Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
Inwood
12
dw
Br
oa
Public housing is at a high risk
of flooding from severe storms
and increasing rains
Hud
so
Critical infrastructure
for waste, energy,
transportation, and more,
along with large housing
developments are within
the flood zone
h St
Washington
Heights
dwa
Harle
Flood Hazard Lines
179t
Broa
WE ACT Members
er
Evacuation Centers
m Riv
Storm Inundation Zones
St
Areas outside of the floodzone
are still at risk from increasing
temperatures
NYC Parks
an
n Ri
NYCHA Developments
ck
ver
Dy
Community Districts
ay
Basemap
Central
Harlem
West
Harlem
Hud
way
East Harlem is the most vulnerable district
due to its low sea level, lack of green
infrastructure, and socio-economic inequality
Broa
d
son
R
iver
11
1500
3000
4500
6000 ft
Ea
m 1500 600
st R
ive
2nd
Ave
10
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad and Mateo Fernandez-Muro, November 2016.
Sources: New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Department of City Planning
(DCP). Office of Emergency Management (OEM). WE ACT for Environmental
Justice, 2016. FEMA Preliminary Work Maps for New York City 100-year flood, June
2013. Mayors Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability (OLTPS), CUNY
Institute for Sustainable Cities (CISC), New York Panel on Climate Change (NPCC).
96th
St
East
Harlem
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
Map: Race and Ethnicity
Inwood
Majority population per block
Black African American
12
Dominican
Puerto Rican
White
Mexican
Washington
Heights
Asian
Community Districts
NYCHA Developments
NYC Parks
Flood Hazard Lines
WE ACT Members
Central
Harlem
Between 1990 and 2000 the
number of people who identify as
Black has gone down by 8% in
gentrifying neighborhoods from
West
Harlem
38% to 30%
9
10
39%
of people in Washington
Heights and Inwood
have limited English
profecciency
m 1500 600
1500
11
3000
4500
6000 ft
N
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad and Mateo Fernandez-Muro, November 2016.
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2010 Census, SF1 - Population Division - New
York City Department of City Planning; U.S. Census American Community
Survey 5-year estimates, 2014. WE ACT for Environmental Justice, 2016. NYC
Department of Parks and Recreation, 2011. New York City Housing Authority
(NYCHA). See Basemap for flood data and housing sources.
East
Harlem
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
Map: Low-wages
$7,000 - $14,000
$14,000 - $20,000
$20,000 - $26,000
$26,000 - $30,000
Communities with high levels of
poverty are also concentrated in
areas that are vulnerable to the
environmental impacts of climate
change.
Wealthier communities have been
located on high land away from
the impacts of floods
Community Districts
NYC Parks
NYCHA Developments
Flood Hazard Lines
WE ACT Members
According to the MIT Living Wage
Calculator, an individual with no
children living in New York City
must earn $14.00 per hour, almost
$30,000 per year, to earn a living
wage. That amount increases
to $28.00 per hour, or almost
$60,000 per year for a person
with one child. This amount is far
above the federal poverty level
(FPL) of $11,880 for individuals
and $16,020 for a family of 2.
m 1500 600
1500
3000
4500
6000 ft
N
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad and Mateo Fernandez-Muro, November 2016.
Source: U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2014. WE
ACT for Environmental Justice, 2016. MIT Living Wage Calculator. Department of
City Planning (DCP). See Basemap for flood and housing sources.
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
Map: Rent Burdened Households
Gross rent as % of median
household income where per
capita income is less than $50,000
12
Rent burdened areas should
receive more housing assistance
to cope with the increased cost
of living brought about by climate
change.
30% - 33%
33% - 34%
34% - 37%
37% - 40%
45% - 50%
45% - 50%
Community Districts
NYC Parks
NYCHA Developments
HDFCs
-12 yrs Old Developments
+18% Vacant Units
Proposed Rezonings
9
10
Flood Hazard Lines
Proposed Rezonings
WE ACT Members
11
m 1500 600
1500
3000
4500
6000 ft
N
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad and Mateo Fernandez-Muro, November 2016.
Source: NYC Department of City Planning (DCP); U.S. Census American
Community Survey estimates, 2014; New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey
(HVS). NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (DHPD).
