| | When: 10 AM Where: Meet at City Hall Park in Manhattan |
| | When: 12 PM Where: Long Island Railroad Bridge at 63rd Drive & Alderton Street, Rego Park, NY, 11374
We will formally delivery the petition to the mayor or a representative from the mayor’s office. In addition to the petition, the event will highlight key findings from the QueensLink Report, which outlines the need for expanded transit options and their potential impact on our community.
The QueensLink project aims to transform the old Rockaway Beach Branch rail line into a modern, efficient transit corridor connecting underserved neighborhoods in Queens to the broader New York City transportation network. By reactivating this historic route, QueensLink would provide faster, more reliable connections; reduce traffic congestion; and promote economic development across the borough. It is a crucial step toward a more sustainable, equitable public transit system in Queens.
We hope to see you there! |
| | When: Times vary by hearing Where: Virtual New Yorkers fought hard to get a moratorium on the use of fossil fueled power plants for cryptomining while an environmental impact assessment was completed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
While the moratorium has expired, the draft Environmental Impact Statement was recently released, and now it is up to New Yorkers to comment on that assessment. Virtual opportunities to weigh in have already begun:
Cryptocurrency Mining Law Hearing — Southern Tier
Cryptocurrency Mining Law Hearing — Central New York
Cryptocurrency Mining Law Hearing — Mohawk Valley
Cryptocurrency Mining Law Hearing — North Country
Cryptocurrency Mining Law Hearing — New York City/Long Island
Cryptocurrency Mining Law Hearing — Capital Region/Hudson Valley
Persons wishing to comment at a virtual hearing must register to speak no later than 4 PM on the day before the hearing date. There may be limits on the amount of time each speaker has to comment to ensure that all individuals have an opportunity to be heard. The time limit for speaking is generally 2-3 minutes, so please keep that in mind as you prepare to speak.
New Yorkers may submit written comments to climatechange@dec.ny.gov with the subject line “Crypto Draft GEIS.” by no later than September 25, 2025.
Thank you for your help! |
| | When: 5 PM deadline on August 1, 2025 Where: Online electronic submission The Northeast Supply Enhancement Project (“NESE Project”) is a 26-inch diameter pipeline proposed by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company LLC (Transco) that would transport fracked gas from Pennsylvania through New Jersey, travelling underwater right off the coast of the Rockaway Peninsula to Long Island. Approximately 23.5 miles of underwater pipeline will be installed, of which approximately 17.4 miles would be in New York State waters.
The project was previously rejected by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in 2020 due to its violation of New York’s water quality standards, but has been given reconsideration. Given its scale, potential impacts, and controversial history, the public comment period for the “re-application” for NESE is critically important.
Individuals and parties may submit comments electronically at DEPEnergy@dec.ny.gov to voice their opposition to the proposed NESE fracked gas pipeline.
All electronically submitted comments must be received no later than 5 PM on August 1, 2025.
Thank you for your help! |
| | When: 4 PM Where: Office of New York City Council Member Keith Powers (211 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017) 
NYPIRG rallied with coalition partners Food & Water Watch, New York Communities for Change, 350 Brooklyn, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, and Fridays for Future at New York City Council Member Keith Powers' office. The groups delivered over 500 petition signatures from constituents calling on him to co-sponsor Intro 1180, a loophole-closing bill that would strengthen Local Law 97 and further reduce climate-warming pollution in New York City. |
| | When: 6:30 to 8:30 PM Where: Kings County Small Claims Court 
NYPIRG students who participate as counselors in our Small Claims Court Action Center had the opportunity to observe Small Claims proceedings in Brooklyn. Thank you to Judge Epstein for inviting us! |
| | When: 6 to 8 PM Where: Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene (971 East 227th Street, Bronx, NY 10466) What would guaranteed, comprehensive healthcare mean for you and your community?
NYPIRG and our co-hosts held a town hall to discuss how the New York Health Act — our state's universal healthcare bill — will greatly expand healthcare for everyone who lives or works full time in New York and make it truly affordable for all. We also discussed how to fight back against current threats to cut and privatize traditional, public Medicaid and Medicare, immigrant rights, and the barriers to healthcare that are impacting you and your community. |
| | When: 12 PM Where: Outside of City Hall in Manhattan 
During New York City budget negotiations, NYPIRG and our allies rallied to support CUNY opportunity programs, student scholarships, student services, and free student MetroCards.
Cosponsors: NYPIRG, CUNY USS, PSC/CUNY, Young Invincibles, UAspire, and CUNY Rising Alliance
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| | When: 10 AM to 4 PM Where: New York State Capitol in Albany 
NYPIRG, Renewable Heat Now, and our allies made a powerful push to pass the NY HEAT Act in Albany only one week before the end of the legislative session!
The NY HEAT Act — a crucial bill for lower energy bills, cleaner heat, and a healthier future — is practical, popular, and necessary. This bill will:
- Stop wasteful fracked gas expansion paid for by our utility bills.
- Invest in modern, clean energy like heat pumps.
- Make energy more affordable for all.
The state legislature cannot let another session go by without passing the NY HEAT Act. The gas utilites keep raising rates to pay for costly new fracked gas pipes — this is outrageous. The NY HEAT Act is the bill that we need to start the transition to clean home energy, and we need it NOW! |
| | When: 11 AM Where: Albany 
With momentum growing in the New York State Legislature to pass a statewide rebate program for purchasing electric lawn equipment, representatives from STIHL, EGO, Milwaukee Tools, Ryobi, The Home Depot, and Ace Hardware joined organizers from NYPIRG, Environment America, and other advocacy groups for an informative day of testing out cleaner, quieter electric lawn equipment. The “Electric Lawn Equipment Demo Day” offered state legislators and their staff, as well local residents, the opportunity to learn about the benefits of going electric. |
| | When: All day Where: Albany 
NYPIRG was with Beyond Plastics and many other advocates who want to put people and planet over plastic in New York State. We rallied in support of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill, which we need passed this legislative session in order to address New York's solid waste crisis! |
| | When: 11 AM Where: 140 Broadway, New York, NY 10005 
NYPIRG rallied with Council Members Carmen De La Rosa and Lincoln Restler in support of a bill to close a dangerous landlord loophole in Local Law 97, New York City's nation-leading local jobs and climate law!
