Espinal Officially Launches City’s First-Ever Urban Agriculture Website
City Council member Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick, East New York) officially launched New York City’s First-Ever urban agriculture website earlier this week.
The website is the result of Espinal’s legislation, Int. 1661, that passed the Council last year, that required the City to develop an urban agriculture website to promote the expansion of urban agriculture in the City. The website is intended to serve as a one-stop shop for all information relating to urban agriculture for community gardeners and urban farming practitioners. The Department of City Planning, NYC Parks’ GreenThumb and Small Business Services all contributed to the creation of the website and are available resources.
“Urban agriculture offers countless benefits to our communities. It can provide access to affordable, healthy food, create jobs, and improve our environment. Yet, for too long, our urban farmers have had to navigate a complex web of outdated regulations and zoning codes. We should be actively encouraging the expansion of urban agriculture, not disincentivizing it,” said Espinal.
“The launch of this new website will give our valued urban farmers the resources and information they need to grow their footprint in the city, and bring fresh life to our communities. This website marks the first-step of our work cultivating agriculture in our city and I will continue to push for more funding, legislation and support for this valuable industry,” added Espinal.
The website link is available here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/agriculture/index.page
CM Williams Begins Trial For Immigration Protest For Arrest
City Council member Jumaane (D-East Flatbush, Flatbush, Midwood) will begin his trial in New York County Criminal Court for charges related to his arrest in the Ravi Ragbir protest.
In January, Williams was arrested on charges of obstructing an emergency medical vehicle stemming from the protest of the detention and imminent deportation of immigrant rights activist Ravi Ragbir. In March, Williams appeared before a judge alongside sixteen other protesters who were arrested with the Council Member for their roles in the protest, who all later accepted an ACD (Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal) in the courtroom, while informing the court of their intention to continue to protest actions they find unjust.
The arrest and detention of Ragbir was later ruled unconstitutional by Judge Kathleen Forrest, who compared ICE’s actions to “regimes we revile as unjust; regimes where those who have long lived in a country may be taken without notice…and sent away.” Ragbir currently continues his fight to stay in the United States.
The event is slated for 9:15 a.m., Tuesday, July 31, at New York County Criminal Court, at 100 Centre Street in Lower Manhattan.
Reynoso Announces Launch of Shared Electric Moped Service
City Council member Antonio Reynoso (D-Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bushwick) will announce the launch of the the first ever shared electric moped service in New York City today.
Revel Transit is a brand new, New York-based company that will initally provide users access to electric mopeds in the neighborhoods of Bushwick, Greenpoint and Williamsburg. This service is the first of its kind in New York City but follows a model that is wildly popular in global cities such as Berlin and Paris. The mopeds are perfect for short- and medium-range trips and will add a unique option to New York’s diverse transit network.
The event is slated for 11 a.m., today, July 30, at 12 Cypress Avenue, in Bushwick.
