Page 9 - QT CURRENT EDITION #30

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 9

NYC Council Votes to Expand Availability of Rapid DiNapoli: Improved Planning Needed
STI Testing Sites For New York To Achieve Its Clean

Council also voted on legislation have skyrocketed, most harshly inclusive school dress code policy Energy Goals
to address inequities in public impacting New Yorkers at the that complies with Title IX of the The Public Service Commis- the remaining 202 projects, only
school dress code policies intersection of Black, Latino, Federal Education Amendments sion (PSC) and the New York 30% were completed, and on av-
low-income and LGBTQ+ com- Act and accounts for diverse State Energy Research and Devel- erage it takes 5 years for a large-
The New York City Council munities,” said Council Member cultures, gender expressions and opment Authority (NYSERDA) scale renewable project to be up
voted on legislation to expand the Pierina Sanchez. “In NYC, Black body diversity. have taken considerable steps in and running, as a 2030 deadline
availability of rapid testing sites and African American people A DOE-wide school dress code planning for New York State’s looms to achieve 70% renewably
for sexually transmitted infections and Latinx people made up more policy would create a framework transition to renewable energy but sourced electricity.
(STIs) across the city, representing than 80% new HIV infections in for protecting students from sexist must take stronger action to meet Renewable Energy Contracts
a critical next step in citywide ef- 2022. The Bronx in particular and heteronormative dress codes, the state’s clean energy goals, ac- The PSC also did not fully
forts to reduce rates of STIs and suffers from the highest rate of eliminating the enforcement of cording to an audit released today plan for expiring contracts, which
HIV. Currently, rapid testing is HIV infection and deaths across standards that target girls and by New York State Comptroller could lead to higher costs. Most
only provided at two clinics, but New York State’s 62 counties, the students of color. It would also Thomas P. DiNapoli. The audit contracts for renewable energy
the bill will require the City to highest rate of chlamydia infec- allow for flexibility in the creation found inadequate planning, moni- sources have a 10 to a 20 year
double the number of sites over tions, and the second-high rates of school-level dress code policies toring and assessment of risks and span. Between 2007 and 2022,
the next three years. of gonorrhea in the five boroughs. and should be created through challenges in the PSC’s efforts to 81 contracts expired, which could
The Council also voted on Study after CDC study has shown consultation with diverse com- help the state meet the Climate lead to New York paying more
legislation that would address these inequities are not about risk munities within the DOE school Leadership and Community Pro- than the original price once the
inequities in public school dress behaviors but are a direct result of system and engagement with tection Act’s (Climate Act) tar- contract expires. Additionally,
code policies. Dress code policies a lack of access to testing, preven- youth who are impacted. gets, which seek 70% renewably there is no guarantee these facili-
in NYC Department of Educa- tion, treatment and care. That is “Resolution 292 pushes for an sourced electricity by 2030 and ties will then sell the renewable
tion (DOE) schools vary widely, why the passage of Int. 435 is so inclusive dress code to account for net-zero emissions by 2040. electricity they generate into the
and students and advocates have important. By expanding access diverse cultures, gender expres- “New York is moving in the New York power grid and con-
reported that some school dress to rapid STI testing in partnership sion, and body diversity,” said right direction to transition to tribute to achieving the Climate
code policies have unfairly tar- with community-based organiza- Council Member Althea Stevens. renewable energy, but we found Act goals. These situations, for
geted and criminalized LGBTQ+ tions with the ability to reach the “The next step will be to engage better planning, monitoring of example, were not factored into
students and students of color. most impacted communities, we in meaningful dialogue with our progress and timely assessment of PSC’s planning to develop a pro-
This was a concern also raised are taking an essential step in ad- youth and the Department of Edu- risks by PSC is needed to achieve gram to meet the goals.
by youth advocates as part of the dressing horrific inequities in STI cation to fine-tune the specifics of our ambitious clean energy goals,” Projected Costs
Young Women’s Initiative 2.0, an infection rates and investing in the the dress code policy. It is vital for DiNapoli said. “New York has The PSC did not reasonably
initiative dedicated to improving long-term health of the people of young people to shape the changes been a leader in its efforts to estimate or verify other entities’
outcomes for young women and New York City. It is time to ensure they want to see in their schools. I reduce greenhouse gas emissions estimates of the cost of the transi-
girls. The bill and resolution voted everyone has access to the life- am committed to ensuring our city and the threats caused by climate tion to renewable energy. Under-
on today aim to improve transpar- saving services they need.” takes strides towards inclusivity, change, and identifying existing taking a project without knowing
ency and promote policies that Requiring Transparency and allowing the space for students to and emerging challenges will the costs increases the risk that the
protect students from sexist and Addressing Inclusivity in NYC express themselves through their improve the likelihood that we project will not succeed. The ab-
heteronormative dress codes and Department of Education’s Dress clothing” succeed.” sence of cost estimates also makes
the enforcement of standards that Code Policies Strengthening Oversight of City Planning it difficult, if not impossible, to
target girls and students of color. Dress code policies in DOE Contract Procurement Procedures Auditors found that the PSC, assess its impact on New Yorkers,
“Expanding health services to schools vary widely, as schools Introduction 863-A, sponsored tasked under the Climate Act with including those who are currently
meet the needs of New Yorkers are permitted to adopt individual by Council Member Justin Bran- establishing and reviewing the struggling to pay their utility bills
in their communities has always dress code policies at their own nan, would require public notice state’s renewable energy program, and who have faced rising costs
been a priority for this Council,” discretion. Despite existing regu- if an actual contract differs from sometimes used outdated data and over the past two decades. PSC
said Speaker Adrienne Adams. lations, students and advocates the agency procurement plan in wrong calculations to determine officials stated that they expect
