Community Green Committee Meetings - JSQCA + SJC hosted via Zoom

This collaboration between JSQCA + SJC welcomes individuals and community orgs, including neighborhood associations, and other stakeholders to a monthly discussion (3rd Wed evenings at 7pm exept July & August - we take a break over the Summer !) on topics that matter to making Jersey City a more sustainable and resilient city. Topics of interest to Jersey City, NJ and our Northeast Region will be discussed.

Mtg starts at 7pm and Zoom details will be emailed to you in your registration confirmation and also again shortly before the meeting.

UPCOMING MEETING DETAILS BELOW . . .

Wed May 15th Meeting details -

Special Guest will be Amanda Diamond, Sustainability Director for the City of Jersey City, who will provide updates on sustainability and resiliency measures the city is taking, including where the JC Climate & Energy Action Plan implementation is at, and also share recent developments about the JC Tree Canopy and urban forestry efforts, amongst other important priorities and developments from the Infrastructure Dept / Division of Sustainability.

PREVIOUS MEETING DETAILS BELOW ...

Wed April 17th Meeting details -

Special Guest will be Maggie McCann, the State DEP’s Urban Parks and Initiatives Administrator, who will provide updates on two important projects: The NJDEP Essex Hudson Greenway Project and the Liberty State Park Revitalization Program.

Nearly two miles of the NJDEP Greenway is currently under design in Newark and Kearny with a groundbreaking set for later this year. The Greenway will eventually connect to Jersey City. The Interior cleanup of Liberty State Park is already under way, with conceptual designs for the northern section of the park having been completed, and master planning for the southern sections of the park underway. Hear more about both projects and upcoming public engagement opportunities at this presentation.

In case you missed the meeting, here is the recording.

Wed March 20th Meeting details -

This discussion will focus on an exploration of Environmental Justice / Eco Justice . Special guests will be David Larrabee, Physicist / Educator, and Ashwani Vasishth, Sustainability Professor / Ramapo College; both are instructors in the SJC Certificate Program In Urban Sustainabilty

Two questions to consider –

· Do you know what Environmental Justice (EJ) is, and the difference between EJ and Eco Justice ?

· Do you know that Jersey City has been designated an EJ municipality by the NJ Department of Environmental Projection, and a Justice 40 Community by the US Environmental Protection Agency ?

Environmental Justice is now a household word, but it wasn’t always so. EJ activists and advocates have worked tirelessly for over 20 years to bring Environmental Justice into the spotlight in New Jersey. Now, New Jersey is leading the way nationally with strong infrastructure, policy and practice in environmental justice with Newark’s Cumulative Impact Ordinance and the State Environmental Justice Law. We will discuss these developments and

Context –

· US EPA on environmental justice . . . “ this goal will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.”

· “Eco-justice is the journey … It is the emerging, demanding, promising reality with which human moral agents must come to terms if there is to be a good and viable future for people and the planet.” Source - Eco-Justice, The Unfinished Journey, William E. Gibson editor

In case you missed the meeting here is the recording and CHAT resources shared here.

David Larrabee's presentation materials here.

Wed February 21st Meeting details -

This discussion will focus on 'THE ECONOMICS OF TRASH' . Special guest will be David Larrabee, Physicist / Emissions Lead, SJC Cert Program In Urban Sustainabilty.

The world economy is mostly a linear economy; material is extracted (ore, crops, water, etc), processed (ore to aluminum), manufactured (aluminum to automobile), distributed, sold, used up, and discarded. Each step produces waste which ends up in; landfills, waterways, the atmosphere, in our soil and water, or as litter. Keeping the cost of disposal down, reduces costs, increases profits, and encourages consumption. There are costs with waste that are not directly captured in the monetization of the extraction to disposal pipeline; so called externalities. Recycling has been of limited used in reducing the waste streams.The long term goal is a move to a more circular economy where; waste is minimized, the waste from one activity is an input to another, and what waste remains can be disposed of in an environmentally benign manner.Transitioning to a circular economy will require that we use the economic tools available as well as legislation. Economic pressures can challenge industries to move toward the circular economy. Legislative efforts are needed to address environmental justice issues within urban/suburban environments as well as between urban/suburban and rural areas.

In case you missed the meeting here is the recording.

David Larrabee presentation materials here.

Wed January 17th Meeting details -

Special guest will be X Braithwaite, Environmental Justice Organizer, Clean Water Action NJ

As we bid farewell to the holiday season, we want to kick off the new year with a Call To Action. - Join us in urging the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to take immediate action on the renewal of the Title V Operating Permit for Diversified Global Group (DG3) in Jersey City. DG3's emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) pose severe threats to air quality and public health.

