Ortiz Bill Creates Tax On Fossil Fuel Use
Sunset Park Assemblyman and Assistant Speaker Felix Ortiz has introduced legislation to create a carbon tax on the use of fossil fuels in New York State.
The measure piggybacks on Ortiz’s recent introduction of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act (A8011A), a groundbreaking climate change bill to eliminate investment of public pension funds in the 200 largest fossil fuel companies.
“We must take steps to address climate change now. A carbon tax is one of the most effective tools we have to reduce the use of fossil fuels and I will ask my colleagues and other state leaders to work with me to enact a carbon tax in New York,” said Ortiz.
Ortiz’s bill comes at the same time President Obama is proposing tougher emissions targets on power plants.
With a carbon tax, renewable energy sources, including solar and wind, would be subject to little or no tax; fuels that generate more emissions, including coal, would be subject to higher fees, creating a disincentive for their use.
The tax would raise the price of using fossil fuels and is generally easier for states to implement than cap-and-trade programs. Existing federal and state taxes in the U.S. on gasoline and diesel are already a form of carbon surcharge; however, their effectiveness in reducing our country’s use of them is negligible now since they have not been increased since 1993.
“A carbon tax may prove to be one of the most effective tools available to address this global environmental problem which will affect the future our children inherit,” said Ortiz, adding Sweden and Canada have carbon taxes and have made great strides in reducing their country’s use of fossil fuels.
Adams To Announce Greenest Block In Brooklyn Winners
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, at 11 a.m. today, will join GreenBridge, the community environmental horticulture program of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, to announce the winners of the 21st annual “Greenest Block in Brooklyn” contest.
The competition, which promotes city greening, streetscape gardening, tree stewardship, and community development, saw nearly 200 blocks from 25 Brooklyn neighborhoods compete this year.
Winners have been selected by an expert panel of judges including Brooklyn Botanic Garden staff, metro area horticulture professionals, and gardening journalists. Prizes for the top residential and commercial blocks, Best Window Box, Greenest Storefront, Best Street Tree Beds, Community Garden Streetscape, and the National Grid Leadership in Sustainable Practices Award will be bestowed at the event.
The Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest is a project of GreenBridge and Borough President Adams, with leadership support from Brooklyn Community Foundation and major sponsorship from National Grid.
Cousins Schumer Tag Team On Gun Control
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, alongside actress, comedian and cousin, Amy Schumer, yesterday, began a new team effort and public push to crackdown on mass shootings and gun violence currently plaguing the country.
The cousins’ call comes in the wake of yet another mass shooting, this time in Louisiana that tragically took the lives of two innocent young women, and injured at least nine others, inside a movie theater. Amy Schumer has always felt passionate about rational laws on guns. When she learned that a tragic shooting had occurred at her movie, ‘Trainwreck’ in Louisiana, it redoubled her concern.
The cousins pointed out gun violence kills an average of 88 people per day. Specifically, the cousins pledge to keep fighting for background check reform and are calling for three major actions.
Senator Schumer unveiled new legislation that creates monetary rewards for states that submit all necessary records into the background check system and creates penalties for states that do not submit all records. Secondly, the Schumers urged Congress to fully fund mental health and substance abuse programs that provide treatment to those in-need.
Currently, the Senate’s budget proposal cuts $159 million in funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Thirdly, Schumer and Schumer are urging the federal Department of Justice (DOJ) to write a comprehensive report comparing all states’ standards for involuntary commitment. Moreover, they said that the DOJ should put forth recommendation on best practices that would serve as potential benchmarks for new policies.
“I am teaming up with actress Amy Schumer to address the far too common and far too tragic issue of gun violence in this country, and today, we are demanding that Congress take this issue very seriously,” said Schumer.
Lander, Levin Distribute Reusable Shopping Bags
Park Slope City Councilman Brad Lander and Downtown Brooklyn City Councilman Stephen Levin, tomorrow, will distribute free reusable shopping bags (courtesy of the Citizens Committee for New York City) at Sahadi’s, a locally owned Middle Eastern grocery store that’s been serving Brooklynites from its location on Atlantic Avenue since 1948.
The event also marks a recent endorsement from the Atlantic Ave BID (Business Improvement District) for City Council bill (Int. 209) that would encourage reusable bag use by charging customers 10 cents for single use plastic or paper bags.
The two lawmakers pointed out that New Yorkers currently throw away 5.2 billion plastic bags per year, which costs the city over $12 million a year to transport the waste to landfills.
The bill is aiming for a 90 percent reduction in single-use bags.
WHAT: Reusable Bag Giveaway at Sahadi’s Middle Eastern Grocery Store
WHERE: Sahadi’s, 187 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
WHEN: 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 5
Cuomo Awards SUNY Downstate Research Money
Governor Andrew Cuomo, yesterday, announced, that researchers from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in East Flatbush was one of nine research teams receiving $5.7 million in awards across the state for the development of treatments and cures for various forms and effects of spinal cord injuries.
Each year, approximately 1,000 New York residents suffer traumatic spinal cord injuries, joining the nearly 276,000 people living in the United States with paralysis. This funding will help researchers build on the scientific advancements already made by the State’s research community. Since 2001, at least 22 spinal cord injury-related patent applications have been filed by New York State researchers.
“New York is a leader in medical research and with this investment, we are providing our skilled medical personnel with the resources necessary to further advance cutting-edge research on spinal cord injuries,” Governor Cuomo said. “This funding will bolster New York’s growing medical economy and maintain our long tradition of developing the next generation of life-saving treatment.”
The SUNY Downstate Medical Center team will receive about $350,000 for the 24/7 use of a Fully Integrated Bi-Directional Autonomous Brain Machine Interface in Non-Human-Primates.
SUNY Downstate was instrumental in the development of the MRI, and is considered the birthplace of its use on humans.
