Author: Devin Callahan

By Anna Bouadze

For the first time in history, New York City’s fight against lead exposure has sparked the release of the 2025 Lead Compliance report, an annual report on the city’s efforts in lead tracking and prevention across school districts, public housing, childcare facilities, and private residences. This new report for 2025 details everything from the current status of lead risks to the next steps of eliminating existing lead positioning in New York City. 

While policies and regulations have taken the center stage in the public conversations around lead safety, this report has also detailed the expensive performances of the agencies responsible for putting rules to action. Agencies such as the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Housing Preservation and Development, Department of Environmental Protection, New York City Housing Authority, and New York City Schools, have all played a distinct role in identifying risks, enforcing standards, and supporting New Yorkers.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has monitored and reported blood lead testing of New Yorkers, reporting on the elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) in 4,655 children, 285 pregnant individuals, and occupational workers. All children of the ages of one and two have been subjected to blood tests to determine lead levels, but reports find many children have gone without the testing, due to parental lack of awareness. In all positive cases, the DOHMH has been required by the city to investigate and implement enforcement and intervention measures. 

Lead prevention in children and pregnant individuals has been the most pressing task of the DOHMH’s efforts to safeguard public health in the wake of preventive lead poisoning measures. Care coordinators have been assigned to children detected with EBLLs of over 5.0 ug/dl (50 ppb), but enforcing lead testing in children in the ages of one and two has been hard for the agency. Underlying factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, families moving out of the city, parental refusers, and provider assumptions of low risk in high income communities, have contributed to the participation rate staying consistently in the 70s during this decade.

The DOHMH has also been “proactively monitoring” homes identified to have lead risks. Compared to 2023, a 17% increase in inspections is noted, as the DOHMH monitored 1,119 buildings for compliance and conducted 2,663 inspections in 2024. 2,127 inspections were conducted in 893 buildings, in which the agency found 36% of which had unsafe work practice, and issued 463 Orders of Notices of Violation. The agency notes this as a 78% increase in inspections and a 54% increase in violations issues compared to 2023. Occupational exposures  have also been on the mind of the agency, as in 2018, every 15 of 100,000 workers experienced lead exposures of 10 mcg/dL, prompting the agency and the Department of Buildings to conduct joint 2-5 high risk building inspections per month, in order to save the health of workers and to ensure the safety of buildings in NYC.  

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has published reports primarily addressing the lead-based paint hazards in NYC housing. The department has pushed proprietary owners and landlords to accommodate new measures in combating lead poisoning, especially to protect high-risk children under the age of six. Intense X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) lighting was used to identify lead-based paint. The biggest roadblock for the HPD in combating lead-based paint has been accessing apartments and homes to conduct testing. This year, the department made efforts to change inspection hours to accommodate tenants. If, after three attempts, the department is unable to enter and conduct research, lead-based paint hazard violations remain open. 

The HPD received more than 81,000 complaints, a 19% increase since the previous year, prompting lead base investigations. The surge in complaints, along with the gradual demolition and renovation of aging housing stock, has led to an increase in public awareness and intensified concern, which has expanded the City’s capacity to identify and address hazardous lead contamination. HPD has also pushed the expansion of new lead safety audits under local laws 111,122, 123, and 127, covering common area testing, record-keeping compliance, and turnover inspections, but unfortunately is set to be delayed until 2025, due to the scale of work and tech setup necessary

The HPD has sent a clear signal. Compliance, cooperation, trust, and awareness are at the forefront of change. Non-compliant landlords were fined a total of $230,000, and new public outreach and education efforts have led to the creation of annual Lead Poisoning Prevention Week events, co-hosted with DOHMH.

The Department of Environmental Protection

Much of New York City’s tap water is delivered through 7,000 miles of lead-free aqueducts, tunnels, and water mains. The Department of Environmental Protection has taken measures to minimize the potential for lead exposure in private plumbing all over the city. There is much worry in the department, however, of the 857,000 private service lines connected to the City’s water system, 120,163 lines were detected to have lead, and 123,758 were determined to be made of unknown materials. Unfortunately, considering that all water lines in New York City are privately owned, the department has only replaced 6,200 lead lines, as the urgency has intensified to submit a Service Line Replacement to the state by 2027.

In 2021, the department received an influx of $72 million from Former-President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and dispersed much of the funding to high risk areas, such as the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. 

Thankfully, the department has pushed the distribution of lead testing kits, which has empowered many New Yorkers. 12,600 test kits were distributed, and approximately 50% were returned for further analysis.

