The Footprint

ICYMI — we dug through 20 years of records to trace a Maryland farm to a modern day concentration camp.

New MTA Accessibility Advisory Panel Guidelines Bar Members from ADA Lawsuits - Streetsblog New York City Disability justice advocates the Advisory Committee for Transit Accessibility accused the MTA of marginalizing the panel, which ex-transit boss Andy Byford created in 2019.

Disability justice advocates, the Advisory Committee for Transit Accessibility, accused the MTA of marginalizing the panel, which ex-transit boss Andy Byford created in 2019.

Energy, food prices surged in February — before Iran fighting started

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thefootprint.substack.com/s/weekly-env...

The Council held a hearing on Monday on legislation that would allow HPD to seize buildings from landlords who have racked up housing code violations and debt from unpaid taxes and fines and turn them over to owners they deem more responsible.

gothamist.com/news/mamdani...

quotes on Gov. Hochul's attempted rollback of New York State's 2019 climate law by Laurel Tumarkin, Policy Director at Climate Families NY, and Lisa Marshall, Director of Organizing and Advocacy, New Yorkers for Clean Power - via NYPIRG press release 03-04-26

Gov. Kathy Hochul @governor.ny.gov is attacking the 2019 state climate law that she is under court order to enact. She is trying to pit clean energy against the word affordability, when transitioning to electric power will save *consumers* money and the environment...

www.nypirg.org/pubs/202603/...

NYCHA tenant death during cold front sparks renewed housing heat outcry NYCHA public housing are once again calling attention to long-standing issues with heating and faulty boilers.

Weekly recap of local environmental news in NYC 🧵:

@nyamnews.bsky.social reports that a senior citizen was found dead in her NYCHA apartment in February, prompting calls for the city and state to increase funding for NYCHA repairs.

amsterdamnews.com/news/2026/03...

NYC Is Preparing Its First Ever Citywide Environmental Justice Plan Mamdani to South Bronx: “What Would Environmental Justice Look Like?”

"Several attendees also expressed frustration that they feel the city only began to care about environmental issues in the South Bronx because of gentrification...'Fuck that, we’ve been here our whole lives.'"

thefootprint.substack.com/p/nyc-is-pre...

NYC Is Preparing Its First Ever Citywide Environmental Justice Plan Mamdani to South Bronx: “What Would Environmental Justice Look Like?”

NYC is preparing its first ever citywide "environmental justice plan."

Last week, city representatives met with residents of the South Bronx for input on the plan:

thefootprint.substack.com/p/nyc-is-pre...

HungryPanda Pressured Delivery Workers in Dangerous Blizzard, Workers Say - Streetsblog New York City Chinese food delivery app HungryPanda pressured New York City workers to make dangerous bike deliveries in a blizzard, according to one account.

@nyc.streetsblog.org reports that food-delivery app HungryPanda pressured workers to make dangerous bike deliveries and possibly violated city law during last month’s blizzard, according to workers.

nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/03/06/h...

Big Energy Bill? Usage and Costs Climb During New York’s Rough Winter Gas and electric prices are both up as New Yorkers have cranked up the thermostat this season.

@thecity.nyc reports that New Yorkers should prepare for high utility bills as a result of increased demand during recent cold weather.

www.thecity.nyc/2026/03/05/h...

More than two thirds of state Sen. Dems oppose CLCPA changes “I believe very strongly that she has been peddled an enormous amount of misinformation,” state Sen. Liz Krueger said of the governor.

Spectrum News 1 reports that twenty-nine Democratic state senators out of a total of 41 sent a letter to Governor Hochul urging her to refrain from changing the state’s climate law.

spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-...

These 10 NYC parks in underserved areas will get $50M in upgrades, Mamdani says The announcement comes as the mayor faces criticism from parks advocates who say he’s underfunded parks in his proposed budget.

@gothamist.com reports that Mayor Zohran Mamdani is pledging $50 million to reconstruct 10 parks across New York City, targeting historically underserved neighborhoods.

gothamist.com/news/these-1...

New Legislation Would Advance ‘Virtual Power Plants’ in New York A bill introduced by Assemblymember Anna Kelles aims to harness home batteries, electric vehicles, and other clean tech to meet reliability needs.

