Bloomberg’s plaNYC is truly an incredible effort and probably Bloomberg’s biggest ever. The initiative is very far-reaching and has actually been seeing implementation already, even though the date set for implementation of the goals is 2030. Typically I am more hesitant than anyone about these types of initiatives and efforts, and more specifically I am skeptical that they will actually work, but plaNYC actually looks promising. I think a key to its potential success will be the early work put in that has already been done. Having 97% of programs launched within the year after the program started shows that although the undertaking is massive, the Mayor’s office is starting now rather than waiting until it is too late. While I can see the logic those opposed to plaNYC would present, namely that it is too much money being spent and an example of big government, I really think Bloomberg did it right with this one. For the entire semester I have complained every week of humans not having a proper outlook or being shortsighted in their handling of the environment, but for once I think someone took a step back and actually thought in the sense of the greater good. If plaNYC is successful I think it will probably be the greatest accomplishment of Bloomberg’s time in office, and it will remain as a siginificant legacy.

            Part of what I think makes plaNYC so appealing is the plan really does not outstep its fair sphere of influence. An initiative of this kind seems perhaps best on such a small scale, for truly what plaNYC is setting out to accomplish is not necessary applicable to every city; tailoring the plan specifically to New York City insures that it is exactly what we need. If the federal government tried such an initiative I really suspect that some spending would likely be wasteful and the problems would not be handled with the appropriate degree of detail.

            One example of the well-chosen initiatives is the plan’s call for expansion of mass transit use, and specifically the updating of the strong system we already have. The controversial congestion-pricing proposal, while perhaps seeming a bit extreme at first, would also do an incredible amount to create a more sustainable and less congested New York City. I can understand why the proposal was not passed, but I just can’t imagine it being something that people would want revoked once it had settled into the normal. While eight dollars is enough to make a serious difference, it also isn’t such a high price that it will have any serious impact on business on a greater scale. If it was a big enough difference even to close a few businesses, the others that were able to operate while making a smaller impact on the environment should be favored anyway.

            I’m really very glad that Bloomberg created plaNYC and I have very high hopes for the program. I think the legislation could potentially seen as monumental in the future and could be a large part of what’s keeping New York City perpetually on top and ahead of the game. Sooner or later different cities are going to have start adopting similar initiatives and I’m glad to see New York leading the charge.

Reva McAulay

MHC 200-Weekly Response #11

11.19.12

PlaNYC is a really impressive program, both for being willing to make such a long, extensive list of goals and for actually making progress on them.  Building more parks is great, and honestly I think it doesn’t even matter whether they’re big or small or have grass and trees are not.  Big parks with lots of greenery are around too, they just might be a little further than a 10 minute walk.  Having small outdoor spaces nearby still allows people to get fresh air, be active, and have a little bit of community.  Making waterways safe for recreation has basically the same functions, with the added benefit that if they are safe enough for people, they will probably be clean enough for wildlife as well.  Providing cleaner energy is good, but vague, so it could mean anything from slightly more efficient or slightly less polluting fossil fuel plants to renewable energy sources.  Reducing global warming emissions by 30% in the next 20 years is much more specific, but still doesn’t explain how.  It would probably entail some combination of renewable energy and cleaner vehicles as well as who knows what else.

The bluebelt program seems great.  It provides the same ecosystem services as any other expanse of plants and soil, while also reducing flooding and filtering runoff.  Plus, it’s really pretty.  Continuing to protect the watershed initially doesn’t sound like much of a goal, but its important for it to be part of the plan to ensure that the government is not tempted to stop and sell the land for development or something.  Bike lanes are another multi-purpose goal, in that they protect bike riders’ safety, encourage an environmentally friendly mode of transportation, and make it easier for people to bike ride as a form of recreation.

All in all, the plan seems like a very good mix of public service and environmentally beneficial projects.  It takes into consideration everything from the necessary (housing) to the purely recreational, with things like reducing congestion in between.  It seems highly unlikely that the city will accomplish all these goals by 2030, but nonetheless it looks like they are actually making decent progress, which is what matters.  In 5 years, they planted half a million trees, created new parks, implemented the select bus service, and created new housing.  Now they have 18 more to accomplish the rest.  As I said, this seems unlikely, but on the other hand Wikipedia says that “over 97% of the 127 initiatives in PlaNYC were launched within one year of its release and almost two-thirds of its 2009 milestones were achieved or mostly achieved.” If that’s true, it is a very good sign.  Even accomplishing two-thirds of PlaNYC by 2030 would be great, and presumably the remaining third would be wrapped up soon after.

As for Monday’s presentation: You guys did a great job, and hearing both sides of the carbon tax was very interesting.  However, I think cap-and-trade is something that actually has a lot of merit, probably even more than a carbon tax.  A carbon tax punishes everybody, it just punishes companies that use less carbon less.  Cap-and-trade actually rewards businesses that can operate with fewer emissions than the standard.  And then, it also takes the guesswork out of trying to get companies to meet whatever goal the EPA has in mind.  Finding the level of tax that would get companies to lower emissions to a certain level would be very difficult, and almost certainly involve a lot of trial and error.  Giving out or selling emission permits makes it very easy, and then allows the government to continue to decrease carbon use over time.  It worked well in reducing acid rain, better from both an environmental and economic standpoint than had been expected, so there’s every reason to believe it would work well for this.

PlaNYC sounds wonderful and it seems that we are making real progress in improving land, water, transportation, energy and air. While it is nice that we set goals for where we want to be, it is even nicer that PlaNYC is acting to work towards achieving these goals. The updates from 2011 and 2012 showed some progress here in New York City, a sign that PlaNYC has been effective. Hopefully, other cities all across the globe will marvel at our success and rush to emulate PlaNYC.