New York City Housing Authority 

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) continues to make progress in eliminating lead paint from 157,000 public housing apartments, as a result of a federal agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  !09,952 apartments have been screened using X-ray Fluorescence testing, identifying 50,259 of them with lead paint. 13,000 units have been successfully abated, as the authority cites 500 abatements per month, a 25% increase from the previous year. The lead abatement program, also known as the Team for Enhanced Management Planning and Outreach (TEMPO) has managed most of the outreach, temporary relocation, inspection, and abatement programs in the NYCHA apartments. 

NYCHA and TEMPO have had federally mandated targets to have 50% lead positive units abated by 2029, with the rest needing full abatement by 2039. Progress has been very positive and on track. The Harlem River Houses and Williamsburg Houses, identified to have the highest levels of lead based paint hazards, have now been 99-100% abated, showing NYCHA’s unwavering success and the importance of focused investment and the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) public-private partnership program. 

NYCHA’s biggest logistical challenges lay with their Visual Assessments (VAs). The VAs were conducted in 33,700 units across two phases in 2024. The first phases showed a compliance of 91%, while the second phase dropped to 65%, as landlords and tenants became less susceptible to inspections. 

New York City Schools (Department of Education)

Great progress has been made by the DOE, as all 74 of 893 schools that tested positive for lead-based paint inspections were successfully abated, and all 8,655 of 143,996 lead-positive fixtures were 100% remediated. Meeting the demand for the volume of pipes in the DOE system has been the biggest challenge for the department, as the DOE has committed to testing classrooms that serve children up to 6 years three times per year, and all common spaces once per year. DOE emphasises that roughly 7% of fixtures are above the 5 ppb action level due to stringent testing standards, as the DOE conducts their third round of water fixture testing.

Other Involved Agencies

Other agencies, such as the Department of Social Services (DSS), the Department of Buildings (DOB), and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) have published reports . The DSS has ensured that shelters and support housing stays safe, and in the 1,143 residential units tested, the DSS removed 197 units exposed to lead. The DOB has implemented new worker certifications and lead safe Tenant Protection Plans in order to encourage more lead-safe practices before issuing permits to contractors. If you find that your local park has shut down many drinking fountains, it may be due to the DPR testing over 3,500 outdoor drinking fountains, closing all with lead exposure, and building a website to track the testing process of drinking fountains across the city. 

A complex picture has been painted by New York City’s 2025 Lead Compliance Report. As ongoing challenges arise, measurable progress through each agency plays a distinct yet interconnected role in safeguarding New Yorkers from lead exposure. The departments have each taken up roles in identified ways to combat lead in the city. This is not a checklist of compliance, rather a city wide effort rooted in solving the crisis

Change in the city will be a marathon, not a sprint. As the city heads into a new year, the success of these initiatives will depend on maintaining cross-agency coordination, transparency, investment, and cooperation. We should all be demanding a lead-free New York City.

Anna Bouadze is a 2025 Fall Intern at NYLCV. She is a fourth-year student at New York University, majoring in Environmental Studies and Urban Design/Architecture. To learn more about Anna, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-bouadze-7823031ab/

By Kari White

New York City has a tense relationship with water. The videos that flooded social media of water rushing into the 1 train during a severe thunderstorm a few weeks ago prove that. Built into a harbor, much of city life takes place on the water’s edge. Yet, that water, like the city’s wild spaces, faces many threats. Chief among them is apathy. 

The James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center (JBOLC) is determined to change that. According to Ray Pultinas, a former English teacher and JBOLC’s founder, the center aims to “strive for inquiry and project-based solutions at the juncture of food, environmental and social justice.” They do this through the management of Meg’s Garden, the Edible Food Forest, and a weekly farmer’s market that runs from mid-June through October. 

Last month, the New York League of Conservation Voter’s Education Fund (NYLCVEF) had the privilege of attending one of these farmer’s markets. Located on the corner of Goulden and Sedgwick Avenues lies what appears to be a tangle of weeds: Small, scrubby trees grow in tight groups, obscuring the chainlink fence that rises out of the six-foot tall milkweed and fern-like asparagus. Only the picnic benches, gardening bench, and occasional signs betray the humans behind the plants.  

Locals have complained about the garden’s unkempt appearance. JBOLC, however, insists that every plant has its place in the garden — regardless of their appearance. 