• With 1.9 tons of hazardous substances released annually, including the detrimental Ethylene Glycol, our community faces risks of respiratory issues, cancers, and more.
• As co-sponsors of this petition, we demand strict emissions controls, investigations into DG3's practices, and addressing their pollution legacy with the NJDEP. Your signature supports our collective demand for a healthier future, safeguarding our community from the harmful effects of air pollution.

So in your sustainability goals for this year, please click the petition link, as we continue our push for a greener and safer environment. Together, let's make 2024 a year of positive environmental change!

Sign the petition on the Clean Water Action website at this link

In case you missed the meeting here is the recording.

And see resources shared in the chat.

X Braithwaite presentation materials here.

Wed Dec 20th Meeting details -

This discussion will focus on the recent Wallet Hub Survey citing Jersey City as one of the Greenest Cities in America - SUSTAINABLE JC DISAGREES and we will discuss why. Special guest will be David Larrabee, Physicist / Emissions Lead, SJC Cert Program In Urban Sustainabilty.

Get ready for a lively discussion - this survey borders on 'greenwashing' and everyone should understand the credibility of studies like this and coming from media sources, government offices, etc. This is a good learning opportunity for the community 👍

In case you missed the meeting, here is the recording.

David Larrabee presentation materials here.

Wed Nov 15th Meeting details -

We are pleased to invite back Matt Smith, NJ Director of Food & Water Watch for a presentation and discussion on the proposed $10.6 Billion publicly funded NJ Turnpike expansion project through Jersey City. Timely updates will also be on other major threats to clean air and environmental justice in Jersey City and surrounding communities, including two new fossil fuel power plants proposed within 2 miles of Jersey City.

• E mpowerNJ Action Agenda re NJ Turnpike Expansion Proposal
• F WW NJ Fossil Fuels Project Map

[See SJC "Asthma Alley" / School Health; full interactive map - Jersey City Asthma Prevalence & Transportation Corridors ]

• If you missed the meeting see the recording here
• Resources published in the chat - 1) Easy way to message your elected representatives and Governor Murphy calling for a strong clean energy definition in the CES bill: . . . .2) Eleana Little (she/her): A Rutgers professor simulated the project and projected it would induce an extra 100,000 vehicle-miles traveled per day

Wed Oct 18th Meeting details -

Our speaker for the Oct. 18 Community Green Committee meeting will be Steve Barba, PSE&G’s program support manager for Energy Efficiency programs, striving to promote energy efficiency awarenss across the state in PSE&G terriroty. He will discuss programs for both residential and commercial buildings. In addition, Rosa Pagnillo-Lopez of PSE&G will discuss the company’s residential energy assistance program. Steve and Rose will be joined by Rich Dwyer, PSE&G’s community relations manager for Hudson County.

I n case you missed this meeting, here is the recording.

Presentation materials here - Steve Barba / PSEG ... and ... Rosa Pagnillo Lopez

Wed Sept 20th Meeting details -

W e are pleased to welcome ​Greg Burns, Business Development Manager at DCO Energy who will talk about Jersey City Public Schools Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP). It is the largest ESIP project ever implemented in the state of New Jersey, which will impact students for generations, improving sustainability and resiliency efforts within the school district by reducing CO2 emissions by 19M+ pounds, and most importantly improve the learning environment for the students and teachers.

The project is valued at $122M+ where 44 school buildings will be upgraded with the some or all of the following Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs): LED Lights, District-Wide Energy Management System, Boiler Replacements, Removal All Fuel Oil, Improve Indoor Air Quality & HVAC Enhancements, Building Envelope Improvements, Steam Trap Replacements and Solar (awarded to Solar Landscape). DCO will also offer district-dide educational omponents to the curriculum so both students and teachers understand these impacts. N J.com June 2023 article about the initaitive here.

• I n case you missed this meeting, here is the recording.
• G reg Burns / DCO Energy presentation materials here.

Wed June 21s Meeting details -

• W e are please to welcome ​Dan Riggle, Team Leader for Sustainability Services at Schneider Electric who will talk about Jersey City’s Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP). This $15M project helps reduce the City’s carbon footprint at 26 municipal facilities through various energy conservation measures and installation of 5 rooftop solar PV systems. The program will also make the Municipal Services Complex more energy resilient, and provide other important benefits to community facilities.
• Here is an overview of the program and please join us on June 21st to learn more.
• I n case you missed this meeting, here is the recording.
• D an Riggle / Schnedier Electric presentation materials here.

