“There’s something admirable about trying to restore life in the places that need it most. But without pairing those efforts with real investment in pollution control, especially wastewater infrastructure, we’re asking oysters to succeed in conditions that science says they can’t withstand long-term.”

An evening view of the northern tip of City Island, one of several local waterways where oyster reefs are being used to help filter out pollution. (Adi Talwar)

When I first learned about oyster restoration in New York Harbor, I was amazed. These small, craggy creatures could filter water, support biodiversity, and even help stabilize shorelines. With over 150 million oysters already introduced by initiatives like the Billion Oyster Project, it felt like a rare climate success story.

I volunteered with the organization, helping monitor oyster research stations, collecting data on biodiversity and growth, prepping shell piles on Governors Island, and tying knots for cages. I spent time watching the mud crabs and (perhaps a little too enthusiastically) squeezing sea squirts like glorified ocean stress balls. It was hard not to be inspired. These reefs weren’t just theoretical solutions. They were alive, and they were bringing the harbor back with them. But what I’ve come to realize is that they’re also incredibly vulnerable, and we rarely talk about that. 

New York City’s sewer system is over a century old. In much of the city, stormwater and sewage still flow through the same pipes. When it rains, even just a 10th of an inch in an hour, the system overflows. These combined sewer overflows (CSOs) happen around 90 to 100 days a year, releasing an estimated 27 billion gallons of untreated waste directly into local waterways. That’s the water oysters are expected to filter.

In theory, that’s part of their job. Oysters are filter feeders, capable of processing up to 50 gallons of water per day, removing particulates, bacteria, and excess nutrients. That’s why oyster restoration is framed as a nature-based solution to urban water pollution. But in reality, these systems can be overwhelmed, and increasingly are, as climate change makes heavy rainfall and flooding more frequent.

CSOs flood estuaries like New York Harbor with a slurry of freshwater, debris, heavy metals, bacteria, and nutrients. They lower salinity, increase turbidity, deplete oxygen, and introduce a mix of pathogens and pollutants. For oysters, this isn’t just unpleasant, it’s dangerous. Research shows that exposure to CSO-related stressors can impair oyster shell growth, weaken their immune systems, and disrupt the microbial communities that help them process pollutants. In some cases, they may even stop filtering altogether, temporarily closing their shells in response to poor water quality.

And yet, despite these limitations, oyster restoration is often presented as a silver bullet, “living infrastructure” that will clean our waters and buffer our coasts. It’s a compelling idea and I understand the appeal. But we have to ask: what do we owe to the systems we’re asking to protect us? 

Because the truth is, many restored reefs are being placed into waters that are still fundamentally polluted. High-profile restoration zones like Jamaica Bay, Newtown Creek, and the Gowanus Canal are also among the most heavily affected by CSOs. Newtown Creek alone sees an estimated 1.2 billion gallons of sewage overflow annually. 

There’s something admirable about trying to restore life in the places that need it most. But without pairing those efforts with real investment in pollution control, especially wastewater infrastructure, we’re asking oysters to succeed in conditions that science says they can’t withstand long-term.

That’s not to say the people running these projects don’t understand the risks. They do. Establishing a reef takes years of planning, monitoring, and permitting before a single oyster is deployed. At the City Island Oyster Reef, for example, teams spent years conducting fish surveys, measuring biodiversity, and assessing habitat conditions, and only now are they nearing the point of installing their first actual reef. Even after installation, these reefs require continued maintenance and oversight. They are not self-sustaining, not yet. 

But public narratives often simplify this. Reef openings get press coverage. Infographics tout the filtration power of a single oyster. But what doesn’t always get communicated is that oysters don’t scale overnight. They don’t filter through floods. They don’t fix what we refuse to.

And that’s where the real tension lies. When restoration is presented as a climate solution without the necessary structural reforms, we risk falling into what economists call a moral hazard: the assumption that something (or someone) else will absorb the consequences of inaction. In this case, the oysters become the stand-ins. We ask them to filter the byproducts of climate change, outdated infrastructure, and political delay. Not because it’s the best strategy, but because it’s more visible, more fundable, and more palatable than systemic reform.

This isn’t an argument against oyster restoration. I believe deeply in its value. The ecological and educational returns are real. The harbor is healthier today than it was decades ago, and these reefs are part of that progress. But we need to be honest about what oysters can (and can’t) do. They can’t prevent raw sewage from flooding their beds 100 times a year. They can’t keep filtering through hypoxic dead zones. And they can’t build resilience on their own. 