I am a bit skeptical about all the success that has been attributed to PlaNYC. The 2011 and 2012 updates noted that 250,000 more residents are within a 10-minute walk of a park. First of all, I am sure there are ways to make these numbers appear more impressive than they actually are. My big question is what exactly is a park? Does it have to be a green area? Does a swing set and a bench constitute as a park? I would define a park as a place where someone can go for recreation and be able to appreciate nature. There should be green at a park and schoolyards should not count. Ideally, a park should be able to accommodate several recreational activities from nature walks to baseball games. Many of the parks that have been built for PlaNYC could be tiny, almost useless parks. Therefore, I am not completely sold on the progress PlaNYC has made.

One of the best park models I have seen is the plan to build a park at the former site of the Fresh Kills Landfill. While I do not support the creation of this park, I can only admire the park design. It will accommodate dozens of activities. It is set to be five parks in one, all comprising the Fresh Kills Park. The Confluence will contain a bunch of athletic fields and host waterfront activities. The North Park will contain natural settings for beauty, walking, running, biking, and picnicking. The South Park will contain soccer fields and mountain bike paths. The East Park will contain a scenic route and areas for Frisbee, golf, sports fields, and other recreation activities. Now THIS is a park! If only all parks could model this one. Unfortunately, this is completely unrealistic, especially in crammed cities like NYC where land is at a premium. It is only possible on Staten Island because it is being built over a horrific landfill.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about the creation of this park. Many toxins and known carcinogens have been detected in significant amounts at the landfill and in nearby residential areas. I have noticed high rates of lung cancer on Staten Island, maybe partially due to this. That is why I am skeptical about building a park where all these toxins are. I understand that the landfill is buried deep and will remain closed forever. I also understand that the air and ground will be monitored for toxins to ensure safety. However, I cannot get it through my head to accept it and watch future generations taking their children to the park at the former site of the landfill without even knowing it existed. But I do love the idea of taking advantage of the now unused land by building a park there. It seems like it will be an amazing park that I would love to go to. It will help Americans get outdoors more and enjoy nature. Hopefully it will be a step in stopping future kids from being hooked on electronics and staying indoors all day. Hopefully when it is all said and done, I will develop a clearer attitude towards this park and the former landfill.

To have a genuine goal or purpose, especially in regards to the environment, is acknowledgeable. Having means or a plan, however, as alluded to in class, is noteworthy because this plan provides a way to achieve the goals. Even better than having a plan is putting the plan into action, which New York City demonstrated with its PlaNYC environmental initiative, which sets out to improve the land, water, transportation, energy, and air of New York City. This program may be the start of even more environmental programs and initiatives that will help us restore the Earth’s natural balance and maintain this equilibrium.

Personally, I am proud as a New Yorker that the government is tending to such goals. These goals show that the government apparently cares about the well being of the ecosystems on Earth and wish to preserve what is in its power to preserve. After all, besides federal funding and long-run benefits, there seems to be no quick, easy scams as incentives for implementing such environmental plans into New York City’s future. By this statement, I mean that government officials do care, or are taking into account the opinions of people that feel strongly about the environment, which probably explains partially why they would even form such a plan.

I must note that, although I am pleased that New York City is making an effort to practice limits and sustainability, I am a bit apprehensive about whether some of the substituents of the initiative are actually going to be effective. In addition, I am skeptical of whether the implemented plan is mostly intended to make a cleaner Earth for all biodiversity or just for New Yorkers, in which case, PlaNYC does not have the intrinsic value of Earth and it resources in mind. For example, I was a bit confused in class of why the program funds land cleanups to create parks that look more so like shopping areas. Perhaps the intent is that everywhere we go, whether it is the store, the bank, or the gym, greenery and sustainability surrounds us. My hope is that this reasoning is why this new area looks as it does, and not necessarily for the aesthetic wants of us humans. After all, we must remember that humans should be selfless if we truly want to mend our wrongs in the environment and must be willing to adapt ourselves to the favorable equilibrium of the Earth. We must learn to live according to ways, that is, that favor the natural, normal equilibrium of Earth.

This notion brings me to the fourth path of the Five Paths to Enlightened Environmentalism. That is, if we want to enjoy all that the Earth has to offer, such as its land and its resources, we must preserve the Earth as much as we can and not destroy the Earth’s multiple reservoirs of valuables, which we use daily and miss deeply if not readily available for us, such as natural gas or drinking water. The PlaNYC program promotes this fourth path by attempting to create a cleaner, more environmentally sensible New York City.

PlaNYC is a great opportunity to emanate environmental responsibility and sustainability to New Yorkers and the rest of the world. That is, New Yorkers have the opportunity to see change first hand and can, thus, reproduce on a smaller scale the actions taken in light of PlaNYC. In addition, once other cities in America and around the world notice what we are doing in our city, they too may strive too achieve similar goals as ours for their own benefit. This increased awareness and dissemination of strategic ways of achieving sustainability goals have the potential to enhance the positive impact humans can have on the environment. Just as every small action counts, so do the larger actions of individuals, cities, and countries as well.

New York City’s plan highlights the role of government in creating solutions to the environmental crisis. Although I am not a strong advocate of the government’s hands in people’s lives, I do condone the government’s actions that work towards the interest of the people and what is right. PlaNYC is a program that I feel will work in the best interest of the people environmentally, economically, and socially.

Sherifa Baldeo