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"For me and for my staff at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), it's a time for not only great optimism, but also celebration and renewed commitment to environmental stewardship."
The government agency tasked with ensuring city-owned buildings and vehicles don't contribute to climate change is facing a $1 billion cut to its preliminary capital commitment plan. Of those, $775 million directly impacts environmental efforts.
The Dept. of Buildings (DOB) has the power to offer a mediated resolution to landlords who don't comply with the city's building emissions law, bypassing fines if they promise to get back on track. But lawyers fear the provision leaves the door open for DOB to evoke it too freely.
"If New York is serious about meeting its climate goals, the city must then live up to its stated priorities and give programs the resources to meaningfully follow through on their legislative mandates."
New York joined eight other states in an agreement to ensure heat pumps make up 65 percent of residential heating and cooling equipment sales by 2030.