The proof of that statement lies in the buzzing, fluttering wildlife that abounds in the small garden. On a corner where barren, green lawn reigns, crickets chirp, butterflies hop from flower to flower, and catbirds sing from the lichen-spotted branches of small fruit trees where little hands harvest almost-ripe apples. These 

Not only is this garden an oasis of green chaos in the midst of an urban space, it also serves as a locus of community. It is, as JBOLC’s website describes it, “a nexus for social, environmental and food justice.” During the Saturday farmer’s market, children ran around barefoot, a little girl performed her favorite nursery rhymes, and the farmer’s market vendor even took a break to play the drums.

Because it was the City of Water Day, JBOLC used the market to honor the recent daylighting of Tibbetts Brook. The creek was diverted into the sewer-system in 1912, pouring 2.1 billion gallons of water into the city’s sewer system every year since. Pultinas doesn’t mention the impact that daylighting this stream would have on the city’s water infrastructure, but rather highlight’s the creek’s right to exist. “JBOLC is an environmental justice organization that serves a beyond-human community,” says Pultinas. 

With a chalk drawing of the city and its waterways, JBOLC folded their celebration of the stream’s liberation into their typical Saturday festivities. 

At two pm, the community gathered together at a picnic table to pass around pitchers of brightly colored tea made from herbs grown right there in Meg’s Garden. This weekly tradition epitomizes the center’s goal of creating community through environmental and food justice. 

The center does not hit its visitors over the head with the importance of their work — and, in a borough where, according to CBS, “almost 20 neighborhoods have upwards of 15 bodegas to every supermarket,” their work is important. Rather, JBOLC emphasizes the joy of gardening, of fresh produce and of friendships. 

Apathy poses one of the greatest challenges to environmental justice, and JBOLC is not shying away from the fight. The center’s relentless optimism and focus on community-building takes on apathy directly.

Women have been at the forefront of the environmental and conservation movements, shaping policy, inspiring action, and driving meaningful change. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, the New York League of Conservation Voters is proud to recognize the contributions of these leaders whose dedication and vision have helped protect our planet for generations to come.

One of the most iconic figures is Rachel Carson, whose groundbreaking book Silent Spring exposed the dangers of pesticides, leading to the ban of DDT and the eventual creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Her courageous advocacy sparked a wave of environmental awareness that continues to shape policy today.

Across the globe, Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, founded the Green Belt Movement, which empowered women to lead reforestation efforts. The movement has planted millions of trees, restored degraded landscapes, and improved the livelihoods of countless women in Kenya, while promoting sustainable resource management.

Closer to home, Fran Mainella made history as the first woman to serve as Director of the National Park Service. Under her leadership, the agency increased its focus on sustainability and worked to engage diverse communities in park stewardship—helping to make public lands more accessible and inclusive.

Dr. Sylvia Earle, a renowned marine biologist and oceanographer, has dedicated her career to safeguarding the world’s oceans. Her tireless advocacy has brought global attention to the need for marine conservation and the protection of endangered aquatic species.

Similarly, Jane Goodall revolutionized our understanding of primate behavior through her research on chimpanzees. Her lifelong commitment to conservation has inspired millions and raised awareness about the urgent need to protect habitats and wildlife around the world.

Protecting and Expanding Access to New York State Parks and Public Lands

Bernadette Castro, appointed by Governor George Pataki, left a lasting mark on the state’s parks and recreation system. Carol Ash, who led the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) from 2007 to 2010, spearheaded infrastructure restoration projects, including the creation of the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park.

Following in their footsteps, Rose Harvey served as OPRHP Commissioner from 2011 to 2019, overseeing the largest capital infusion in state parks in generations. Under her leadership, park visitation increased by 23 percent, and the ambitious 750-mile Empire State Trail was launched—creating greater access to New York’s natural beauty.

Of course there was Joan Kaplan Davidson, the first woman to head OPRHP, whose visionary leadership left an indelible mark on New York’s parks system. Appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo in 1993, Davidson championed the preservation and enhancement of the state’s natural and cultural treasures. Her unwavering commitment to conservation continues to inspire women leaders in the field today.

The contributions of women to the environmental movement—whether through groundbreaking research, bold policy leadership, or grassroots activism—have been transformative. Their work reminds us that diverse leadership is not only necessary but vital to tackling the climate crisis and protecting our planet for future generations.

This Women’s History Month, let us celebrate the remarkable women who have shaped—and continue to shape—our environmental legacy.

By Raquel Mack

On Monday, February 17, 2025, the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (NYLCVEF) hosted an insightful session at the New York Association of Towns Annual Meeting & Training School. Held at the New York Marriott Marquis, the event brought together municipal leaders and climate experts from around the state to discuss how towns can take meaningful climate action while also benefiting financially.