If we want to treat restored reefs as infrastructure, we have to treat them like infrastructure, not symbols. That means investing in both gray infrastructure (traditional systems like upgraded sewer lines and stormwater tunnels) and green infrastructure (natural solutions like rain gardens and permeable pavement that help reduce runoff at the source). It means ensuring that restoration is not a substitute for reform, but a partner to it.

Why does this matter beyond oysters? Because clean water isn’t just an ecological goal, it’s a public health necessity. Contaminated waterways can harm vulnerable communities, spread disease, and degrade the urban environment for everyone who lives near it. We can’t build climate resilience on symbolism alone.

There’s nothing wrong with celebrating progress. But we can’t mistake visibility for resilience, or inspiration for immunity. Oyster reefs show us what recovery might look like, but only if we stop asking them to filter out everything we haven’t yet faced.

Audrey Li is a Scarsdale High School student who volunteers with oyster restoration projects in New York Harbor and Long Island Sound. 

The post Opinion: When It Comes to NYC’s Waterways, Don’t Let Oysters Do All the Dirty Work appeared first on City Limits.

Dakota County homeowners could see their property taxes increase nearly 10% next year pending a final budget approval in December.

On Tuesday, Dakota County officials adopted a 2026 proposed maximum property tax levy of $184.2 million, up 9.9% from 2025.

“Given anticipated inflationary cost pressures, state and federal cost shifts and funding reductions, a tax levy in this amount is estimated to be needed,” according to county documents.

For a median-value single-family home in Dakota County with a market value of $385,000, the owner would see their taxes go up approximately 9.24%, or $66.11, to total $781.20 in 2026, according to the county.

“One of the things that I have spent my time in leadership focusing on is being able to have our property taxes at a predictable, sustainable level,” said County Commissioner Mary Hamann-Roland, who represents District 7, which includes Apple Valley.

“Our mission is now to create that predictable, sustainable level,” she said, adding that she believes the work is underway.

Last year, the county raised the tax levy 9.9% to $167.7 million. In 2025, that meant homeowners of a median-value single-family home saw their taxes go up roughly $40.

Future projections show the tax levy climbing 11.7% in 2027 for a total of $205.8 million. In 2028, estimates show an increase of 9.6%, totaling $225.5 million, according to the county.

In 2024, Dakota County claimed the lowest levy per capita in the state of Minnesota and the lowest property tax rate among the seven metropolitan counties.

For 2026, however, Dakota County is on the higher end of preliminary levy increases for the metro area at 9.9%. This year, Anoka County is at 9.9%, Ramsey County is at 9.75%, Hennepin County is at 7.79% and Washington County is at 6.95%, according to Dakota County documents.

Additional levies

Although there more than two months until the county’s budget will be finalized, Dakota County residents should prepare as other levies are decided.

The city of Eagan, for example, approved a preliminary 2026 tax levy increase of 8.9% earlier this month. The city’s 2026 General Fund budget of $59.5 million represents an 8% increase or about $4.39 million over 2025, according to city documents.

For owners of an average value home in Eagan of $426,272, they will see their 2026 property taxes increase 9.6%, or $140, to $1,594 compared to $1,454 last year.

Independent School District 196, which includes Rosemount, Apple Valley and Eagan schools, is asking voters to renew and increase its technology capital projects levy. Currently at 3.015%, if the levy is renewed and increased to 5.015%, homeowners of a roughly $400,000 home will see an $85 increase in their property taxes, according to the district.

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Hypothetically, if each levy were to pass and remain unchanged from the time of this reporting, Eagan residents who own a $400,000 home could see a property tax increase of about $291 between county, city, and school district levies.

The county’s Truth in Taxation hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Dec. 2 at the Dakota County Administration Center, located at 1590 Minnesota 55 in Hastings.

The final approval and adoption of the 2026 budget is expected to take place at the Dec. 16 Board of Commissioners meeting.

By LARRY NEUMEISTER

NEW YORK (AP) — Mexican megachurch leader Naasón Joaquín García pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to sex trafficking charges during his first appearance in a New York federal court, where he is charged along with his 79-year-old mother with sexually abusing generations of young followers.

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Two weeks ago, an unsealed indictment in Manhattan accused García, 56, of Los Angeles, of using his position as head of La Luz del Mundo (The Light of the World) church to sexually abuse children and women. The indictment said his father and grandfather, both deceased, did the same before him.

At a hearing before Judge Loretta A. Preska, García listened to a Spanish translator through headphones and sometimes spoke English.

After García pleaded not guilty, Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Espinosa said there was an enormous amount of electronic evidence in the case, including evidence from a 2019 California state prosecution that led to a prison sentence of more than 16 years, which García is currently serving.

She said over two dozen additional electronic devices were seized two weeks ago during raids on three locations in the Central District of California, which includes Los Angeles.

