99% of OneNYC initiatives underway; City has made tremendous progress towards a more just, equitable, sustainable and resilient New York

In April 2015, Mayor Bill de Blasio released One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City, a groundbreaking strategic plan for inclusive and sustainable growth. OneNYC took stock of New York’s most significant challenges—population growth, aging infrastructure, increasing inequality, and climate change—and released a ground-breaking blueprint for tackling these challenges head on. The OneNYC Progress Report can be found online here.

“Numbers don’t lie. New York City is thriving – jobs are up, crime is down, and our air and waterways are cleaner than they’ve been in decades. But the work of building a more just, resilient and sustainable city is a constant work in progress. It takes leadership and requires the active participation of 8.5 million New Yorkers who make this city their home. The challenges we face, like extreme weather, climate change and income inequality, are inextricably linked. The solutions outlined by the OneNYC plan recognize the connection between economic and environmental sustainability, so we can realize our shared vision of a city that works for all New Yorkers,” saidMayor Bill de Blasio.

OneNYC was developed in 2015 in partnership with 100 Resilient Cities (100RC), pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation, and was the first global resilience strategy to be released by any city. New York City is thrilled to continue its partnership with 100RC and looks forward to hosting the global resilience summit here in New York City later this summer.

OneNYC is premised on four visions for the city, each including bold goals, specific initiatives, and detailed metrics and indicators to address the significant social, economic and environmental challenges ahead:

• Vision One: Our Growing, Thriving City - New York City will continue to be the world’s most dynamic urban economy where families, businesses and neighborhoods thrive.
• Vision Two: Our Just and Equitable City - New York City will have an inclusive, equitable economy that offers well-paying jobs and opportunities for all New Yorkers to live with dignity and security.
• Vision Three: Our Sustainable City – OneNYC will ensure that New York City is the most sustainable big city in the world and a global leader in the fight against climate change.
• Vision Four: Our Resilient City – OneNYC will ensure that our neighborhoods, economy and public services are ready to withstand and emerge stronger from the impacts of climate change and other 21st century threats.

Since 2015, the City has made significant progress toward OneNYC’s goals. In fact, over 99 percent of OneNYC’s 202 initiatives are already underway.

Below is a brief rundown of progress over the last year. Full details on all OneNYC goals, initiatives, and metrics can be found in the OneNYC Progress Report, available here. The OneNYC interactive website is available at nyc.gov/OneNYC. This progress report includes milestones for each of its active initiatives, as well as those carried over from prior sustainability and resiliency plans. The City will continue to update the public throughout the year on progress in delivering on OneNYC commitments.

VISION 1: Our Growing, Thriving City

• We have seen record job and wage growth, with gains in all five boroughs.
• Affordable housing in 2016 hit a 25-year high, with over 62,500 homes financed since 2014
• The first new NYC Ferry route to Rockaway will launch on May 1st, a full month ahead of schedule. Routes to Astoria and South Brooklyn will launch this summer.
• Added 3 new Select Bus Service routes, and 80 miles of bike lanes, including 18 miles of protected lanes

VISION 2: Our Just and Equitable City

• Universal Pre-K is now serving 69, 510 children in its third year.
• In 2016 Vision Zero helped achieve the fewest traffic fatalities ever recorded, improving on the record set in 2015.
• The rising minimum wage, passed after OneNYC was published and at $11 in 2017, is lifting an estimated 281,000 New Yorkers out of poverty or near poverty, toward the City’s 800,000 goal.
• The City’s jail population has fallen to the lowest in decades alongside record low crime rates.

VISION 3: Our Sustainable City

• Annual greenhouse gas emissions are down 14%.
• The city now has over 100 megawatts of renewable solar energy installed.
• Approaching 1,000 electric vehicles in use by City agencies.
• Over 1 million New Yorkers are served by organics collection.
• Launched the first 100 Zero Waste Schools, reaching nearly 500,000 public school students.
• Over 500 brownfields have been remediated so far, hitting the OneNYC goal a year-and-a-half ahead of schedule.
• Re-Fashion and e-cycle programs each diverted10 million pounds of material

VISION 4: Our Resilient City

• The city secured a ground-breaking commitment to redraw our flood maps to better account for current and future flood risk, saving New Yorkers millions of dollars and better preparing our coastal communities for the future.
• And major project milestones continue to be met across the City’s over $20 billion resiliency program, including completion of the Sea Gate t-groins and groundbreakings for resiliency investments as part of $3 billion NYCHA program.