The session, titled “How Taking Climate Action Can Also Save Your Town Money,” took place from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Alvin/Carnegie Room on the 5th floor. Moderated by Joshua Klainberg, Senior Vice President of NYLCV, the discussion focused on the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program, a state initiative designed to support local governments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the impacts of climate change. Dazzle Ekblad from the Office of Climate Change at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation explained the benefits for town participation in the CSC program. The panel featured a diverse group representing CSC certified towns: Warren Lucas, Supervisor of North Salem (Bronze); Christopher Kennan, Supervisor of North East (Bronze);  Bruce Shenker, Climate Smart Communities Coordinator for New Lebanon (Silver).  NYLCV Federal Policy Manager at  Matt Salton  rounded out the panel discussing the benefits available to towns through the federal Inflation Reduction Act.

Throughout the discussion, panelists emphasized the significant funding opportunities available to municipalities through state and federal grants, rebates, and new incentives introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act. Town leaders shared real life examples of how their communities have successfully transitioned to cleaner energy and upgraded infrastructure while taking advantage of financial programs designed to make sustainability initiatives more affordable. Supervisors from North Salem and North East highlighted their own experiences with implementing climate-smart strategies, demonstrating how these efforts not only reduce environmental impact but also lead to substantial cost savings and improved community resilience.

The session outlined practical steps for becoming certified as a Climate Smart Community, including strategies for emissions reduction and climate adaptation. Attendees left with a clearer understanding of how to access the financial tools necessary to support sustainability goals while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Stay tuned for more updates on how local governments are leading the way in climate action.

 

The 2026 IPF: Energy at Sea Conference in New York City is the premier gathering for the marine renewable energy and ocean economy sectors. At IPF, global leaders, innovators, and supply chain experts come together to move from ideas to action. One week out of the IPF conference, NYLCV wanted to discuss the offshore wind supply chain and our interactive map.

More than 900 companies are already part of New York’s offshore wind supply chain, spanning every congressional district across the state. For the first time, this vast network has been brought together in a single interactive map. From engineers and designers, to welders and crane operators, to technicians and IT specialists, New York’s offshore wind sector is powered by a New York workforce.

“The offshore wind supply chain isn’t just about meeting a climate target, it’s about meeting the moment,” said NYLCV President Julie Tighe. “It’s about creating jobs, supporting communities, driving innovation, and securing a cleaner, more resilient future for all New Yorkers.”

New York is the largest offshore wind market in the nation. South Fork is online, Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind – which will be the largest offshore wind farm in the nation upon completion – will, all told, deliver nearly 2 GW of clean energy, enough to power nearly 1.2 million homes. 

[Click here to access the Offshore Wind Supply Chain Map.]

But offshore wind is also powering our economy. At the same time this workforce is constructing turbines, digging trenches, and laying cables, it’s also boosting local economies and spurring activity in every congressional district, not just on Long Island and in New York City.

Bringing offshore wind online requires more than just big developers. It opens doors for small and local businesses to participate in New York’s clean energy future. As the interactive map demonstrates, offshore wind is an economic engine that creates thousands of jobs across the state, including for more than 5,000 union employees building and maintaining this clean energy resource.

The new interactive map makes it easier than ever to connect the dots between policy and these opportunities. It can be filtered and searched by assembly, congressional, and senate districts, with each region’s political affiliation clearly visible. Each listing includes information about the company’s services and role in the offshore wind supply chain, organized using data from the NYSERDA Offshore Wind Supply Chain Dataset.

With the federal government now taking a hostile stand toward clean energy, it’s worth noting that New York has solidified its position as a national leader in offshore wind development thanks in no small part to state investments. That includes Governor Hochul’s 2022 proposal of allocating $500 million for ports, manufacturing, and supply chain infrastructure, plus an additional $200 million in April 2024 for supply chain development. While local initiatives, such as the $5 million fund at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, ensure that workforce opportunities reach the people who need it most.

 

NYLCVEF, in partnership with the Wind Works coalition, continues to advocate for the efficient procurement, responsible siting, permitting, and transmission of 9,000 MW of offshore wind by 2035, advancing New York’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040.

But New York’s clean energy goals have a long way to go – and the gap will only widen if the federal government continues to threaten progress. 

“New York has the talent, the infrastructure, and the political will to lead the nation in offshore wind,” said Tighe. “But we’ll only get there if we work together across sectors, across regions, and across party lines.”

Now is not the time to retreat – it’s time to act. New York must keep advancing toward a clean energy economy wherever and however it can. That’s how we meet the moment and secure a cleaner, more resilient future.

If you want to be part of this fight, join us at IPF 2026.