The Oil Drum

Barbara White, 70, planted two 4-inch seedlings that she received as a gift from her neighbor in the backyard of her Morrisiana home six years ago.

Now, the seedlings have grown into thick vines that rise over the retiree's second-floor balcony and yield about 2,000 kiwi fruit a year.

"I am so proud of this," said White, 70. "I'm a city girl, for me to grow kiwi, I'm like a pioneer."

I'm all for local and organic agriculture in NYC, but I find it very ominous that we can grow citrus fruits in NYC...

Today I am proud to spotlight what I think is an organization that is making a difference in environmentally friendly urban living here in NYC: Sustainable South Bronx led by their Executive Director and Founder Majora Carter.

Sustainable South Bronx Mission Statement:

Sustainable South Bronx (SSB), founded in 2001 by Majora Carter, is a community organization dedicated to the implementation of sustainable development projects for the South Bronx that are informed by the needs of the community and the values of Environmental Justice. SSB was conceived to serve as a dedicated mechanism that could thoroughly address and implement policy and planning issues in such areas as land use, energy, transportation, water, waste, and sustainable development in the South Bronx by working to implement the community's visions for sustainable community development. Its programs are designed to provide tangible projects and/or advocacy for policy decisions that advance the environmental, social and economic rebirth of the South Bronx.

So what have they accomplished so far? Quite a bit....

[Editor's note: In a complete reversal, Bloomberg and Pataki announce plans for an intermodal transit hub at the New Yankee Stadium. Cynical folks are already emailing me saying that this is a last minute snowjob before the city council vote tomorrow. Seems like a delay is in order to consider this new information.]

The proposed plan for the new Yankee Stadium is going from bad to worse. First there was the news story last week that the Empire State Development Corporation is helping to subsidize extra parking garages to the tune of $70m. Then we hear that a long anticipated additional Metronorth stop for the Hudson River Line is "not in the cards". One would hope that this monumental opportunity to build a great transit hub connecting the 4,5,D subway lines and Metronorth in the South Bronx is not lost. Moreover, they are moving the existing parkland into the semi-industrial area nearby and some of it is going to rest on the top of the parking garages.

The lack of metronorth access combined with the increase in parking spaces would create a traffic and pollution nightmare for an area trying to finally get back on it's feet ever since Robert Moses destroyed this area in the name of more highways and the resulting social instability. All so the Yankee players and their suburban fans can fit their SUVs and HUMMERs into a parking space.

The South Bronx needs less cars, not more. It needs to become more sustainable.