Equity: Page 2
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Recycling brings environmental justice communities opportunities — and potential costs
As local groups strive for federal grants, efforts to recycle solar panels and EV batteries could exacerbate problems in already overburdened communities, National Recycling Congress participants said.
By Megan Quinn • March 15, 2024 -
Chicago’s novel idea for paying off affordable housing, development bond
The city plans to cut back a program that critics said kept property tax revenue in wealthier neighborhoods and diverted it from public services.
By Danielle McLean • March 8, 2024 -
Trendline
Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive
From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them in 2024.
By Smart Cities Dive staff -
Study on delivery worker conditions, pay mandated in DC
The study could be the first legislative step toward a citywide effort to regulate the pay and conditions of delivery drivers.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 8, 2024 -
NYC subways get National Guard, state police patrols after high-profile assaults
While New York City Mayor Eric Adams and transit workers applaud the move, others express concerns about racial profiling.
By Dan Zukowski • March 7, 2024 -
DoorDash shifts pay scheme, cuts flexibility for New York City workers
DoorDash says its fees in the Big Apple have driven down delivery sales, but the city says data from delivery firms shows otherwise.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 6, 2024 -
As the Affordable Connectivity Program sunsets, what’s next for low-income students?
With the responsibility to keep students connected at home shifting to school district leaders, experts say partnerships with state and local governments and plans for other Federal Communications Commission initiatives are key.
By Anna Merod • March 6, 2024 -
States must assess road safety for pedestrians, cyclists under FHWA proposed rule change
The Federal Highway Administration wants to update regulations for the Highway Safety Improvement Program to align with federal equity and safety priorities.
By Dan Zukowski • March 6, 2024 -
Iowa bill seeks to bring grocery options to underserved communities
Introduced by a state representative who formerly owned a food store, the proposed legislation would provide grants of $50,000 to $500,000 to grocers with up to 10 locations.
By Catherine Douglas Moran • March 4, 2024 -
‘We are behind’: On composting, NYC’s new sanitation chair pushes for funding, transparency
Budget cuts to New York City’s community composting program are “unacceptable,” Council Member Shaun Abreu said at the first Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Committee hearing of the year.
By Jacob Wallace • March 1, 2024 -
Newark, New Jersey, sells residents $1 homes to fend off corporate property buyers
The city hopes the $1-home lottery will shore up local homeownership and combat neighborhood blight. It’s not the first community to try the strategy, and it likely won’t be the last.
By Gaby Galvin • March 1, 2024 -
NYC defines ‘green economy,’ projects job growth in new action plan
The 124-page plan released yesterday is the city’s latest signal that it is hungry to be at the center of climate change-related business and workforce growth.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Feb. 29, 2024 -
Pedestrian deaths declined modestly in first half of 2023: GHSA
“A decrease in pedestrian fatalities is welcome news,” said the Governors Highway Safety Association's Adam Snider, but the numbers are still far above pre-pandemic levels.
By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 27, 2024 -
Climate risk planning portal from Argonne National Lab gets new features
The portal uses one of the world's largest supercomputers to model climate change hazards. Now, communities can use it to predict impacts on vulnerable populations and infrastructure.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Feb. 26, 2024 -
EPA rolls out $83M for air quality monitoring after tightening soot standard
The Biden administration is hoping to clean up the nation’s air, but about two-thirds of U.S. counties lack air monitors, according to Earthjustice.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Feb. 22, 2024 -
Congress reintroduces PFAS litigation bill
The PFAS Accountability Act would make it easier for those significantly exposed to forever chemicals to sue manufacturers.
By Sara Samora • Feb. 16, 2024 -
Q&A
Transportation and public health ‘need to be working in collaboration with each other’
Transportation decisions that affect public health shouldn't be made in isolation, a former CDC official says.
By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 15, 2024 -
Boston area transit agency to offer half-price fares for low-income riders
Up to 60,000 riders could be eligible for the program, which has the potential to increase ridership 30% among that group, the MBTA says.
By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 13, 2024 -
Boston’s first networked geothermal project will electrify 7 public housing buildings
Geothermal systems are a promising approach to transitioning communities off fossil fuels for heating and cooling, experts say.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Feb. 9, 2024 -
Neighborhood-scale building decarbonization: 2 approaches
Relying on the replacement of one appliance at a time isn’t enough to meet federal and state climate goals, said the Building Decarbonization Coalition’s executive director.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Feb. 6, 2024 -
Chicago commuter rail begins reduced-fare program for low-income riders
The new 18-month pilot program is open to all recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the six-county region served by the commuter rail operator, Metra.
By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 2, 2024 -
US cities’ outlook for 2024
Cities are pushing ahead on innovative bids to build more sustainable, safe and equitable communities, but many of the roadblocks they face likely aren't going anywhere.
By Smart Cities Dive staff • Jan. 31, 2024 -
Extreme heat watch: Will cities be ready for summer 2024?
This year could be even hotter than last year’s record-breaker, some scientists say. Cities are using the winter to prepare.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 31, 2024 -
NOAA releases high-resolution land cover data to boost coastal climate resilience efforts
The new data is 900 times more detailed than what the agency previously provided. Local leaders have asked for such data for years, but it is often prohibitively expensive, NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 26, 2024 -
Federal lawmaker seeks funds for USDA grocery-access program
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand introduced a bill that would require the government to provide $50 million per year to a program that incentivizes grocers to bring stores to underserved areas.
By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 24, 2024 -
Mayors urge Congress to fund broadband access program for low-income households
The Affordable Connectivity Program, which lessens the burden of internet bills for nearly 23 million households, will run out of funds this spring if it does not receive further congressional appropriations.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 24, 2024