First green steps in Newark 1. Sustainability + Urban Design 2. Reasons for green 3. Implementation mechanisms Newark Sustainability Office History History • 2006 – Mayor Booker commits to The Newark Sustainability sustainability during transition Office works within (cid:129) 2008 – Green Future Summit brings municipal government and hundreds of Newarkers together. in partnership with the Sustainability Officer hired community to create a (cid:129) 2009 – Environmental Commission healthier environment, a chartered. First major grants received stronger local economy, (cid:129) 2010 – Sustainability Office becomes and more social well-being official division of City government for current and future (cid:129) 2012 – Sustainability Action Plan generations of Newarkers. completed. Office fully staffed Air Quality Poor air quality affects health and limits attractiveness of the city. Asthma rates in Newark are far higher than the State average. The Sustainability Office is leading an effort to monitor air quality at the neighborhood level and to reduce diesel emissions from idling trucks. The Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) coordinates and leverages existing weatherization and Healthy Homes resources to produce better outcomes. Materials Management Rather than paying for disposal via incineration or landfill, in some cases, entities can save money, generate revenue, and support job creation by re- purposing that waste with a Newark-based business. Organics, electronics, and construction material offer examples of waste products with viable secondary markets. Newark already hosts businesses such as Carpetcycle, Citilog, and Grease Lightning as well as pilot projects at Beth Israel Hospital and Weequahic High School. Support for Made In Newark “upcycling” businesses will grow the market for secondary materials and help Newarkers turn waste into wealth. Healthy Food Access: Farmers’ Markets The USDA awarded BCDC a $90k grant to create a high- profile marketing campaign to promote farmers’ markets. The markets will serve as incubators for local and regional food enterprises. Farmers’ markets will be able to accept SNAP, WIC, and other food assistance program payments, expanding customer base. Incentive programs such as Wholesome Wave double federal nutrition benefits, further expanding purchasing power of customers. As a result, farmers markets attract and retain more vendors, grow customer base for produce, and increase fresh food budgets for residents. Healthy Food Access: Healthy Corner Stores Building on BCDC’s Fresh Food Initiative pilot program, the Sustainability Office is working with Newark Public Schools and surrounding corner stores to increase fresh food demand and nutrition education. BCDC will support the NJ Partnership for Healthy Kids’ (NJPHK) healthy corner store/bodega initiative to increase healthy food inventory and measure impact on sales and food acquisition behavior. NJPHK results will influence replication in other wards throughout the City of Newark. Healthy Food Access: Urban Agriculture Stimulating urban agriculture is strategy for revitalizing vacant city-owned properties, increasing food access, and promoting local enterprises. The Sustainability Office is vetting and supporting non-profit and for-profit urban agriculture ventures to promote the creation of a more sustainable and economically viable local food system for the City of Newark. Technologies such as greenhouses, hoop houses, hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic systems indoors and on rooftops can extend the city’s capacity to produce food, shorten the food supply chain and create jobs. Newark has roughly 5 times less tree canopy coverage than Essex County. 70% of Newark’s land is paved. Over 60% of residents live in census blocks with less than 20% tree canopy coverage.