Dismissing the Queensboro Renewable Express would be an enormous mistake by the state in the face of Trump administration delays in renewable energy development.

The Ravenswood Generating Station has long contributed to excessive pollution in western Queens. (Adi Talwar/City Limits)

In 1960, deep in the fight for civil rights, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached the virtue of persistence: “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving.” 

Like then, our generation’s campaign for environmental justice — the notion that our most vulnerable communities should not bear a disproportionate burden from pollution — requires perseverance. With much grit, organizations like NAACP and others have made steady progress, improving the quality of air, water, and life for millions of the most vulnerable New Yorkers. 

But today, that progress is in jeopardy. 

After decades of perseverance from organizations like mine, the new federal administration is rolling back hard-fought environmental protections. The president is pushing fossil fuels instead of the renewable energy that keeps my community — and the entire planet — safe. 

We need state and local leaders to lead and protect our most vulnerable, such as the residents of the Ravenswood and Queensbridge houses in western Queens. This community is known as “asthma alley” because it bears the burden of most of New York’s fossil-fired power generation. New York’s landmark climate and environmental justice legislation — the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act — sought to replace that power generation with renewables. The first project seeking state permits to do so is the Queensboro Renewable Express, which will, once built, deliver enough clean energy from offshore wind to power more than two million New York homes and enable the city’s largest power plant to retire fossil-fired generation, reducing local emissions. 

Unfortunately, the state agency reviewing the Queensboro Renewable Express is now questioning whether the project is needed due to the Trump administration’s delay in renewable energy development. Dismissing this important project and others like it would be an enormous mistake and waste precious time. It would also send a devastating message to other developers, signaling New York’s retreat in the face of federal opposition. 

By dismissing the project, the state wouldn’t just be sentencing western Queens to more years of health-harming pollution but also dismissing a critical job creator for the community. Black and Brown community members who have long borne the health and economic burdens of fossil fuel-fired power plants deserve an opportunity to participate in the clean energy transition through new, good-paying union jobs in the expanding renewable energy sector.

This project is not just about reducing emissions; it’s about delivering economic and environmental justice and empowering impacted communities suffering from past public policy decisions. It is no coincidence that this land use was placed in a low-income area or that public housing was placed near an objectionable land use. By comparison, there are no major power plants in higher-income neighborhoods in Queens. 

This project directs New York resources on the right side of history. That’s why Gov. Hochul must continue to stand up to President Trump and not allow New York to squander this critical time. The state must continue reviewing and permitting vital projects like the Queensboro Renewable Express so New York is prepared to hit the ground running and protect impacted communities when this dark chapter ends — and it will end. When sanity and science return to federal energy policy, New York must have shovel-ready projects like the Queensboro Renewable Express ready to go. 

Yes, we are under attack in the fight for environmental justice. But New York must stand firm and, in the face of this assault, boldly declare: “We will keep moving.” 

Natalie M. Patasaw is the Environmental Justice Chair of the NYS NAACP Conference, which has worked to advance the agenda for equality for more than 85 years.

The post Opinion: New York Must Keep Moving in the Fight for Environmental Justice appeared first on City Limits.

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he’s joining some of his top economic advisers on Wednesday for negotiations at the White House over tariffs and trade with a top Japanese official who is traveling to Washington for the talks.

The Republican president said in a post on his social media platform that he’ll attend the meeting alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, top economic advisers with a central role in his trade and tariff policies.

Trump recently announced a round of global tariffs but then quickly put them on hold for 90 days after the markets tanked and fears of a recession mounted. He left steep tariffs in place against China.

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The move put Japan’s 24% across-the-board tariff on hold, but a 10% baseline tariff and a 25% tariff on cars, auto parts, steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. remain in place.

Japan, like many other nations around the world that are fearful of Trump’s tariffs and the likely economic fallout, has been scrambling to respond. It has set up a special task force to assess the impact of the tariffs and offer loans and consultation to anxious companies.

Although Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has been working hard to coax exemptions out of Trump, the government has said little officially on what concessions it might offer during these talks.

“Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and ‘TRADE FAIRNESS.’ I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries,” Trump wrote in the social media post. “Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!”

Japan’s chief trade negotiator, Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, was headed to Washington on a mission to convince U.S. officials to remove Trump’s tariff measures against the East Asian ally of the United States.

Akazawa is to hold his first talks with Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer through Friday.

“I am prepared for the talks,” Akazawa told reporters at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport before boarding his flight to Washington. “I will negotiate in order to firmly protect our national interest.”

He said that both Bessent and Greer are “known to be pro-Japan and professionally talented” and that he hopes to build a relationship of trust with them. “I believe we can have good talks toward a win-win relationship that will serve national interest for both Japan and the United States.”

FILE – Ryosei Akazawa, newly appointed Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization, arrives at the prime minister’s office Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Japan is among the first countries to start negotiations with the U.S. Trump and other administration officials have said the phones have been “ringing off the hook” with dozens of countries calling, eager to strike deals with a president who views himself as a master negotiator to avoid tariffs when the 90-day pause ends.

But it was not immediately clear what either side hoped to get out of the negotiations. The U.S. asks remain unclear, other than Trump’s desire for no bilateral trade deficit.

