In New York, where rainstorms are frequent and some parts of the state receive multiple feet of snow each winter, water scarcity can seem more like a distant concern. But abundant precipitation does not make New York immune to droughts. The state has historically experienced drought conditions every two to three years, affecting drinking-water supplies, agriculture, ecosystems, recreation, and communities that depend on private wells.

“Textiles are the next frontier for [waste] diversion and reuse,” said Joshua Goodman, spokesman for the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), in a 2025 New York Times article. “Historically, [the] capacity to do anything with textiles has been limited, but that is changing.” This is good news for New Yorkers, who are increasingly looking for ways to recycle their old clothes, bedding, and other textiles. In PromoLeaf’s study of 151 cities, New York ranked #1 in those most actively googling for ways to recycle clothing, with 10,440 related monthly searches – nearly double that of second place Los Angeles. 

As the federal government continues to retreat from climate action, it is more important than ever that states work together to reduce air pollution, lower emissions, and address the climate crisis. A standout example of just this sort of collaboration has been taking shape across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic over the past two decades in the form of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a program that aims to achieve affordable and effective CO2 emissions reduction through 2037.

Please join us on Wednesday, September 16th from 5-7pm upstairs at the unique and historic Powerhouse. Please join us in Buffalo as we bring together business leaders, elected officials, community partners and supporters to celebrate our shared commitment to clean air, clean water and environmental protection in Western New York.

Parks are an essential part of city life. They provide an outlet for community, a space for people to escape crowded streets and city noise. As we’ve seen in recent weeks, parks are also a place of refuge, providing shade – and even water features for kids – to get relief from the brutal summer heat. In order to ensure our parks are well maintained and serve all city residents regardless of their zip code, the city must increase investments in the Department of Parks and Recreation. NYLCV and our Play Fair for Parks coalition partners have long advocated for the city to allocate 1% of its budget toward parks. While most major cities dedicate 2–5% of their budgets to parks, New York City remains stuck at approximately 0.6%. 

This summer's heat wave underscored a growing reality for New York: the state's electric grid must adapt to meet the demands of a warming climate. During July's record-breaking heat wave, Con Edison urged New Yorkers to delay running major appliances, reduce air-conditioning use, and avoid charging electric vehicles during peak hours. The request reflected increasing pressure on New York City’s electric system. On July 3rd, the utility temporarily shut off power to nearly 10,000 customers in southwest Queens so crews could repair heat-damaged equipment before a larger outage occurred. Elsewhere in the city, Con Edison reduced voltage by around 8% and again asked customers to conserve electricity while repairs continued. Heat waves like this one are only going to intensify and become more frequent. Voluntary conservation and the occasional brownout won't be enough to keep a grid, built decades ago for a cooler climate,  supporting an electric system in the summers ahead.   

Reporting to the Political Director, the NYLCV Political Organizing Fellow will play a critical role in the organization. Their work will allow NYLCV to further its mission of electing more environmental champions to office.