@nysfocus.bsky.social reports that a bill introduced by @amannakelles.bsky.social would require the state’s major electric utilities to create “virtual power plants” — networks of "clean tech" that companies can draw on to keep the lights on at peak times.

nysfocus.com/2026/03/04/n...

An Interview With A Tenant Who Doesn't Have Heat In Giannis Antetokounmpo's Building | Defector A tenant in a Brooklyn building owned by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has not had heat in his apartment since Feb. 23, when a blizzard dropped over 19 inches of snow on New York City. Be...

@defector.com reports that a tenant in a Brooklyn building owned by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has not had heat in his apartment since the Feb. 23 snow storm.

defector.com/an-interview...

NYCHA tenant death during cold front sparks renewed housing heat outcry NYCHA public housing are once again calling attention to long-standing issues with heating and faulty boilers.

Weekly recap of local environmental news in NYC 🧵:

@nyamnews.bsky.social reports that a senior citizen was found dead in her NYCHA apartment in February, prompting calls for the city and state to increase funding for NYCHA repairs.

amsterdamnews.com/news/2026/03...

NYC Is Preparing Its First Ever Citywide Environmental Justice Plan Mamdani to South Bronx: “What Would Environmental Justice Look Like?”

"Several attendees also expressed frustration that they feel the city only began to care about environmental issues in the South Bronx because of gentrification...'Fuck that, we’ve been here our whole lives.'"

thefootprint.substack.com/p/nyc-is-pre...

The Footprint will be closely following and reporting on the Environmental Justice NYC Plan every step of the way.

Follow us to stay informed!

NYC Is Preparing Its First Ever Citywide Environmental Justice Plan Mamdani to South Bronx: “What Would Environmental Justice Look Like?”

NYC is preparing its first ever citywide "environmental justice plan."

Last week, city representatives met with residents of the South Bronx for input on the plan:

thefootprint.substack.com/p/nyc-is-pre...

New York governor rethinks climate ambitions

An Interview With A Tenant Who Doesn't Have Heat In Giannis Antetokounmpo's Building | Defector A tenant in a Brooklyn building owned by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has not had heat in his apartment since Feb. 23, when a blizzard dropped over 19 inches of snow on New York City. Be...

"A tenant in a Brooklyn building owned by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has not had heat in his apartment since Feb. 23, when a blizzard dropped over 19 inches of snow on New York City."

defector.com/an-interview...

NYC desperately seeks volunteers for homeless count after weather-related delay The yearly survey usually takes place in January but was rescheduled due to the winter storm.

NYC desperately seeks volunteers for homeless count after weather-related delay gothamist.com/news/after-s...

NYCHA tenant death during cold front sparks renewed housing heat outcry NYCHA public housing are once again calling attention to long-standing issues with heating and faulty boilers.

A senior citizen was found dead in her apartment in February, as the city emerged from a dangerous cold snap. In response, her neighbors in NYCHA public housing are once again calling attention to long-standing issues with heating and faulty boilers.

City Officials Warn That Immigration Enforcement May Be Impersonating Housing Inspectors A PSA-style video from the housing department was made in response to a report made by a tenant association.

"We know it can be frightening when someone unexpected shows up at your door, especially with increased immigration enforcement," the PSA style video says.

It was made in response to at least one report city officials received.

www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/27/i...

March 5, 2026 The Honorable Kathy Hochul Governor of New York State NY State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 Re: Upholding New York’s Leadership in the Fight Against Climate Change Dear Governor Hochul, At a time when the Trump Administration is doing everything possible to tear down decades of progress in the fight against climate change, it is incumbent on states like New York to reject this new wave of climate denial and put forward bold policies that will save New Yorkers money, reduce pollution, and protect a livable climate for our constituents and our children and grandchildren. That is why we, the undersigned senators, categorically oppose any effort to rollback New York’s nation-leading climate law, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, and urge you to stand strong in the face of misinformation that seeks to blame the CLCPA for the energy affordability crisis that fossil fuels have created. Climate change remains one of the greatest threats that our constituents - and societies across the globe - have ever faced. New Yorkers are already living through extreme weather events that run the gamut from searing heat waves to Arctic cold snaps, and they are already paying the price1, with their dollars, their homes, their health, and even their lives. The climate crisis is driving up the cost of home insurance, of health care, of groceries, and of countless other daily necessities2, and every delay in taking action will only drive those costs even higher. Confronting this crisis is a generational task and a legacy issue for every elected official, and it is inseparable from any credible effort to address the high cost of living. At the same time, there is no question that we must address energy affordability, capacity, and reliability. But while President Trump and the fossil fuel industry want New Yorkers to believe that we must choose between those needs and climate action, nothing could be further from the truth. The recent three-page memo from…