Prosecutors said photos and videos of child sex abuse have been seized.

The church was used for sex trafficking of women and children in the United States, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Africa, and elsewhere, according to court documents, which said the church claims a presence in over 50 countries and millions of members worldwide, although reliable membership statistics are not available.

In the United States, the church has locations in California, New York, Nevada, Texas, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, and Washington D.C., among other places, prosecutors said.

As the leader of the church, García was considered the “Apostle,” and church members were taught that God will punish and eternally damn anyone who doubts the Apostle, fails to follow his teachings or defies the Apostle, prosecutors said in a court document that successfully argued that bail not be granted to García’s mother.

Prosecutors say they have seized hundreds of child pornography images that were created at García’s direction and sent to him via cellphone.

They also said García enriched himself and others by forcing church followers to work in construction or as nannies, aides, accountants, cleaners and other jobs for long hours with no pay.

A lawyer for Garcia did not immediately return a request for comment on Tuesday.

Two weeks ago, attorney Alan Jackson, representing García, called the indictment the result of “a reckless campaign of government overreach.”

He denied the charges, calling them “a rehashing of old, recycled claims that have been made before, scrutinized before, and ultimately debunked and disproven before.”

Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for prosecutors, said the investigation is continuing and urged anyone victimized in the case to call the prosecutor’s office or email them at USANYS.LLDM@usdoj.gov.”

García’s next hearing was scheduled for Dec. 15.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Monday that his administration is strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary. “I want to say it like it is, don’t take Tylenol,” he said, encouraging women to “just fight like hell not to take it.” But his comments came under intense criticism from medical experts and researchers — because there’s no proof tying the painkiller to autism. He also made a number of dubious claims about autism, vaccines and treatments.

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Here’s a look at the facts.

Are autism rates increasing?

TRUMP: “Since 2000, autism rates have surged by much more than 400%.” He said the rate used to be 1 in 20,000, then 1 in 10,000 and now is 1 in 31, saying “there’s something artificial” to explain it.

THE FACTS: It’s true that autism rates have ballooned but Trump’s numbers are off. The 1 in 10,000 figure dates back to the 1990s. In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put the rate at 1 in 150. In 2018, it was 1 in 44. The latest count, based on 2022 data, is 1 in 31.

Scientists say the explanation is that decades ago diagnosis was rare, given only to kids with severe problems. Diagnosis of “autism spectrum disorder” began jumping as scientists learned the developmental disorder encompasses a wide range of traits and symptoms. And as educational and other services grew, more parents began seeking diagnoses to help their kids.

Does maternal Tylenol use increase the baby’s chances of autism?

TRUMP: “Tylenol during pregnancy can be associated with a very increased risk of autism.”

THE FACTS: Studies don’t prove that. Even Trump’s Food and Drug Administration didn’t go nearly that far in a letter to doctors this week that instead they “should consider minimizing” acetaminophen’s use in pregnancy.

It’s clear that genetics are the biggest risk factor. Other risks include the age of a child’s father, preterm birth and whether the mother had health problems during pregnancy such as fevers, infections or diabetes.

Some studies have raised the possibility of a link between autism risk and using acetaminophen during pregnancy — but more haven’t found a connection.

These are observational studies that compare health records about prenatal acetaminophen and autism traits in children. The big problem: Those kinds of studies can’t tell if the painkiller really made any difference – or if instead it was the fever or other health problem that prompted the need for the pill.

The Coalition of Autism Scientists notes that use of acetaminophen – or paracetamol as it’s known outside the U.S. — during pregnancy hasn’t increased in recent decades like autism rates have.

The risks of not treating a fever

TRUMP: “There’s no downside in not taking it,” he said in urging women to not take Tylenol during pregnancy.

THE FACTS: There are huge downsides to avoiding Tylenol when a pregnant woman really needs it, according to the nation’s leading pregnancy doctors. Untreated fevers, for example, can increase the risk of birth defects, premature birth and miscarriages, according to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Both the society and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say the painkiller is a safe and needed option during pregnancy. The over-the-counter drug’s label already tells pregnant women to consult their doctor about its use.

“The conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks,” ACOG said.

Autism has been gaining in visibility in Cuba

TRUMP: ““I hear Cuba doesn’t have it because it’s very expensive and they don’t have the money to have it, or they don’t want to spend the money to have it. They don’t have Tylenol. And I hear they have essentially no autism.”

THE FACTS: In Cuba, as in many regions around the world, autism has begun to gain visibility in recent years. Awareness campaigns have been launched on state television to promote the inclusion of autistic people. And according to Ministry of Education psychologist Lisbet Rizo Suárez, Cuba has nine educational institutions to serve autistic children.

