6 servings (unless it’s cold and snowy outside, in which case, 2 servings)

• 6 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 lbs) cooked and peeled
  To cook the potatoes: wash but don’t peel. Boil in water to cover until soft-ish. When they cool a little, the skin comes right off. You can use those big cans of cooked yams, but don’t tell anybody
• 1/2 cup melted butter or margarine
• 2/3 cup brown sugar firmly packed. Taste the potatoes — if you like them sweeter, add more
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons dark rum

In a bowl, mix the potatoes, butter, brown sugar, and salt. You can mash up the sweet potatoes or just slice them. (I like mashing better) And then add the rum. …

My name is Jessica Haller, I am a Leader with the Climate Reality Project and VC of the Board of Hazon, and I’m a candidate for New York City Council in District 11 in the NW Bronx.

I am speaking to you today in support of Intro 1947, which will help us expand LL97 and contribute to our economic recovery from the coronavirus. Intro 1947 works with existing tenant-protection laws and LL97 by expanding the number of buildings that are required to meet reductions in emissions, in whatever ways they can.

This bill will mean new jobs for New Yorkers in hands-on work for designing, constructing, and renovating retro-fitting the affected buildings. It also represents a step toward fighting the climate crisis. In New York City, our buildings are responsible for more than two-thirds of total GHG emissions, adding to the heat-island effect and poor air quality. This air quality in turn contributes to so many of our health problems, asthma, respiratory distress, and heat deaths — especially in low income, high heat vulnerability neighborhoods. As many health authorities have noted, air pollution in many communities hardest hit by coronavirus contributed to complications and the high death toll. In fact, this science dates back to the 1918 flu pandemic, when communities living near coal plants had higher mortality rates from flu due to lower air quality. Intro 1947 will improve the efficiency of buildings and the quality of life of millions of low-income tenants. The inclusion of buildings with 35% or more affordable housing units ensures that tenants will not bear the brunt of the cost. …

I am so grateful that President Obama was the commencement speaker at my daughter Leila’s High School graduation! Actually, he was there on Zoom for all 2020 graduates who are making tremendous life transitions in the midst of a difficult time. These kids may have to grow up faster than other generations. “Be alive to one another’s struggles” he said.

Leila joined me at my semi-regular volunteer spot at POTS — Part of The Solution, dedicated to feeding and serving the Bronx. As we packed hundreds of lunches, both hot and cold, we talked about the depths of the crisis and ripples of the economic and human devastation through the Bronx. …

Last week I quoted President Obama’s commencement 2020 message: “Be alive to one another’s struggles.” Historically, we have not been, but now is the time to strive to be more alive, more aware. I stand with Black communities and communities of color as an ally, in solidarity. I share the pain as we mourn the lives lost and and fight against police brutality and systemic racism that affects voting rights, access to quality education, and employment and housing opportunity.

I saw two different kinds of images last weekend:

On social media, I saw police charged with our safety, revving up violence. I saw the opening of age old wounds, and the crying out of people in pain. I saw New York on edge. And yet, Sunday afternoon at State Senator Robert Jackson’s Vigil for George Floyd and against police brutality I saw a peaceful, powerful, diverse group with the common goal of change. …

In a city that was particularly hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak, the borough of the Bronx — the poorest in New York City (1) and home to the most impoverished congressional district in the nation (2) — is suffering severe economic consequences. These negative effects include singularly high levels of unemployment, an erosion of the borough’s small business base, declining health insurance coverage, and deepening food insecurity.

While the pandemic has wrought financial and personal pain across the country, the worsening situation in the Bronx calls for immediate and creative solutions. Unemployment has reached Depression-era levels (3) and it is in this context that I propose the Bronx be used as a pilot for launching a job-creation and small business support program grounded in the values of equity, sustainability, and resilience. …

It’s ironic that just in time for Earth Day, New York City announced that it was suspending the popular Organics recycling program for the FY21 Executive Budget. The three composting budget programs — all of which have no impact to DSNY head count — include curbside, community composting and all the community support of the citywide composting initiatives.

The benefits of separating organic waste, such as food scraps, yard trimmings, and solid paper, from the trash are manifold: fewer rats, less air pollution, less soil contamination, healthier lives, and cleaner waterways. Organics collection isn’t just about composting; it is about public-health. …

Just in time for Earth Day, New York City announced that it was suspending the popular organics recycling program. What a waste! The composting program needed improvements, but it should not have been cancelled. The benefits of separating organic waste, such as food scraps, yard trimmings, and solid paper, from the trash are manifold: fewer rats, less air pollution, less soil contamination, healthier lives, and cleaner waterways. Organics collection isn’t just about composting; it is about public-health and we need to keep focus on long term public health even as we address the current public health emergency.

In the same announcement, the City also announced it is stopping e-waste collection and discontinuing SAFE Disposal events, which safely remove toxic materials such as solvents, automotive, flammables, and electronics — anything that says “Danger” or “Poison” — from the waste stream, air, and water. …

It’s 2020, and we are still fighting for equality, which is only one ingredient in the recipe for equity. Equality means that everyone gets a box to stand on, equity means everyone can reach their apple, no matter how tall they are. We want everyone to get their apple, yet we are still fighting to make sure that there are enough boxes to go around.

The Census, happening right now, is the best way to ensure that our communities receive their fair and equal share of resources from the federal government. We must work to bolster participation, and make sure the Bronx improves on its 2010 response rate of 60%. At stake are two New York congressional seats and millions of dollars of funding. …