The New York City Council is set to pass a law called the Our Water, Our Air Act aimed at reducing pollution caused by cruise ships docking in the city. The law will require cruise ships with the capability to plug into shore power to do so, rather than burning diesel. It also mandates traffic mitigation plans to address the additional traffic, noise, and pollution that cruise ships bring to neighborhoods like Red Hook and Hell’s Kitchen.
The bill, sponsored by Councilmember Alexa Avilés, comes after years of grassroots organizing by residents and business owners impacted by cruise ships at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Susan Povich, owner of Red Hook Lobster Pound, supports the bill but believes more needs to be done to address the effects of the cruise industry on the neighborhood.
Currently, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is the only cruise terminal on the east coast with shore power connectivity, but not all ships can plug into it. The Economic Development Corporation is working to expand infrastructure to accommodate more ships for shore power connectivity. Although the EDC is making efforts to ensure local businesses benefit from the cruise industry, some like Povich feel that the cruisers do not support local businesses enough.
Councilmember Avilés recognizes that the bill is just one step in an ongoing fight to address the negative impacts of the cruise industry on local communities. She hopes that requiring cruise ships to use shore power will be a positive step in the right direction.
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