Next month, New York City voters will have four proposals to decide on:
- a statewide proposal that would boost spending in Albany on future environment-related projects
- creating a “statement of values” for NYC’s government
- creating a NYC racial equity office
- defining how the cost of living is calculated in NYC
If approved, the four ballot questions — one that pertains to the state and three to the city — would each take effect right away.
The four ballot proposals as they will appear on the ballot are listed here. The full proposal language for Proposal 1 can be read here; Proposals 2, 3 and 4 can be read here.
Proposal 1: Environmental Bond Act of 2022
This proposal would allow New York State to borrow $4.2 billion through a bond issuance for specific environment-related projects and policy efforts.
That includes $250 million for improving stormwater systems, $200 million for wastewater infrastructure, $500 million for zero-emissions school buses and $1.5 billion for climate mitigation such as wetland protection and renewable energy projects.
This would be the first environmental bond act enacted for 26 years in New York, according to the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
Proposal 2: Statement of Values for City Government
This measure would create a mission statement of sorts for New York’s government by adding a preamble to the city charter that includes a statement of “values and vision,” the ballot proposal says, that aims to create a “just and equitable city for all.”
The proposal, will be a preamble to the NYC charter that “acknowledges and speaks to historical wrongs” in order to “reconstruct, revise and reimagine our city’s foundations, structures, institutions, and laws to promote justice and equity for all New Yorkers.”
Proposal 3: Racial Equity Plans and Office
This measure would bring three new requirements to the city charter: mandating that all city agencies create “racial equity plans” every two years, establishing a new Office of Racial Equity to coordinate racial equity planning across city government and creating a Commission on Racial Equity. That commission would identify and propose priorities for racial equity planning, and review the racial equity plans for each city agency.
Proposal 4: True Cost of Living
This measure would mandate that the city government use a new method to calculate the “true cost of living” in the city without taking into account public, private or informal assistance a person or household may receive. Instead, the proposed “true cost” measure would be based on “actual household income required to meet the essential needs of people living in New York City,” the commission said. It would include costs related to housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare, clothing and shoes, hygiene products, household items, and telephone and internet services, among other things.
Party on Park, Tomorrow!
AT 125TH STREET: UPTOWN VINYL SUPREME, PLUS THE TED SMOOTH AFTERPARTY
Uptown Vinyl Supreme will be bringing vinyl to the people from 12-4 p.m., followed from 4-6 p.m. by the Ted Smooth afterparty.
AT 124TH STREET: ROLLERSKATES, CITI BIKE & LIVE STREET ART
Lace up your rollerskates for our street skate rink with the African American Roller-Skate Museum and UME Rollerskate. Rollerskates will be provided for the sessions, while supplies last.
You can also check out a Citi Bike for free, or join in on a bike ride led by Urban Upbound!
There’s also be live street art by BC1, plus the street art sanitation truck from the NYC Department of Sanitation.
And get the latest on the Second Avenue Subway coming to East Harlem.
AT 123RD STREET: HEALTH
Health screenings for nearly every body part: Flu shots from Walgreens; COVID vaccines and boosters from NYHRE; blood pressure, depression and glucose screenings from Boriken Neighborhood Health Center; foot exams from the NY College of Podiatric Medicine; HIV screenings for the Center for Comprehensive Health Practice; and overdose prevention kits from Mt. Sinai & Odyssey House.
AT 122ND STREET: SKATEBOARD ZONE
Pad up and try out a skateboard, with beginner clinics and obstacle courses from our friends from Bronx Girls Skate and Go Sports. Skateboards and safety gear will be provided for the sessions, while supplies last.
AT 121ST STREET: KIDS ZONE
Under the tracks: Facepainting and art-making all afternoon with Union Settlement, Art In the Park and Hi-ARTS, snacks from NYC School Food, plus storytime at 3 p.m. by Drag Queen Story Hour!
West of the tracks: Rock wall, bouncy house, and big street games.
AT 120TH STREET: RESOURCES
Neighborhood resources, plus explore a fire truck with FDNY Engine 35, Ladder 14, Battalion 12.
AT 119TH STREET: FITNESS ZONE
Exercise classes and obstacle courses to get you moving for fall from Harlem Kettlebell Club and Leo Zumba.
Plus an obstacle course all day with Fun Fit Kids!
AT 118TH STREET: BIKE ZONE
Under the tracks: Bike fix-its thanks to Get Women Cycling, and adult Learn to Ride classes with Bike New York.
West of the tracks: Free bike helmets for all ages from the NYC Department of Transportation. Note that the line for helmets closes at 3:30 p.m.
B/T 118TH & 117TH STREETS: COMMUNITY BOARD 11
Drop by the East Harlem Community Board 11 office to check out this location for year-round resources. The office of Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine will also be in the house!
AT 117TH STREET: GO GREEN
Explore local small business Urban Garden Center, then get environmental in artmaking with the Blue Bus Project and NYC Fair Trade Coalition.
GrowNYC will be on hand with affordable vegetable options, and Edible Schoolyard’s bringing worms!
Plus talk cultural and historic preservation with East Harlem Preservation and Landmark East Harlem.
AT 116TH STREET: AFRO-LATIN JAZZ AT LA PLACITA
The Afro Latin Jazz Alliance presents Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Los Pleneros de la 21, Rebolu & Yasser Tejeda (at La Placita, 1-7 p.m.).
AT 115TH STREET: OPEN STREETS SAMPLE STATIONS AT LA MARQUETA
Enjoy samples from the vendors from La Marqueta (while supplies last!).
Then gather around One Big Table provided by Street Lab, and share your stories with WNYC!
Then finish the day off by learning about the Park Avenue Viaduct Replacement Project — which will rehabilitate this 130-year-old structure that we’ve been partying along.
HYDRATION STATIONS:
West of the tracks: Water station from Carter Hospital at 122nd Street.
East of the tracks: Water station at Lydia’s Magic Garden at 118th Street.
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