Japan’s asks also are unclear, although it contends that Trump’s tariff measures are likely to violate bilateral trade agreements or World Trade Organization rules. While Ishiba has said he opposes retaliatory tariffs, he also has said he is in no rush to push for a settlement because he doesn’t want concessions.

Trump said he also wants to discuss U.S. military support for Japan, or how much the Japanese contribute to the cost of American troops stationed there, largely as a deterrent to China.

Trump’s demand for more defense spending concerns the Japanese.

Under its national security strategy, Japan aims to double annual defense spending to nearly $10 trillion, or 2% of GDP, in 2027, while there is a concern that Trump may ask for that to be increased to 3% of GDP. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tuesday that the military budget for this year is about 1.8% of Japan’s GDP.

Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO, Associated Press Retail Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. shoppers increased their shopping last month, fueled by a spending spree on big ticket items from gadgets to cars before President Donald Trump’s expansive new tariffs started kicking in.

Retail sales rose 1.4% in March, after rising 0.2% in February, according to the Commerce Department. Retail sales fell 1.2% in January, hurt in part by cold weather that kept more Americans indoors, denting sales at car dealers and most other stores.

Excluding sales at dealers of autos and parts, sales only rose 0.5%.

Sales at dealers of autos and parts rose 5.3%, while electronics retailers had a 0.8% increase. Sporting goods retailers enjoyed a 2.4% gain. Grocery stores saw a 0.1% increase and clothing and accessories stores had a 0.4% increase. Online retailers posted a 0.1% gain and restaurants had a 1.8% increase. However, furniture and home furnishings stores posted a 0.7% decline.

“These are simply blow out numbers on March retail sales where the rush is on like this is one gigantic clearance sale,” said Christopher S. Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBonds LLC in a published note. “Consumers are expecting sharply higher prices the next year and are clearing the store shelves and picking up bargains while they can. ”

Analysts expect that sales will start falling off as the slew of tariffs increase costs for companies and many retailers are forced to raise prices, hurting shopper demand. Consumers’ confidence has already taken a hit. And a growing number of retailers and suppliers are halting shipments from China as well as pausing orders as they wait to see where the tariffs settle. In some cases, they are canceling orders.

The result of the trade wars so far: a baseline tariff on most countries of 10%, with imports from China getting taxed at a combined 145%. Goods from Canada and Mexico face tariffs of up to 25%, while imported autos, steel and aluminum are taxed at that same rate. China retaliated last week with a 125% tariff on U.S. goods.

Early this month, Trump announced sweeping and steep tariffs on nearly all trading partners. But after Trump’s U- turn last week that paused the new tariffs on about 60 nations for 90 days, average U.S. duties remain much higher than a couple of months ago.

Last Friday, the Trump administration announced tariff exemptions on electronics like smartphones and laptops but a few days later said they’re only a temporary reprieve.

Amid lots of uncertainty, U.S. consumer sentiment plunged in April, the fourth consecutive month of drops, in a seemingly sharp disapproval of Trump’s trade wars that have fueled anxiety over possible job cuts and rising inflation.

The preliminary reading of the University of Michigan’s closely watched consumer sentiment index, released Friday, fell 11% on a monthly basis to 50.8, the lowest since the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past year, confidence has dropped 34%.

Analysts say that the big retailers will be able to navigate better than the smaller ones which don’t have the clout to absorb extra costs or pressure their suppliers. But it also depends on the type of goods they sell, particularly if they have goods sources from overseas.

Ashley Hetrick, principal and sourcing and supply chain segment leader at accounting firm BDO, noted that stores are taking a “wait and see” approach when it comes to ordering goods and are more cautious about ordering seasonal items because they have a shorter shelf life. She said that the cancelling of orders hasn’t been widespread.

Walmart executives offered a dose of confidence last week that the retailer will keep delivering low prices as it navigates Trump’s escalating trade wars with China.

But the nation’s largest retailer, whose competitive prices became a strong magnet for inflation-weary shoppers, told analysts that it’s still vulnerable to the challenges and is monitoring the fluid tariff situation. The company told analysts that sales have been volatile.

“While in the short term, we’re not immune to the effects, we are positioned to play offense,” Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillon said at an investor meeting. “Nothing about the current environment impacts our confidence in our business or our strategy.”

Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy said last week that the company has been doing everything it can to keep prices low for customers, including bringing in goods early ahead of the barrage of tariffs and negotiating with suppliers.

But Jassy told CNBC’s Andrew Sorkin Thursday that its network of third-party sellers will have to pass on the higher costs to sellers.

“Depending on which country you’re in, you don’t have 50% extra margin that you can play with, so I think that they’ll try and pass the cost on,” Jassy said.

Jassy said that he hadn’t seen a notable change in consumer behavior since Trump’s sweeping tariffs. And while he sees that some shoppers are stocking up ahead of price increases, the data is limited and he was not sure how broad-based that behavior is.

But according to Bloomreach, which tracks sales from more than 1,000 global brands and retailers overall, North American e-commerce revenue marginally increased 0.4% during the week of March 31 compared with the first week of March. But sales increased 6% between the week of March 24 and the week of March 31.

Online sales in apparel increased 44.8% during the week of March 31 compared with the first week of March, according to Bloomreach.