As for paracetamol, as Tylenol is known outside of the U.S., it is widely used in Cuba and doctors prescribe it without restrictions.

Autism is found in Amish communities

TRUMP, saying certain groups that don’t take vaccines or pills have no autism, “the Amish, is an example. They have essentially no autism.”

THE FACTS: This is false. While there is limited scientific data around autism in the Amish community, studies have found that there are cases. A 2010 paper from the International Society for Autism Research found autism was less prevalent in Amish communities than the U.S. overall, but it called for further study to determine how “cultural norms and customs” played a role in the numbers.

Braxton Mitchell, an epidemiologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who has worked with the Amish community for 30 years, said his group has confirmed there is autism in the community. He said Tylenol is used by many Amish and some choose to vaccinate their children, others do not.

But he said it is a challenge to gather reliable data on the subject because autism and other related conditions require clinical assessments and expert diagnosis, which Amish families may not seek out.

Trump overstates childhood vaccinations

TRUMP: “You have a little child, a little fragile child, and you get a vat of 80 different vaccines, I guess, 80 different blends.”

THE FACTS: The current childhood vaccination schedule recommends routine protection against 18 diseases. They’re not all given to “a little child” but at different ages.

How many shots that adds up to between birth and age 18 can vary. The number is closer to three dozen if you don’t count once-a-year flu shots or an annual COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccines have been proven to protect children from once common deadly diseases. There is no evidence that the schedule is harmful.

As for autism, scientists and leading advocacy groups for people with autism agree there’s no vaccine link to the disorder.

“Studies have repeatedly found no credible link between life-saving childhood vaccines and autism. This research, in many countries, involving thousands of individuals, has spanned multiple decades. Any effort to misrepresent sound, strong science poses a threat to the health of children,” said Dr. Susan Kressly of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Why infants should get a hepatitis B vaccine

TRUMP: “Hepatitis B is sexually transmitted. There’s no reason to give a baby that’s almost just born Hepatitis B. So I would say wait till the baby is 12 years old and formed.”

THE FACTS: Hepatitis B can cause serious liver damage and it’s true that in adults, the virus is spread through sex or sharing needles during injection-drug use.

But for babies, it’s a different story. If a pregnant woman carries the virus, she can pass it to her baby during delivery. While mothers-to-be are supposed to be tested, not all are. The virus also can live on surfaces for more than seven days at room temperature, meaning unvaccinated infants living with anyone with a chronic infection can be at risk.

Since 2005, U.S. health officials have recommended giving the first dose of a hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth for most infants. As a result, infant infections have dropped sharply.

The issue with up MMR vaccines

TRUMP: The MMR, I think, should be taken separately. This is based on what I feel, the, mumps, measles and and the three should be taken separately. And it seems to be that when you mix them, there could be a problem. So there’s no downside in taking them separately. In fact, they think it’s better.”

THE FACTS: Trump is referring to the vaccine that combines protection against measles, mumps and rubella. And his suggestion of separating that one combination shot into three isn’t possible. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are no single-antigen versions – no measles-only, mumps-only, rubella-only shots – available.

Early concern about a possible link between vaccines and autism arose from falsified information about the MMR vaccine in a 1998 paper that was later retracted by the medical journal that published it.

Would it be safer for parents to break up vaccines for infants?

TRUMP: On spacing out vaccines for infants, “Break up your visits to the doctors. Break them up.”

THE FACTS: That message infuriates pediatricians.

“Spacing out or delaying vaccines means children will not have immunity against these diseases at times when they are most at risk,” said Kressly, the president of the AAP.

It’s also hard for parents to make repeat visits for vaccinations outside of the normal well-baby schedule.

Trump touts an unproven treatment for autism

TRUMP, discussing a possible new treatment: “And the baby can get better, and in some cases may be substantially better.”

THE FACTS: That’s not proven, at least not yet. Trump was referring to a folic acid metabolite called leucovorin – and it’s far from clear if it’s really an effective treatment and if so, for which people.

Low levels of folate, a form of vitamin B, are linked to certain birth defects so women already are told to take folic acid before conception and during pregnancy.

A small percentage of people with autism also appear to have low levels of folate in their brains, possibly because of antibodies that block it. The Autism Science Foundation cautions that their non-autistic relatives also often have those antibodies, suggesting that’s not a cause of autism.

But the theory is that giving folate to that subset of autistic people might improve certain symptoms. Only a few very small clinical trials have been done with the drug. So the foundation and other autism experts say large, rigorous studies are needed before it can be recommended as a treatment.

Associated Press journalists Andrea Rodriguez in Havana and Barbara Whitaker in New York contributed reporting.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.