Reading Library

This section will list articles, websites and legislation sorted by issue.

Helpful NYS legislation tool: Reinvent Albany 

Helpful NY redistricting interactive map from CUNY 

Helpful media tool: Media and Democracy Project

Black Gotham Experience Tours explore Black influence in colonial-era NYC 

Grassroots Activists Newsletters. A daily go-to for updates and optimism:

Robbert Hubbell, Today's Edition

Heather Cox-Richardson, Letters from an American

Simon Rosenberg, Hopium Chronicles 

Chop Wood, Cary Water, Jessica Craven - easy daily actions 

NY Focus, an independent nonprofit newsroom investigating power in the Empire State

The States Project  Video   Video 

More Go-To Grassroots News Sources

Grassroots Directory

Albany Budget Update

As details of the 2024-25 NY Budget emerge, we will update the VID Reading Library accordingly. Be sure to check for updated NY Budget analyses. 

• News 11: New York lawmakers pass a $237 billion budget addressing housing construction and migrants here.
• NY Focus: Assembly Spikes Biggest Climate Proposal in NY Budget here.
• NY Focus: Your One-Stop Guide to the 2024 New York State Budget here.
• NY State Assembly:  2024-35 State Budget here.
• NY State. Gov: Governor Hochul Announces Historic Investments of FY 2025 State Budget here.
• NY State Senate: The statement from NY State Senate is here.
• NYT: New York Has a $237 Billion Budget. Here Are 5 Things to Know here.
• NYT: In Late-Stage Budget Talks, Hochul Wins Concessions From N.Y. Lawmaker here.
• Village Preservation: Mixed Results in Albany’s Housing Deal — The Battle Continues here.
• WNYC: NY Budget and Climate, listen here.

One-Stop Guide to the 2024 New York State Budget HERE. 

Affordable Housing

NY1 Inside City Hall segment featuring NYC Council-member Crystal Hudson (Brooklyn D-35) discussing a new framework tool that surveys the community in helping to determine ACTUAL affordable housing.  

CONGESTION PRICING SECTION:

The congestion pricing program has become a contentious issue for Lower Manhattan. So, we need to be well-informed and understand this new policy. Proponents have promised transparency and constant monitoring of the new program to ensure effectiveness and fairness for downtown residents. We must hold them accountable by staying on top of the issue and our elected officials. Important updates and information will be added to the Congestion Pricing section. Please check back for updates. 

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MTA Congestion Pricing Info. HERE (a/k/a Central Business District) 

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Testimony by Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, District 74. He presents the rationale and asks for (a) further exemptions from the congestion pricing tolls for low-income individuals among his constituents, (b) mitigation for areas that will see increased car traffic and, therefore, increased pollution as a result of new traffic patterns due to congestion pricing and (c) specific needed improvements in public transportation. See full testimony here. 

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Congestion Pricing Q&A, Curbed article, March 2024

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MTA's summary of the actual tolls

https://new.mta.info/document/129191

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Congestion Pricing Moves Ahead -- details about the MTA's summary

WNYC -  Mar 29, 2024 The Brian Lehrer Show 

Transcript or 20 min listen 

https://www.wnyc.org/story/congestion-pricing-moves-ahead?tab=transcript

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Congestion pricing one step closer to reality in Manhattan -- more Q&A about details
WNYC -- 10 min listen -- 

Four City Council Members (Carolina Rivera, Chris Marte, Erik Bottcher, and Keith Powers) have issued a letter addressing concerns about the Central Business District Tolling Program in NYC, stressing the need for fairness for residents below 60th Street. It suggests a residential discount program and emphasizes the importance of using generated revenue to improve transit infrastructure, citing recent subway issues. The representatives urged the MTA to consider these recommendations for the program's successful implementation, offering further discussion for a solution benefiting all New Yorkers, particularly those in the CBD. See full letter HERE. 

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From Stephen Nessen, Gothamist:
Many people believe the MTA is secretly wasting money. Here’s a few tips on how you can track the MTA’s spending of your taxpayers dollars. 

The Construction and Development department for example, has revamped its website and listed most projects underway, costs and timelines. Here you can see MTA contracts and procurements. You can also dig into the MTA’s yearly operating budget and capital plan here. Of course the agency could do better. There’s state legislation to force the MTA to include details in the capital projects dashboard about all sources of funding for each project and specify whether it’s related to accessibility or resiliency.   

But to try to directly answer your question, we came close to the MTA actually running out of money in the pandemic. The federal government, led by Senator Chuck Schumer, came to the rescue with $16 billion to keep the system running and in a state of (relatively) good repair.

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NYC Is About To Screw Up Congestion Pricing September, 2023 Vice article

"What Does a Secretary of State Do?",  The Conversation article February, 2024

LOCAL VILLAGE ISSUES

Politicians push state to hold firm vs. titanic 5G towers, Village Sun article March, 2024

BIKES!

What Happens When Speedy Mopeds Crowd Bike Lanes? The Brian Lehrer Show podcast, Aug. 2023

E-Bike Charging Pilot Program in the East Village - Village Sun article, March, 2024

Why Bicycle Deaths in NYC are at a 24 Year High - NYT article, March 2024

NYC Elections

The City Council race on the east side heats up

NY History
In celebration of Black History Month, NY1 presents, Harlem's History: Past & Present. 

Click HERE for episode link

NYC - Policy

City of Yes, proposal by Mayor Adams

When Did New York's Streets Get So Hollow - NYT

Environmental Issues

Governor Hochul's proposed Cap-and-Invest Program is a strategy aimed at curbing pollution, bolstering community investment, fostering job creation, and maintaining competitiveness. However, there are downsides to this program. The initiative, a variation of Cap and Trade, is designed to align with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act's greenhouse gas emission reduction mandates. For a deeper dive into the pros and cons of this legislation, check out the following articles: 

Cap and Trade Basics: What It Is, How It Works, Pros & Cons

Gov. Hochuls Summary of Cap and Invest Program and 2023/2024 Press Release and Announcements.

2023 Reuters Eight Takeaways from a Sneak Peak of NY Cap and Invest Program and March 2023 Reuters Update.

NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS 2023 NYC COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL Scorecard

NYS Legislators Introduce New Bill to Ban CO2 Fracking & Drilling for Gas - click HERE for info.

PACKAGING REDUCTION AND RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE ACT, Background article: Inside Climate News

Help NY Save Tax Dollars, Cut Packaging by 50% & More!  Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act. Click HERE to EASILY contact your representatives and encourage them to support this Bill.

Many Environmentalists Don't Vote - article 

Healthcare and Hospitals

The Village Sun - Court orders a halt on Beth Israel Hospital closure plan

Beth Israel - stops taking stroke and cardiac patients - Gothamist article, March, 2024

VID Resolution to Save Beth Israel VID unanimously approved a Resolution to Save Beth Israel Hospital and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, presented by VID co-Vice President David Siffert. For a detailed summary of the status of saving Beth Israel, click HERE. You can see the resolution HERE. 

Bitter pill to swallow: Pols slam plan to close Beth Israel Hospital - Village Sun article, March, 2024

No More 24

24-hour home-care workers to hold hunger strike outside City Hall - Village Sun article, March 2024

Home Care Aides Fight to End 24-Hour Shifts: ‘This Work Is Killing Them’ - NYT article, March 2024

Proposed NYC Council legislation HERE