“With the passage of today’s leg- have reported that some school terms of contract length, nature of if the state could reach 70% the cost for renewable energy to
islation, more residents will soon dress code policies have unfairly services, or affected civil service renewably sourced electricity by decrease as time goes on, but did
have greater access to rapid STI targeted and criminalized LG- titles and headcount. It would 2030. The PSC did not update not produce an analysis that dem-
testing that can prevent unneces- BTQ+ students and students of also apply these requirements to their calculations based on new onstrated how quickly they expect
sary spread and transmission. The color. Increased transparency contract amendments that would laws and directives, which may these costs to decline.
Council is also taking steps to around school dress code poli- increase a contract’s value to over drive clean energy demand and Other Issues Affecting State’s
help address inequities within our cies provides needed oversight to $1 million and reduce the public supply up, like electric vehicles, Ability to Meet Goals
public school system’s dress code ensure that these policies establish notice period for such unplanned new green buildings, or electric Auditors identified other fac-
policies, a concern raised by youth non-discriminatory protections contract actions from 60 to 10 cooling and heating. tors that could delay achievement
advocates as part of the Council’s for students. days. This bill aims to strengthen PSC also did not fully account of the Climate Act goals, includ-
Young Women’s Initiative 2.0. By Introduction 118-A, sponsored oversight of city service contracts for other potential risks, and did ing increasingly severe weather,
requiring greater transparency by Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, by expanding some provisions not consider certain challenges renewable electricity demands, a
and calling for inclusivity in the would require the Department of in Local Law 63 of 2011, which that could delay meeting the delayed Champlain Hudson Power
dress code, our legislation can Education (DOE) to post dress requires agencies to publish an state’s clean energy targets. For Express line and potential limita-
help advance anti-discrimination code policies on its website and re- annual procurement plan detail- example, according to the Inde- tions on the hydroelectric power
protections that support all stu- port on dress code policies in DOE ing the anticipated contracting pendent System Operator, the it is expected to provide, and
dents. I thank my Council col- schools for five years, including actions for the coming fiscal year state would need new technology material availability and supply
leagues for their leadership and information about whether each to prevent displacement of city not yet developed to account for chain issues.
support on these important bills.” school has a dress code policy employees. the weather-related intermit- While the PSC is not solely
Expanding Availability of and data on dress code violations “There is no need to choose tency of renewables, as well as responsible for ensuring the state
Rapid Testing for Sexually Trans- and penalties, broken down by between quick project timelines expanded transmission capability is prepared to meet the Climate
mitted Infections month, week, and student race and strong oversight; we can to get clean energy to consumers, Act’s goals, it should discuss the
Introduction 435-A, sponsored by and gender. have both,” said Council Member to achieve the 2040 goal of 100% potential effects of these issues
Council Member Pierina Sanchez, “Uneven dress code policies Justin Brannan. “New York City renewable statewide electric with the agencies responsible
would require the Department in New York City public schools has the greatest municipal work- generation. for ensuring a smooth transition,
of Health and Mental Hygiene have led to disproportionate dis- force in the world, and we should The audit found that the PSC determine the effects of these con-
(DOHMH) to make available cipline and consequences for prioritize, value, and compensate did not develop a back-up plan cerns and include this information
rapid testing services for sexually students simply expressing them- their labor every time we can. if the Climate Act’s goals were in its projections to increase the
transmitted infections in at least selves,” said Deputy Speaker Di- Where we do need contractors, the not met within prescribed time- likelihood of meeting the Climate
4 boroughs. DOHMH would be ana Ayala. “Students and families greatest city in the world should frames, except for the continued Act’s goals.
required to determine the loca- should have the opportunity to settle for nothing less than the reliance on fossil fuels, including DiNapoli’s audit recommended
tions for rapid testing services easily access any school’s dress greatest procurement process in “peaker plants,” which generally the PSC:
and report to the Council on the code policy in a central location the world.” operate at a higher monetary and • Begin a comprehensive review
considerations that went into on the Department of Education’s Authorizing Legal Action in environmental cost. of the Climate Act, including an
making those determinations. website and determine if their in- Defense of Law Banning Solitary Project Cancellations & Delays assessment of progress towards
DOHMH would also be required dividual schools’ policies are truly Confinement Cancellations of renewable the goals and annual funding
to conduct an education campaign non-discriminatory and aligned Resolution 504, sponsored by energy projects have slowed commitments and expenditures;
to inform communities about the with DOE guidelines. My hope is Council Member Sandy Nurse, progress toward meeting the • Analyze and address existing
locations and availability of rapid that this transparency will bring would authorize the Speaker to Climate Act’s goals, and auditors and emerging risks and known
testing services, and to report to us towards consistent, inclusive engage in litigation on behalf of determined that the PSC did not issues on a continual basis to
the Council annually for 3 years and fair policies across our school the Council of the City of New plan properly for the historical minimize the impact on the state’s
on the availability of rapid testing system that do not unjustly target York to oppose the Department project cancellation rate. As of ability to meet Climate Act goals;
services throughout New York our students.” of Correction’s efforts to suspend April 2023, there were 230 large- • Provide a more accurate
City. Resolution 292, sponsored by Local Law 42 of 2024. scale renewable projects awarded representation of the likelihood
“Since the COVID-19 pandemic Council Member Althea Stevens, “It’s unfortunate that the Coun- contracts within the Climate Act of meeting targets by assessing
began, racial inequities in sexu- calls on the New York City De- program, and 28 projects were
ally transmitted infection rates partment of Education to create an (Continued on page 10) cancelled from 2005 to 2023. Of (Continued on page 10)