"The Mayor has made a more just, sustainable, and resilient New York a central goal of our Administration and this shows how far we’ve come,” said First Deputy Mayor Anthony Shorris. “While there is still more work to do, our agencies have clearly made extraordinary progress, and we all look forward to continuing to build a better and stronger New York."

"Our progress toward OneNYC goals makes clear that this Administration's comprehensive plan for equity and sustainability is changing outcomes on the ground in New York City for the better. We envision a thriving, equitable, sustainable and resilient City in which every New Yorker from every neighborhood and every background can prosper and reach their full potential. This two-year progress report signals that we are taking big leaps in the right direction," said Richard Buery, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives.

“Climate change presents major challenges for our city – but also new opportunities to protect the public’s health,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Herminia Palacio. “This administration has prioritized improving health equity for all New Yorkers, and the OneNYC vision recognizes that improving our city must begin with improving the lives of those most in need.”

"Two years ago, New York City laid out a bold strategy in OneNYC for building a stronger and more just city. Today, we celebrate our successes and recognize the progress we’ve made in advancing toward our goals," said Daniel Zarrilli, Senior Director for Climate Policy and Programs and Chief Resilience Officer for the NYC Mayor's Office. "Our air and water are cleaner. Our streets are safer. Our economy is stronger and working for more New Yorkers. And our city continues to lead in the fight against climate change. These achievements don’t happen by accident. They are the result of effective community engagement and active leadership. There is of course more to do and we reaffirm our commitment to achieving our goals and we continue to build a strong and just city.”

"The OneNYC plan demonstrates how government can create a clear vision for an equitable, resilient and sustainable future that is supported by careful monitoring and transparent reporting of every individual initiative," said Mindy Tarlow, Director of the Mayor's Office of Operations. "OneNYC's significant progress is a testament to this balance of vision and execution."

City Planning Commission Chair Marisa Lago said, “City Planning is proud to further OneNYC principles by planning for thriving, equitable, affordable and sustainable neighborhoods. This Earth Day is a good time to take stock. Our new interactive online map allows residents to locate facilities and services in their neighborhoods. And enhanced transparency and reporting now allow residents to follow the City's progress in delivering on commitments to East New York that accompanied our successful rezoning one year ago.”

“When Mayor de Blasio released OneNYC two years ago, it laid out a challenging but critical path forward to prepare our city for the impacts of climate change,” said Jainey Bavishi, Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency. “Today’s progress report shows that we have made great strides toward achieving those goals, including securing a groundbreaking commitment from FEMA to revise our flood maps—saving New Yorkers millions of dollars, and more accurately accounting for our current and future risk—and completing major milestones across our $20 billion resiliency program, ensuring that communities on the front lines of climate change across the city are better prepared to withstand and emerge stronger from these challenges both now and into the future.”

“OneNYC reaffirms what is possible when a great American city lays out plans for a sustainable future that intentionally integrates equity with innovation in the service of progress,” said Mark Chambers, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. “This comprehensive, forward leaning plan demonstrates that industry, community, and especially citizens, can advance shared goals of sustainability, economic growth, and inclusion. This exciting report marks a step forward for New Yorkers as we seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a more just city.”

"From phasing out the use of dirty home heating oil to improve air quality to implementing the largest and most aggressive green infrastructure program in the nation, New York City is a leader in sustainability," said DEP Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. "Moving forward we will continue the important work of protecting our world class drinking water supply and improving the health of our local waterways."

“Remediation of legacy pollution on land is one of the great environmental success stories of our generation. Under OneNYC, Mayor de Blasio is now greatly accelerating the pace of cleanup and land revitalization in New York City. While there is still much left to do, using the plan laid out in OneNYC, we will continue to work closely with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Environmental Protection Agency to get this important work done,” said Dr. Daniel Walsh, founding director of the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation. “We will also continue to find new and better ways to achieve more equitable quality of land in our communities, to make sure we are improving the environment for all New Yorkers. This will also help us achieve all the benefits that come from revitalizing formerly vacant land, including creation of new building space for businesses that create new jobs, and for affordable housing.”

"The Buildings Department is proud to support the Mayor's bold vision for a more resilient and sustainable city. With solar panel applications up over 1000% since 2012, we’ve streamlined the review process to allow same day approvals for projects, we’ve also updated the city's energy code to cut carbon emissions, and, with significant investments from the Mayor, are transforming the agency to give all New Yorkers more efficient, faster service, with greater transparency when doing business with us," said Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick D. Chandler, PE.

