Chair: Joan Freilich
Vice-Chair: Marjorie Kelleher Shea
WCC works to ensure a sustainable long-term future for NYC in light of a
growing population, an aging infrastructure, and an environment that is
increasingly at risk. It advocates for transportation and environmental initiatives
including mass transit, measures to reduce traffic congestion,
green buildings, recycling and energy efficiency.
The activities of the Infrastructure Committee are funded in part through
a generous grant from HSBC Bank, USA, N.A.
FY 2009 ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY
•Supported tolling East and Harlem River bridges; Supported imposing
Mobility Tax on regional payrolls to maintain MTA services and limit fare
increases.
Result: NYS legislature approved the Mobility Tax as well as a number
of organizational and reporting recommendations that had been
endorsed by the Women’s City Club.
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY
•Continued to serve as a member of the Campaign for NY’s Future to
respond to PlaNYC.
•Urged that NYC be exempt from a new statewide plastic bag reduction
bill as it was weaker than existing NYC laws.
Result: Stronger NYC laws were allowed to remain in force.
•Informed Campaign for NY’s Future that WCC opposes requiring a 5-cent
plastic carryout bag fee. While in the long term it could encourage sustainable
choices, raise consumer awareness and encourage the use of
reusable alternatives, WCC believes that it is a regressive “tax” that would
create another burden on already overburdened New Yorkers who are
trying to deal with the current economic crisis.
•Supported Bigger Better Bottle Bill to increase the scope of plastic bottle
recycling in NYS and provide funding for environmental initiatives.
Result: Passed by the State Legislature and signed by Governor;
however, many bottled drinks, such as sports drinks, remain exempt and
New York City receives no money from unclaimed deposits.
INTERN RECYCLING PROJECT
•Alexandra Fairweather, a Columbia College intern from Columbia
University’s Communities-In-Action Program, developed a ten week project
to study and improve understanding of and compliance with New York
City’s residential recycling laws by New York City residents. The
Committee Chair provided project oversight, while direct supervision was
provided by past WCC Executive Director, Paulette Geanacopoulos.
Result:
1.To gain baseline information about their understanding of and compliance with recycling, WCC members were surveyed. Although it showed
that the majority of participants knew what and how to recycle, the
results suggested that recycling could be confusing at times. Participants
also provided recommendations on how recycling could be improved,
many of which were incorporated into WCC’s materials.
2. Meetings were held with residents of several buildings interested
in participating in the project. A unique feature practiced in one building
was the publication of a monthly newsletter that highlights various issues
including eco-friendly initiatives and recycling reminders. In addition, the
building is in the process of forming a Green Committee to spread greater
awareness of recycling and eco-friendly initiatives in the building.
3. A building-wide meeting was held with the help of Andrea Schaffer,
Principal of CityMatters LLC, at which WCC educational pamphlets prepared
by the intern were distributed, a recycling game was played, and
discussions were held regarding recycling practices and misconceptions.
4.Recommendations to improve recycling were developed and organized
into a brochure for future use.
5.The intern presented a report of the project to WCC members and
guests, including HSBC representatives and other supporters.
6. By early FY2010, a page will be added to WCC's website with short
videos introducing the project, offering information to promote recycling,
providing examples of recycling projects in other parts of the country and
world, and listing information and referrals to local resources to enhance
the recycling efforts of New York City residents.
INFORMATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
•Josh Nachowitz, Policy Director, NYS League of Conservation Voters
•Nancy Anderson, Executive Director of the Sallen Foundation
•Betsy Ukeritis, Regional Environmental Educator of the NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation
•Emily Dinan, Lower East Side Ecology Center
•The Story of Stuff, a video made by Tides Foundation, Funders
Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption and Free Range
Studios, that presents the journey of items from raw materials to trash.
COMMITTEE SITE VISITS
•Solar One, a green energy, arts and education center
•High School for Environmental Studies