NYC Industrial Development Agency (IDA). WE ACT for Environmental Justice,
2016. See Basemap for flood and housing data.
dw
ay
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
an
ver
St
Hud
so
Farmers Markets
Supermarket/Wholesale
ck
Food Coops and CSAs
n Ri
Community Gardens
12
Dy
The New York region relies
on food resources that are
transported through Northern
Manhattan. Infrastructure
improvements and local
production can make our food and
transport systems more resilient.
Br
oa
Map: Food and Waste
Vacant Lots
Community Districts
179t
h St
Storm Inundation Zones
WE ACT Members
Flood Hazard Lines
dwa
The citys food and waste
system causes pollution at
the North River Sewage
Treatment Plant and
previously at the 135th
Street Marine Transfer
Station.
Broa
NYC Parks
NYCHA Developments
River
Combined Sewer Overflow
Harlem
Key Transportation Routes
4500
dwa
y
3000
6000 ft
ive
1500
11
st R
Broa
Rive
son
Hud
m 1500 600
10
East Harlem has a number of community
gardens that are at risk of flooding.
Infrastructure can protect the gardens and
allow more food to be produced locally.
Ea
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad and Mateo Fernandez-Muro, November 2016.
Sources: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). WE ACT
for Environmental Justice, 2016. NYC Department of Environmental Protection.
https://livinglotsnyc.org, 2016. See Basemap for flood and housing data.
96th
St
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
Broadway Bridge
Henry Hudson
Bridge
Br
oa
dw
ay
Map: Emergency Preparedness
NYCHA Developments
n Ri
Waterfront Parks
Evacuation routes follow
the high ground with stops
along designated hurricane
evacuation centers and where
WE ACT members are located
Hud
so
NYC Parks
ver
La Marina
Dock
Community Districts
HDFCs
Evacuation Centers
179th
George Washington
Bridge
Public Schools
St
12
dwa
WE ACT Members
Broa
Flood Hazard Lines
Elevation Every 10ft
Harlem
River
Evacuation Routes
West Harlem
Piers Dock
y
dwa
1500
3000
4500
6000 ft
st R
m 1500 600
ive
11
2nd
Ave
Broa
Hud
son
Rive
10
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad and Mateo Fernandez-Muro, November 2016.
Sources: Department of City Planning (DCP). NYC Department of Information
Technology & Telecommunications (DoITT). WE ACT for Environmental
Justice, 2016. See basemap for flood and housing sources.
Ea
96th
St
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
Map: % of Rent Stabilized Units
12
Affordable housing in flood prone
areas need immediate infrastructure
improvements and better enforcement
of regulations in order to preserve
affordability and housing quality.
0 - 22.6
22.6 - 53.6
53.6 - 76.2
76.2 - 92
92 - 100
Community Districts
NYC Parks
NYCHA Developments
WE ACT members
10
Property owners are illegally converting
rent stabilized apartments to market rate
apartments in order to profit from high
property values. Rezonings and private
investments can speed this process.
11
m 1500 600
1500
3000
4500
6000 ft
N
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad and Mateo Fernandez-Muro, November 2016.
Sources: http://blog.johnkrauss.com/, 2016. NYS Homes and Community
Renewal (NYSHCR); NYC Department of Finance (DoF). WE ACT for
Environmental Justice, 2016. See basemap for flood and housing sources.
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
Map: Renewable Energy
Renewable energy and green
infrastructure can reduce energy
costs and protect vulnerable areas
from blackouts that are causes by
severe storms or heatwaves
Sun
Shade
Priority Areas
Key facilities like hospitals,
universities, and senior
housing should have solar
panels and battery storage
to reduce demand on the
grid and prevent power
outages
Community Districts
NYC Parks
Energy Sources
Flood Hazard Lines
Existing Solar Installations
Historic Districts
A microgrid is an area of several blocks that connects
important residential and other buildings with renewable
energy systems to prevent them from losing power if the
larger ConEdison electrical grid loses power.
Important infrastructure for waste, transportation,
energy, and food, along with public institutions
and low-income housing, are all vulnerable to
failure without reliable electricty.
During a heatwaves in 2016 when temperatrues
were 96 degrees, over 1,000 residents of Central
Harlem lost power.
Redevelopment projects should
include solar and should avoid
shading adjacent rooftops if possible.
m 1500 600
1500
3000
4500
6000 ft
N
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad and Mateo Fernandez-Muro, November 2016.