"We are thrilled by the results to date from our OneNYC/zero waste commitments. There is much work that lies ahead, but already we are delivering expanded and improved services for all New Yorkers. We urge all residents and businesses to join us in this mission and become active partners as we move forward,” said Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia.

“DOT is proud of the role we are actively playing to deliver on Mayor de Blasio’s OneNYC’s goals of environmental and economic sustainability,” said Polly Trottenberg, NYC Commissioner of Transportation. “Under Vision Zero, we have delivered the safest three years on our streets in our City’s history while at the same time, we make robust investments in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and a clean fleet that will together help dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are making enormous progress.”

“This report documents progress on a number of important fronts, including economic growth for the City, a more equitable place to work and live, environmental friendliness, and preparedness for future challenges from a number of fronts. Just as importantly, it commits to greater progress despite sharply different priorities in Washington. It’s a powerful reminder that we still have the capacity to effect meaningful change on our own,” said Stanley Brezenoff, interim president and chief executive officer of NYC Health + Hospitals.

“OneNYC is the path forward to a resilient future for New York City. Its success is marked by the increasing number of elevated homes along our waterfront, and in the ranks of Sandy-impacted residents helping to rebuild their own communities and build the infrastructure that will protect our coastlines for generations to come,” said Amy Peterson, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations.

"The principle behind the OneNYC Initiative is to ensure that all New Yorkers have an equal opportunity to thrive and live to their full potential," said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. "As we continue to implement innovative ways to make services and benefits more accessible, we reiterate the commitment of this administration to assist those in need in our City."

“The DDC Guiding Principles that direct us in the design of the City’s public buildings and infrastructure closely align with Mayor de Blasio’s OneNYC goals, emphasizing sustainability, resiliency, equity, and healthy living,” said Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora. “We’re very pleased to work with our partner agencies and community groups to achieve OneNYC objectives such as infrastructure upgrades in Southeast Queens, East Side Coastal Resiliency, and energy efficiency projects that will help reduce the City’s emissions by 80% by 2050.”

"Immigrants are integral to the fabric and health of this city, and the incredible progress the City has made toward sustainability, resiliency and equity have reverberated in immigrant communities throughout the five boroughs,” said Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs Nisha Agarwal. “With innovative programs like IDNYC, we are improving accessibility and the quality of life for residents of all backgrounds, including the 40 percent of our city that is foreign born.”

"Progress on the Mayor’s OneNYC plan means progress for real New Yorkers,” said NYCEDC President and CEO James Patchett. “In addition to investing in NYC Ferry service, infrastructure improvements, and resiliency measures across the city, the Mayor is building on the economic growth we're seeing with a commitment to create 100,000 good jobs over the next ten years. The de Blasio Administration is constantly working to make this a more equitable, sustainable, and inclusive city where New Yorkers can thrive.”

"I am pleased to see the OneNYC initiative making tangible progress toward creating a New York that is better prepared to face the challenges and threats of the 21st Century. While there is still much that needs to be done to build the physical and human resiliency that New Yorkers need, the completion of t-groins in Sea Gate, shovels in the ground at our NYCHA developments, and working to preserve affordability in the flood plain are all positive steps toward that end. Likewise, expanding organics collection and converting more of our city's vehicles to electric signal a greener, environmentally-friendly New York City,” said Council Member Mark Treyger, Chair of the Committee on Recovery and Resiliency.

"This Earth Day, New Yorkers must demonstrate our leadership on environmental protection and sustainability so that other cities can follow our model. The OneNYC progress report shows that we have improved our economy, increased sustainability, and become more resilient. I am proud that our carbon emissions have decreased, while our use of renewable energy such as solar as increased. We've also encouraged use of sustainable commuting habits including the upcoming new ferry routes and increasing access to electric vehicle charging stations. Thank you to Mayor de Blasio for his focus on the success of the OneNYC program," said Council Member Costa Constantinides, Chair of the Council's Environmental Protection Committee.

“This progress report is an important milestone - it points to the City's success in driving equitable growth and job creation among those who need it most,” said Larisa Ortiz, OneNYC Advisory Board co-Chair, Member, City Planning Commission, and President & CEO, Larisa Ortiz Associates. “By lifting more than 800,000 New Yorkers out of poverty and supporting their efforts to find and keep good jobs, we are building a strong foundation for the City's future economic growth.”

