A look back at key moments in our newsroom’s coverage this year: the reopening of NYCHA’s Section 8 waitlist for the first time in 15 years, a solar eclipse, ‘good cause’ eviction and more.
Education
Gov. Hochul Signs Bills to Ban CO2 Fracking, Make Polluters Pay for Climate Damage
Jeanmarie Evelly |
During the final week of 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed several long-awaited environmental bills into law: forcing polluters to pay for climate destruction, expanding the state’s fracking ban to prohibit a a new technique that uses carbon dioxide, and limiting new construction of schools within 500 feet of major highways.
CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS
Opinion: Bringing Solar Energy to NYC Schools and Public Buildings
Sandy Nurse and Gary LaBarbera |
“This solar program is a game changer: it will reduce harmful air pollution, fight climate change, and create high-quality jobs installing and maintaining solar panels.”
Government
PODCAST: ¿Cuántas personas mueren ahogadas cruzando el Río Bravo hacia Estados Unidos?
Daniel Parra |
Una investigación reciente de The Washington Post, Lighthouse Reports y El Universal, revela que al menos 1.107 inmigrantes se ahogaron cruzando el Río Grande entre 2017 y 2023, un número significativamente mayor de lo que se había informado anteriormente por las autoridades. Flickr/Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de Estados UnidosEl Valle del Río Grande, cerca de Mission, Texas. El río Bravo Grande, como se le conoce en los Estados Unidos, que separa la frontera sur del país con México, se ha convertido en un cementerio de inmigrantes, con un número creciente de mujeres y niños que pierden la vida intentando cruzarlo.Una investigación reciente de The Washington Post, Lighthouse Reports y El Universal de México, revela que al menos 1.107 inmigrantes se ahogaron cruzando el Río Grande entre 2017 y 2023, un número significativamente mayor de lo que se había informado anteriormente por las autoridades.El informe revela que, mientras que la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza de Estados Unidos (CBP por sus siglas en inglés) registró sólo 498 muertes por ahogamiento en Texas y Nuevo México de 2017 a 2023, la investigación documentó 858 ahogamientos sólo en Texas.
En México, los datos muestran que 249 inmigrantes se ahogaron, pero sin una agencia centralizada que rastree estas muertes, es probable que la cifra real sea mayor. Estas cifras revelan una sombría tendencia: la mayoría de los ahogamientos se producen ahora en tramos más remotos y peligrosos del río, luego de que se impusieran medidas como la instalación de alambre de púas, boyas flotantes en el río y otras barreras como parte de la Operación Lone Star de Texas, lanzada en 2021 por el gobernador, Greg Abbott. El tramo más mortífero del Río Grande durante este periodo se encuentra entre el estado mexicano de Coahuila y los condados texanos de Kinney, Val Verde y Maverick.
Housing and Homelessness
NYC Housing Calendar, Dec. 23-30
Jeanmarie Evelly |
There are seven of the city’s affordable housing lotteries closing to applicants this week.
Brooklyn
Vote at NYCHA’s Hylan Houses Lands in a Tie
Jeanmarie Evelly |
At the Brooklyn complex, 83 tenants voted to join the Public Housing Preservation Trust and another 83 opted to convert to private management under the PACT initiative. A final recount will take place Jan. 8, and if the numbers stand, a runoff vote will be scheduled.
CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS
Opinion: We Need to Make it Easier to Open a Day Care in NYC
Maya Kurien and Grace Rauh |
“There are many factors at play, including the unfavorable economics of running a child care business, keeping many potential providers from opening or expanding.”
Economy
Red Hook Residents See Rash of Stolen Food Stamps, As Reimbursement Funds Expire
Jeanmarie Evelly and Tatyana Turner |
A provision to extend the federal refund program for victims of SNAP theft was tucked into a massive Congressional spending bill that failed to pass, leaving future reimbursements uncertain. “They took every penny,” said Pinkie Grier, a great grandmother in Red Hook who had her benefits drained earlier this month.
CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS
Opinion: It’s Time to Move Forward on NYC’s Commercial Waste Zones
Celeste Perez, Jenille Scott and Justin Wood |
“Our city faces historic threats from climate change, rising social inequality, and major cuts to federal funding. Now, more than ever, we need to modernize our outdated private sanitation system.”
Government
New Housing Spurred by City of Yes Offers ‘Unforeseen Boon’ for Transit: Report
Jeanmarie Evelly |
Increased housing supply created under the zoning reforms could bring an estimated 70,000 to 97,000 new riders to the city’s subway, bus and commuter rail lines—bringing an additional $224,188,000 to $309,224,000 per year to the MTA’s coffers, a new report found.
Education
Opinion: Foster Youth Deserve More Than a Trash Bag When Moving
Rita Joseph and Sofie Fashana |
“Children in the New York City foster system transition, on average, to three different homes. For some, this means three different schools, families, and environments.”
