Pratt Center for Community Development

🏠 ✨Big News for NYC Basement Apartment Safety! Thanks to years of hard work from the BASE Coalition, New York’s FY25 budget includes legislation supporting basement and cellar apartment safety in NYC! This new pilot program will make crucial reforms that help protect New Yorkers. We're proud of the 15 years of work with BASE partners Chhaya Community Development Corporation, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, Citizens Housing & Planning Council, Queens Legal Services, Center for New York City Neighborhoods that got us to this point! And while we celebrate this progress, we’re committed to expanding coverage of this program to the communities that need this the most. Here is our full statement: https://lnkd.in/gCN3TSBW

After years of tenant advocacy, New York passed its first Good Cause regulations. The final version of the law included many carve-outs, so tenants may be wondering what this means for them and their neighbors. Join Housing Justice For All on May 15 for a “Know Your Rights workshop” to get your questions answered: https://lnkd.in/g3Y3ZWDw

🎉 We’re kicking off our 60th anniversary by celebrating our signature local manufacturing initiative Made in NYC! 🌟 For two decades, Made in NYC has helped preserve and foster small businesses, create opportunities for meaningful jobs, and empower BIPOC entrepreneurs to thrive. Don't miss out: delicious treats, free totes, local artisans, a silent auction. Join us on May 18th and experience a Taste of Made in NYC! Grab your tickets now! 🎟️ #MadeinNYC #AnniversaryCelebration https://lnkd.in/g_wCwpNQ

#Hiring alert: Pratt Center is looking for an individual with demonstrated experience in project management and a commitment to environmental justice to join our team and help implement EnergyFit, a home repair and equitable decarbonization demonstration project in Central Brooklyn. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gUEqyBC7

Thank you, Solar One, for hosting the Rally for Affordable Solar Power in New York on March 7th! NYS Assemblymember Latrice Walker joined clean energy advocates from Solar One, UHAB, Vote Solar, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and local community members for a rally and rooftop solar tour at an HDFC income-restricted co-op in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Assemblymember Walker called upon the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate to include the modernization of the State’s Residential Solar Tax Credit in the state budget to make solar panels more affordable for low-income families, seniors, and disadvantaged communities. The benefits of renewable energy should be accessible to ALL New Yorkers. Right now, low income families are being left behind. Legislators—ensure that the State lives up to #CLCPA environmental justice promises by including S.3596-C/A.6739-B in the 2024-2025 State Budget! 🗽 #NYSolarTaxCredit #Solar #SolarEnergy #NewYork #CleanEnergy #EnergyTransition

🌟 Exciting highlights from Pratt Center’s April newsletter (linked below in comments)! 🌟 Alexa Kasdan reflects on 7 months of progress: We’ve honed our focus to expand climate justice efforts, deepen community-engaged research, and elevate racial justice across all our work. #PrattCenterImpact 🎉 Celebrating 60 Years with ”Taste of Made in NYC”: Join us on May 18th for a celebration of local businesses at the Taste of Made in NYC event, presented by Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation! Get your tickets now! #MadeInNYC #CommunityCelebration 📝 New Housing Policy Brief: Our latest policy brief, "Attack on Affordability," sheds light on threats to affordability in NYC's rent stabilized housing stock. Read the full brief to stay informed. #HousingJustice #PolicyInsights 👋 New team members and roles: Join us in welcoming Amelia Brod, our new Director of Development & Communications, and congratulating Rebekah Morris-Gonzalez, who is now Director of Climate Initiatives. Exciting times ahead! #TeamDevelopment #WelcomeAboard 💡 Explore our new “Centering Communities” framework as we reflect on our approach to community engagement. Download the framework and join us in this critical reflection. #CommunityEngagement 🔥 Energy & Climate Justice Initiatives: From groundbreaking retrofits to clean energy surveys, Pratt Center is at the forefront of equitable decarbonization efforts. #ClimateAction #EquityInEnergy 📰 Catch up on recent coverage of Pratt Center’s impactful work in outlets like Gothamist, HellgateNYC, and Forbes. Our commitment to justice and sustainability is making waves! #IntheHeadlines #PrattCenterProud Illustration by Keya Shah ✨

We’re excited to kick off our 60th anniversary celebration with our Taste of Made in NYC event on Saturday, May 18, presented by Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, and sponsored by New York City Economic Development Corporation, and New York City Council! Now in its 20th year, Made in NYC helps preserve and foster small businesses, create opportunities for meaningful jobs, and empower BIPOC entrepreneurs to thrive. Come celebrate with us! https://lnkd.in/gDwKp9DG

#Hiring alert: Pratt Center is looking for an individual with demonstrated experience in project management and a commitment to environmental justice to join our team and help implement EnergyFit, a home repair and equitable decarbonization demonstration project in Central Brooklyn. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gUEqyBC7

Check out City Limit's coverage of the residential solar tax expansion issue. Solar One's Stephen Levin and UHAB's Emily Ng are quoted along with Assemblywoman Latrice Walker and Brooklyn SolarWorks T.R. Ludwig.. https://lnkd.in/eYAKS3Bj

As a follow up to our analysis of NYSERDA's Empower+ income requirements and its negative impact on low-income homeowners in NYC, today we release an additional analysis that quantifies that impact in terms of number of buildings that are being excluded. These maps show that NYSERDA's choice to use State Median Income rather than Area Median Income reduces the potential impact of the program in NYC by over over 140,000 buildings on the low end and almost 400,000 on the high end. This choice impacts not only individual homeowners who are unable to make energy upgrades to their homes, but also our collective ability to meet our climate goals. View the maps here: https://lnkd.in/gRn-S27B