Uptown Chats

It isn’t easy being green, especially when it comes to energy. Join Jaron and Lonnie as they reflect on recent episodes and discuss the issue of greenwashing in the energy sector.

You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.

Got questi...

Nothing lasts forever, including nuclear power plants. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about what happens when a nuclear power plant is decommissioned and how it impacts environmental justice communities with help from two guest speakers from Riverkeeper.

Extra Resources:

• Nuclear Power 1...

Biogas stinks! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the impacts of biogas facilities on environmental justice communities in New York City with the help of Willis Elkins, Executive Director of Newtown Creek Alliance.

Recommended Episode: A WE ACT Story - Holiday Special

Check out ou...

What’s worse than throwing away trash? Burning it! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn why waste incineration is part of the wrong direction and how it impacts environmental justice communities with the help of two special guests.

Guests:

• Chris Tandazo, ...

New York and New Jersey have both passed landmark laws to address cumulative impacts. What does that mean for environmental justice communities? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how these laws can help reduce pollution with help from Dr. Nicky Sheats, co-founder of the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance.

Join our Cumulative Impacts Webinar on Oc...

That’s a wrap! Join Jaron and Lonnie as they reflect on important themes from the Wrong Direction mini-series, and drop some not-so-subtle hints about future episode topics.

Anyone who missed WE ACT’s Webinar on the Implementation of New York State’s Cumulative Impacts Law

It’s time for more trash talk! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about the history of waste management in New York City and how it impacts environmental justice communities with help from Julio Lopez Torres, a member of WE ACT’s Climate Justice Working Group.

Resources:

• Want to reduce your waste? Check out this 3...

Public land for public good! In this episode, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by WE ACT’s Climate Justice Campaigns Manager, Annie Carforo, to talk about community land trusts and how they can help address the housing affordability crisis in NYC.

Want to get involved? Join WE ACT’s Clim...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working to keep our air, water, and soil clean since 1970. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about how the EPA supports environmental justice with help from the Administrator for EPA Region 2, Lisa Garcia.

Resources:

• You can learn more about WE ACT’s Thriving Communi...

In the spirit of the holidays, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by long-time activist and Chair of WE ACT’s Board of Directors, Jeff Jones to tell stories and reflect on this moment in the environmental justice movement.

Guest Information:

• Jeff Jones, Je...

Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025! Join Jaron and Lonnie as they reflect on some of WE ACT's major wins from 2024 and discuss some exciting advocacy efforts coming in 2025 with the help of WE ACT's new Acting Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs.

Resources:

• Check out WE ACT's 2025 Policy Agenda at weact.org/policy!
• Get involved with WE ACT's Climate Justice Working Group

Congestion pricing is here! What is it, and why should you care? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the pros and cons for environmental justice communities with help from New York State Senator Liz Krueger.

Extra Resources:

• What Is Congestion Pricing? (NRDC)

Is your energy bill too expensive? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about WE ACT's campaign to help make energy more affordable and support New York’s transition to renewable energy, featuring Cameron Clark, WE ACT's NY HEAT Campaign Coordinator.

Extra Resources:

• How a Bill Becomes a Law (New York State)

You can also listen to this episode on

Are your personal care products safe to use? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about WE ACT’s Beauty Justice campaign, which aims to ban dangerous toxic chemicals from products we use every day. Featuring special guest Elizabeth Reyes, WE ACT’s Toxics Policy Campaign Coordinator.

Extra Resources:

Not sure if your products ...

PFAS - only four letters, but it includes 15,000 chemicals that are found in products we use every day. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about what New York and other states are doing to ban these chemicals with help from Kate Donovan, Director of Northeast Environmental Health at NRDC.

Extra Resources:

• Visit pfasfreeny.org to learn more about the PFAS-Free NY campaign.
• Check out...

Starting on April 14th, Jaron and Lonnie will be launching a new mini-series where they’ll be joined by some incredible guests to take a look at technologies, like solar, wind, geothermal, and heat pumps that can help support environmental justice. They will also talk about what’s going on with these technologies here in the United States and how the ever-c...

Lonnie and Jaron are kicking off their Right Direction mini-series by exploring what it means to promote a just energy transition with special guest Shalanda Baker, Vice Provost for Sustainability & Climate Action at the University of Michigan, and former Director of the Office of Energy Justice and Equity at the Department of Energy. 

Resources...

Solar energy is everywhere! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about how New York State is using the power of the sun to help meet its climate goals with help from Stephan Roundtree, Deputy Program Director for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic at Vote Solar.

Extra Resources:

• Learn more about ...

Pump it up! In this episode, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Jordan Bonomo from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to talk about how they have been piloting heat pumps in their buildings to reduce their energy usage and improve the comfort of their residents.

Extra Resources:

• Heat Pump 101