Wed May 17th Meeting details -

• We are pleasaed to discuss the JC Participatory Budgeting project awards from 2022 to be implemented in 2023 and what that process will look like across all 6 Wards. Guest Speakers include JC Infrastructure Dept Director Barkha Patel and JC Forester Mike Diciancia, with Council Members in attendance as their schedules permit.
• Winning 2022 Participatory Budgeting Projects JC Community Stakeholders Voted To Implement With 4 of the 6 Wards Voting To Plant More Trees! All projects will be discussed.
• I n case you missed this meeting, here is the recording.
• 2 023 Infrastructure Department Implementation Plan - includes Participatory Budgeting projects

Wed April 19th Meeting details -

• W e are pleased to host a discussion about the Jersey City Tree Equity Score which is referred to on the City's Adopt A Tree Application - this has been a bit confusing to community stakeholders and we hope to allevaite that with this talk. Our guest Mushtaaq Ali is Senior Manager of GIS and Data Science for American Forests and works on data analysis for the Tree Equity Score and it's applications. Tree Equity Score calculates scores that indicate whether there are enough trees in specific neighborhoods or municipalities for everyone to experience the health, economic and climate benefits that trees provide. She will be presenting on Tree Equity Score in Jersey City, going through the methodology of Tree Equity Score, and how the National Explorer application can be used to increase tree equity in Jersey City.”
• ​Jersey City Tree Equity Score for various locations in JC can be accessed on this map
• JC Tree Equity Score Municipal Report
• In case you missed this meeting, here is the recording
• Mushtaaq Ali presentation here

Wed February 15th Meeting details -

• We are pleased to host Air Quality 101 - A Community Primer, with guest speaker Ron Petherbridge, Air Quality Expert. Jersey City has recently been awarded an EPA Air Quality Monitoring Grant to deploy equipment to measure Ozone and PM 2.5 in environmental justice neighborhoods in Jersey City, which is defined by NJ DEP as these locations. As part of the grant, JC HHS has partnered with SJC and other key players to deliver community education about air quality conditions in Jersey City, This will help inform and protect residents with respiratory conditions and other related vulnerabilities. This talk will be a primer on topics of concern related to air quality in Jersey City and Hudson County, which the American Lung Association has graded an 'F'.
• I n case you missed this meeting, here is the recording.
• Presentation materials here.

Wed January 18th Meeting details -

• Lindsey Sigmund manages the New Jersey Future Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure (MGI) program, working to move green stormwater infrastructure practices into common practice. Prior to joining New Jersey Future, she worked on environmental policies and long-range planning efforts as the Environmental Planner for the City of Jersey City. Lindsey will share resources provided by New Jersey Future, including the Developers GI Guide and Green Infrastructure Municipal Toolkit and will provide an overview of the Jersey Water Works Collaborative and its various committees and initiatives.
• I n case you missed this meeting, here is the recording.
• Presentation materials here.

W ed October 19th Meeting details below -

• Guest speaker Carly Foster, Arcadis / Resilient Northeastern New Jersey – Carly Foster is the consulting project manager for Resilient Northeastern NJ, a regional climate adaptation strategy that benefits the cities of Hoboken, Jersey City, Bayonne, and Newark. The program is administered by NJDEP and is a partnership with the cities, Hudson County, and the community-based organizations of Ironbound Community Collaborative and HOPES CAP, Inc. The draft action plan is currently out for public review with comments due October 23. Carly will talk through the plan’s process and key recommendations to help guide your review of this effort that could guide resilience in the region for the next generation.

Wed September 21st Meeting details below -

We will be joined by two guest speakers, Barkha Patel and Sam Pesin -

• Guest speaker Barkha Patel, Director of JC Infrastructure Department - The new Infrastructure Dept now oversees several Divisions including the Sustainability Division, Engineering, etc., and Offices like the Innoation Office, etc, with a focus on taking a more integrated approach toward attaining Jersey City's smart growth goals while implementing more green infrastructure and climate change ready initiatives across the city, in support of the Master Plan to make JC cleaner, greener and add to various positive quality of life aspects for residents and businesses here. Barkha and her team will join us to share about the structure of the Infrastructure Department and their priorities, helping the community to understand some of the changes that have occured as a result of this operational reorganization.

• Guest speaker Sam Pesin, President / Friends of Liberty State Park - Sam will update us on the status of the privatization battle and share what community stakeholders can do to support keeping LSP the pristine treasure it is.