In February, De La Rosa and Restler introduced Intro 1180, legislation to close a loophole created by Mayor Eric Adams at the behest of the real estate lobby.
This loophole allows building owners to buy their way out of reducing their pollution by purchasing Renewable Energy Credits in place of cutting about 50% of the greenhouse gases that they produce. This defeats the purpose of Local Law 97, which is already setting an example for the nation for how to lower energy bills, create good jobs, and reduce air pollution while helping meet our urgent climate goals.
At the event, we showcased two buildings near each other in Lower Manhattan: One is well on its way to becoming energy efficient, while the other is in danger of continuing to waste energy, endangering our health and environment.
Thanks to all who joined us to call for clean air and lower bills for all New Yorkers! |
| | Where: New York City & Albany 
On Monday, May 5, NYPIRG Staff Attorney Kyle Giller testified at the New York City Banking Commission hearing about the need to divest our tax dollars from Wall Street and establish a public bank that could reinvest our tax dollars into local community needs.
On Tuesday, May 6th, NYPIRG and our allies went to Albany to meet with state legislators and rally in support of the New York State Public Banking Act and the Bank of Rochester Act, which will provide a path for public investment into climate infrastructure, fair financial services, and affordable housing. |
| | When: 9:15 AM Where: City Hall in Manhattan 
NYPIRG and our coalition partners turned out in full force to advocate for the Fair Pricing Act because we know that it is past time to lower hospital prices in New York. Affordable healthcare is a fundamental right for every New Yorker!
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| | When: 6:30 to 8 PM Where: Queens College Dining Hall, Room 122, 64-36 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367 
More than 100 students, faculty, and community members gathered at Queens College for a town hall spotlighting the QueensLink proposal — a community-driven plan to transform the defunct Rockaway Beach Branch into a new north-south subway line through Queens. Hosted by NYPIRG, the event featured interactive stations, personal storytelling, and direct engagement with project leaders. With Queens residents facing some of the city's longest and most unreliable commutes, attendees voiced strong support for the plan’s potential to connect transit-starved neighborhoods, slash travel times, and foster sustainable growth. Student organizers emphasized the importance of community voices in shaping transit policy, especially as QueensLink clears key funding hurdles and gains political momentum. |
| | When: 12 PM Where: 11 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005 (in front of the New York Stock Exchange) 
NYPIRG and our coalition partners stood with legislative leaders fighting for all New Yorkers to help offset the slashing of billions of dollars in federal funding to New York by rallying to restore New York’s stock sales tax.
The absurd corporate stock sales tax rebate only benefits speculators and billionaire hedge fund owners. Restoring the sales tax will recoup an estimated $13 to $20 billion annually to finance critical public services in health care and mental health, education from pre-school to supporting CUNY and SUNY, sorely needed infrastructure improvements from mass transit to affordable housing, and addressing environmental concerns, climate change, and local government aid.
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| | When: 12 PM Where: City Hall Steps, City Hall Park in Manhattan 
NYPIRG and our coalition partners held an Earth Day rally in support of the NY HEAT Act!
The NY HEAT Act is the top climate priority of New York’s environmental movement, with its promise of lower energy bills while eliminating massive subsidies to the fracked gas industry. As New Yorkers contend with the threats of climate change and rising costs of living, the rally highlighted the need for making energy more affordable while moving off of fossil fuels.
The event featured the NY HEAT Act’s lead sponsors in the New York State Legislature, Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, along with other elected officials. |
| | When: 11:30 AM Where: East 14th Street & 4th Avenue, New York, NY 10003 
NYPIRG students and staff joined a news conference for the release of a new report about city bus performance from New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. The report contains:
- Novel research about bus speeds, reliability, and on-time performance
- An analysis of the city and Metropolitan Transportation Authority's bus priority initiatives to-date
- Recommendations for creating a high-quality, affordable bus system for New Yorkers
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| | When: 6 to 7:30 PM Where: Parkchester Library (1985 Westchester Avenue, Bronx, NY 10462) 
NYPIRG organized a townhall to show support for our nation-leading climate and jobs law, Local Law 97, and to learn about all of its successes, threats, and opportunities!
Now more than ever, New York needs to protect New Yorkers, and that means fighting climate change. The real estate industry and big money do not like it, but we know we cannot wait for climate action to protect our communities. New York City deserves reduced air pollution, more jobs, and lower utility bills!
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| | When: 6 to 9 PM Where: City Winery in Manhattan 
That is an incredible testament to the dedication, hard work, and luck that has allowed us to meet the half-century mark. It is quite a milestone – which we marked with the NYPIRG 50th Anniversary Celebration.
The event was a rousing success, and we all had a wonderful time celebrating NYPIRG’s decades of tireless work for the public interest, reconnecting with friends and colleagues from years past, and honoring our 2023 Changemaker Award recipients – including renowned author and activist Jane Fonda!
We are pleased to share these event photos and this commemorative video that highlights NYPIRG's decades of tireless work for the public interest.
Thank you so much to everyone who was involved – our honorees, current and former students and staff, friends, colleagues, and supporters – for your generous support and steadfast commitment to our crucial mission.
Thanks again, and we look forward to the work ahead! |
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