Sources: Google Project Sunroof. See basemap for flood and other data sources.
There are
currently
26 solar
installations
in Northern
Manhattan
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
Map: Urban Heat Island - Land Cover
Tree canopy
Grass/shrub
Bare soil
Buildings
Paved
Green infrastructure in areas with a
lot of pavement and other impervious
surfaces can help prevent flooding
while reducing temperatures.
Historically there has been an
underinvestment in trees and green
infrastructure in low-income communities.
New investments need to be connected to
climate change and affordable housing policy.
m 1500 600
1500
3000
4500
6000 ft
N
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad and Mateo Fernandez-Muro, with contributions
from Zoe Hamstead, University of Buffalo, April 2016.
Sources: NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, 2011. NYC Department of
City Planning, 2011.
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
Map: Urban Heat Island - Temperature (Fahrenheit)
Industrial areas create high
temperatures that threaten
surrounding communities
69.4
79.5
89.6
Heat zones pose a health risk to
people without air conditioning.
99.6
109.9
WE ACT Members
Existing Cool Roofs
Hot zones
Cool zones
Temperatures are expected to increase by 4 - 6F
by 2050 and 5 to 8F by 2080s.
Heat waves are expected to triple by the 2080s.
The cool zones that do exist can be in exclusive
communities. Democratizing green areas is key to
avoiding the heat related injuries.
Cool roofs are painted white to reflect
heat. There are currently 23 cool roofs in
Northern Manhattan.
m 1500 600
1500
3000
4500
6000 ft
N
Map courtesy of Zoe Hamstead, University of Buffalo, April 2016.
Sources: NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, 2011. NYC
Department of City Planning, LANDSAT 7 ETM+, July 2011.
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
New York City Council Districts
10 - Ydanis Rodriguez
Term: 2014 - 2018
10
9 - Inez Dickens
Term: 2012: 2016
8 - Melissa Mark-Viverito
Term: 2014 - 2018
7 - Mark Levine
Term: 2014 - 2018
Mayor - Bill de Blasio
Term: 2014 - 2018
Comptroller - Scott Stringer
Term: 2014 - 2018
Public Advocate - Letitia James
Term: 2014 - 2018
Community Districts
WE ACT Members
Lawmaking body of NYC
Approves City Budget
51 members from 51 districts
Members limited to 2 consecutive terms.
Can run again after 4 years away.
Speker is head of City Council,
currently Melissa Mark-Viverito
Proposed legislation submitted through
the Speakers Office
47 Democratic council members
Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer.
3 Republican council members
35 committees
Each member sits on at least 3
committees
Members elected every four years
8
7
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad, Mateo Fernandez-Muro and
Zlatko Simonovski, November 2016.
Source: Charter of the City of New York, Chapter 2 25(a)
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
Congressional Districts
13 - Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D)
Term: 2017 - 2019
Senator Charles Schumer (D)
Term: 2017 - 2023
Senator Kristin Gillibrand (D)
Term: 2015 - 2021
Community Districts
WE ACT Members
Members of the United States
Senate may serve an unlimited
number of six-year terms
Members of the House of
Representatives may serve an
unlimited number of two-year
terms
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad, Mateo Fernandez-Muro and
Zlatko Simonovski, November 2016.
13
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
New York State Senate Districts
31
31 - Marisol Alcantara (D)
Term: 2017 - 2019
30 - Bill Perkins (D)
Term: 2017 - 2019
29 - Jose M. Serrano (D)
Term: 2017 - 2019
Community Districts
WE ACT Members
Upper House of the New York
State Legislature
150 members
Each district has an average
population of 128,652 people
Members may serve an unlimited
amount of two-year terms
30
29
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad, Mateo Fernandez-Muro and
Zlatko Simonovski, November 2016.
Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan (NMCA)
New York State Assembly Districts
72
72 - Carmen De La Rosa (D)
Term: 2016 - 2018
71 - Herman D. Farrell (D)
Term: 2016 - 2018
70 - Inez Dickens (D)
Term: 2016 - 2018
68 - Robert J. Rodriguez
Term: 2016 - 2018
71
Community Districts
WE ACT Members
Lower House of the New York State Legislature
Members serve an unlimited number of two-year terms
63 Assembly members
70
68
Map by: Aurash Khawarzad, Mateo Fernandez-Muro and
Zlatko Simonovski, November 2016.
