NYC bill aims to tackle pollution from idling cruise ships

RED HOOK, Brooklyn (PIX11) – Relief is on the horizon for residents of Red Hook, a community already burdened by high asthma rates, as a new city bill aims to clean up the air by tackling pollution from idling cruise ships.

For 17 years, Kiki Valentine has witnessed the harmful impact of cruise ship emissions firsthand. Her 9-year-old son, despite no predisposition, suffers from asthma - a consequence, she believes, of the air pollution plaguing their Red Hook neighborhood. The proposed legislation, dubbed the "Our Air, Our Water Act," seeks to curb this issue by encouraging cruise ships to adopt cleaner energy sources and reduce traffic congestion.

While New York City's cruise terminals bustled in 2023, welcoming over 1.3 million passengers and generating significant economic benefits, Red Hook residents feel they haven't reaped the rewards. Instead, they grapple with air pollution, traffic chaos, and limited economic activity stemming from the industry.

Susan Povich, of the Red Hook Business Alliance, emphasized the negative impact on local businesses: "Cruising is taking money out of our pockets without bringing any in."

Carolina Salguero, founder of PortSide NewYork, an environmental justice organization, applauded the "Our Air, Our Water Act" for its potential to mitigate Red Hook's suffering. "Adding more pollution to an environmental justice neighborhood is simply unacceptable," she declared.

Salguero highlights the lack of direct benefits to Red Hook despite the facility's economic contributions, emphasizing the negative consequences of shore power and traffic congestion.

Valentine remains adamant about safeguarding children's health, particularly vulnerable to air pollution's effects. "If cruise ships can't plug in and clean up their act," she stated firmly, "they shouldn't dock in New York City."

This proposed legislation represents a crucial step towards balancing economic interests with the environmental and health concerns of Red Hook residents. Only time will tell if the "Our Air, Our Water Act" can truly deliver cleaner air and a healthier future for this Brooklyn community.