“In the two years since releasing OneNYC, an international model of integrated planning, New York City has positioned itself as a global leader in urban resilience,” said Michael Berkowitz, President of 100 Resilient Cities - Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation. “The ambitious goals and benchmarks of OneNYC have been met with steady progress on social, economic, and climate projects and policies - creating real impact for communities across the city. New York City has also become an international hub for learning and best practices on implementing urban resilience, serving as a teaching ground for cities around the world, including many in the 100 Resilient Cities Global Network.”

"Today, more than ever, we need cities to lead our efforts to fight climate change, build new infrastructure, protect vulnerable people, and promote social justice,” said Eric Klinenberg, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge, New York University. “OneNYC is a bold initiative to do all of this, and the 2017 report offers hope that New York City can make progress no matter what obstacles we face."

“OneNYC 2017 reflects continued progress toward meeting the city’s economic and social objectives and demonstrates the benefits of Mayor de Blasio’s holistic approach to achieving a better quality of life for all New Yorkers,” said Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO, Partnership for New York City.

“The City showed tremendous leadership in securing the redrawn flood maps. Preparing for more frequent coastal floods is economically sound and promotes the well-being of New Yorkers,” said Adam Parris, Executive Director, Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay. “It’s a major milestone for the City and for coastal cities.”

“The economic and environmental vision in the Mayor’s OneNYC Plan has created tremendous opportunity in New York’s vital construction sector, which is a key driver of the City’s economic engine,” said Cheryl McKissack Daniel, President & CEO, McKissack & McKissack. “I applaud the Mayor and his team for reaching the plan’s milestones, which will ensure NYC’s continued growth for many years to come.

“The biggest challenges facing New York City can’t be tackled individually, which is why The Rockefeller Foundation has been proud to support OneNYC’s plan for inclusive growth and climate action,” said Peter Madonia, Chief Operating Officer, The Rockefeller Foundation. “As the city’s resilience strategy, OneNYC’s makes the connections between challenges such as equity and climate change and has resulted in better flood protection, more economic opportunity, additional transportation options and more. For over 100 years, The Rockefeller Foundation has been proud to call New York City home. In this post-Sandy era, the importance of building a more resilient New York City is clearer than ever. We look forward to continuing to support OneNYC’s work to build a more resilient, equitable, sustainable, and thriving city in the years ahead.”

“For the past 10 years, New York has demonstrated to the world that global cities can grow and thrive while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting better transportation options and adapting communities to the consequences of climate change,” said Tom Wright, President, Regional Plan Association. “The latest OneNYC progress report demonstrates that the city continues to reach its goals and is ensuring that all New York City residents benefit from these successes.”

“In 2015, Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a visionary blueprint for creating a more livable, equitable and sustainable city,” said Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., President and CEO, New York Building Congress. “As today’s progress report demonstrates, the Mayor’s OneNYC plan has successfully executed a series of ambitious initiatives to address the challenges of climate change, population growth, sustainability and mass transit. Already, the plan has enhanced the city’s transportation network, improved the quality of life for all residents, and created a more resilient city through strategic investments to protect our coastal communities. We look forward to working with Mayor de Blasio to achieve OneNYC’s next set of milestones.”

“The progress this report shows in numbers is what our members and families across the city are experiencing in their day-to-day lives: higher wages, more jobs, access to pre-K and a safer, healthier city," saidHector Figueroa, President of 32BJ SEIU. "We will keep working with Mayor de Blasio to make a more equitable, just and sustainable city.”

“Mayor de Blasio has taken significant steps in implementing an aggressive and progressive ground-breaking blueprint to address challenges facing New York City,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies. “OneNYC is making good on the Mayor’s continued efforts to lift New Yorkers out of poverty, and to help individuals and families move up the economic ladder. From the expansion of Universal Pre-K to raising the minimum wage, New York City has demonstrated its commitment to equity. We at FPWA look forward to our continued work with the Mayor and his administration to ensure the goals of this impactful plan are realized.”

"New York is forging a path to prosperity with renewable energy, healthier air and cleaner water," said Andy Darrell, New York Regional Director, Environmental Defense Fund. "Clean energy, electric vehicles and efficient buildings are essential to New York City’s future—they deliver results for people, businesses and the planet. New York City’s environmental innovations are great models for other cities and communities.”

"WE ACT is pleased to see the city's investment in improving air quality through transforming the city's fleet to electric vehicles and reducing emissions from buildings,” said Peggy Shepard, Executive Director of WE ACT. “The city's investment in more energy efficient, energy secure communities through Solarize partnerships with WE ACT and others is creating a more resilient city. And I expect that the 3,000 new green jobs initiative that is planned will bring some equity to underemployed residents who need work to provide for their families."