New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg stood side by side with the Rev. Al Sharpton, members of Congress and an assortment of city and state politicians to call on the state Assembly to let Manhattan process its own solid waste.

Currently, all waste from Manhattan is shipped to other boroughs, primarily in poor areas. These areas suffer from higher asthma rates and are heavily polluted by the many trucks that carry in the waste.

While the Senate has approved the plan and the City Council overwhelming favors it, several Assembly members whose Manhattan districts would be affected oppose the plan.

Read more about the proposal and Monday's press conference here. [1]