting climate goals, addressing affordability and connecting New Yorkers to jobs are all part of the same larger fight for dignity. I'm reminded often of Rachel Carson's words in Silent Spring: “[But] man is part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself.” [On] this Earth Day, let us recommit to living in peaceful harmony with nature. Thank you and Happy Earth Day. Now with that, I'm going to pass it over to our NYCHA CEO, Lisa Bova-Hiatt.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceYou know, I've been clear on where I stand on the CLCPA, where I stand on fossil fuel infrastructure. And what I think is necessary is that we respond to the climate crisis, frankly, with the urgency that's required. And too often we separate issues of quality of life from the climate crisis when we know that oftentimes they're actually one and the same. When we're talking about the benefit of heat pumps, it's a benefit that so many NYCHA residents are feeling across the many different concerns that they have, alongside the fact that it's ensuring that we're actually tackling the generation of particulates that otherwise would be the case at developments across the city. So, today is, in many ways, a fulfillment of that vision and laying it out. And I've shared the thoughts prior to that.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceI think first is to say that the Council Member is rightly passionate about tackling the scourge of deed theft, and he has been someone who has been leading. It's been a pleasure to be working with him alongside the creation of efforts that our administration will be delivering on to combat that same scourge. And I'll follow up on the details of this arrest.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceWe'll follow up on the details of this. Thank you. No, I haven’t seen the video.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceI mean, that's incredibly concerning to hear. And that's exactly something that we're going to follow up on, not just on the nature of this arrest, but also what was the underlying issue that was being protested. I know he's been on the front lines of fighting deed theft. It's especially prevalent in his Council district. And I appreciate, frankly, the efforts that he's led in the past on ensuring that this is front of mind for all of us.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceSo, this is part of the conversations that are being had about how to administer this tax. We are confident that the tax would raise about half a billion dollars on an annual basis. And part of the conversation around the administering of it is also to tackle the longstanding chasm between stated values and assessed values. Not offhand, I can’t tell you the assessed value of that individual home.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceSo, I shared my thoughts on this the other evening where I spoke about the fact that this was heartbreaking. And it was heartbreaking not just for what it means for his family and his friends. I know it was also heartbreaking for so many New Yorkers to watch this video and see others simply witness what unfolded as opposed to step up to address it. And that is also our responsibility as a City government. I know that I have full confidence in the NYPD's abilities to hold the individual responsible accountable. We're also setting up a time to meet with the family. I don't have the exact time as yet, but that's a conversation that's been ongoing. And I'll just say one other thing is this has been devastating as well for the larger school community of which Jaden was a part of. And I know that our New York City public school system has been providing grief counselors at the school for not just students, but also for teachers and for staff.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceI think ultimately, it's a decision for the Council to make which legislation they bring forward for a vote and then how they vote on that legislation. I've been clear, however, that I'm someone who has long been supportive of the struggle of home care workers, many of whom are disproportionately immigrant women, and that it is important that we recognize the work that they do and also ensure that it is possible for them to continue to do it.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceYou know, I will say at this time, I think my focus is on keeping the faith for when it comes to the Mets and also keeping my fingers crossed when it comes to the Knicks. I have confidence in the team. I think it's a little premature to talk about a rally at this time. When it comes to the Artemis 2 ticker-tape parade, that is something that we've brought back to the team and are looking into the logistics of what that would require. We'll be sure to keep people updated as we have an answer to it. I think typically ticker-tape parades have been funded by the organization or the entity that's being celebrated. That's part of what we're looking into right now.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceSo, those are decisions that will be made and those are the conversations that we will leave to NYCHA. What I will say is that we've seen here at Woodside Houses, the transformative impact of these heat pumps, not only in terms of carbon emissions, but also just quality of life and even cost, frankly. And it was to such an effect that I remember, I think it was The City that wrote an article about the impact that it had here at Woodside Houses. I at the time was an Assembly member representing Astoria and Long Island City and actually came here for a visit just to see them myself. And so, we've already made the decision that we will be delivering this in the Rockaways at that announcement that I alluded to earlier. In terms of where else, that will be part of a larger conversation. And they'll also follow up on the exact timings of that construction.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceSo, the Rockaways, I think, is about $38 million or so that we've announced that is within our own capital budget. We also announced the preliminary budget that we put forward on February 17, a significant increase in the amount of money we're setting aside for preservation of NYCHA that is city funded. This is a vision that that we're laying out today, that there are things that are funded by the city. There are also things that we are hopeful of securing funding from elsewhere.
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the sourceLook, I think I've long been clear that I am concerned about the ways in which this World Cup is pricing out so many working-class supporters of the game. Soccer, as a game, is born out of the working class. And when you're looking at the ticket prices to attend the game, you're looking at the cost of getting to the game. It is something that is out of reach for many. And I also understand where, you know, the decision that New Jersey Transit has made, the decision coming from New Jersey elected officials. They are also reckoning with the fact that a lot of the cost has been placed upon them. And all of this while FIFA is anticipated to have about $11 billion dollars in revenue over the course of this tournament. So, I am continuing to be hopeful of ways that we can make this a more affordable experience for everyone. And we're going to look to show that New York City will be exactly that. ###
Zohran MamdaniCheck at the source
Every passage above is taken from this recording: NYC Mayor's Office transcripts, Transcript: On Earth Day, Mamdani Administration Releases NYCHA Sustainability Agenda and Marks Environmental Progress Across City Government.