not include any price guardrails, with a completely unrealistic carbon price34. As such, the analysis simply cannot be treated as a serious contribution to the debate. In reality, rolling back the CLCPA will not save our constituents money because it is not the cause of increasing costs. It is the fossil fuel status quo56 that has created the affordability crisis New Yorkers are now suffering from, and it is bold action to deliver renewable energy and energy efficiency that will give them relief, saving money for individuals in the immediate-term and for all utility customers in the medium- and long-term7. When it comes to energy generation capacity, renewables can be deployed cheaply and quickly to meet our needs8. And over the last year, through heat waves and polar vortexes9, renewables have proven that they add much-needed reliability10 to the grid, reducing price spikes in the process, like those driven by wars in Europe and the Middle East. Between us we carry significant legislation on a broad number of policies large and small that will reduce New Yorkers’ costs and move us toward our science-based climate targets. We stand ready to work with you and your administration to implement comprehensive climate policies that truly meet the needs of this moment – but we cannot support abandoning our commitment to climate progress. Sincerely, Liz Krueger Pete Harckham Kevin S. Parker 28th Senate District 40th Senate District 21st Senate District Chair, Finance Chair, Environmental Conservation Chair, Energy & Telecoms Jamaal T. Bailey April N.M. Baskin Erik Bottcher 26th Senate District 63rd Senate District 47th Senate District

Jabari Brisport Samra Brouk Cordell Cleare 25th Senate District 55th Senate District 30th Senate District Leroy Comrie Nathalia Fernandez Kristen Gonzalez 14th Senate District 34th Senate District 59th Senate District Andrew Gounardes Michelle Hinchey Robert Jackson 26th Senate District 41st Senate District 31st Senate District Brian Kavanagh John Liu Rachel May 27th Senate District 16th Senate District 48th Senate District Shelley B. Mayer Zellnor Myrie Roxanne J. Persaud 37th Senate District 20th Senate District 19th Senate District Jessica Ramos Gustavo Rivera Julia Salazar 13th Senate District 33rd Senate District 18th Senate District James Sanders Luis Sepulveda José M. Serrano 10th Senate District 32nd Senate District 29th Senate District Toby Ann Stavisky Lea Webb 11th Senate District 52nd Senate District

👀 New letter from 29 NYS Senators (>2/3 of the Dem caucus) to Hochul this morning:

“We categorically oppose any effort to rollback New York’s nation-leading climate law… and urge you to stand strong in the face of misinformation that seeks to blame the CLCPA for the energy affordability crisis”

City Officials Warn That Immigration Enforcement May Be Impersonating Housing Inspectors A PSA-style video from the housing department was made in response to a report made by a tenant association.

Housing officials are warning New Yorkers about how to tell a real city inspector from someone who may be impersonating one amid “increased immigration enforcement,” according to a recent PSA-style video from the agency.

These 10 NYC parks in underserved areas will get $50M in upgrades, Mamdani says The announcement comes as the mayor faces criticism from parks advocates who say he’s underfunded parks in his proposed budget.

These 10 NYC parks in underserved areas will get $50M in upgrades, Mamdani says gothamist.com/news/these-1...

Upper Manhattan and Bronx Tenants Struggled to Stay Warm During Cold Stretch Nearly Half of the 93,400 Heat and Hot Water Complaints Made Between January 19 and February 19 Came From The Bronx or Upper Manhattan

NYC received more heat and hot water complaints in January than any other month on record.

An HPD spokesperson told The Footprint that 98% of those complaints have been closed, but about 740 heat complaints made in January are unresolved as of March 3.

thefootprint.substack.com/p/upper-manh...

bsky.app/profile/nycf...

The Iran War Is Also a Climate War Climate change is not a peripheral part of what we’re seeing in Iran—it’s structurally embedded in modern warfare.

"Climate change is not peripheral but structurally embedded in modern warfare." - Mark Hertsgaard of @coveringclimatenow.org

www.thenation.com/article/envi...