Author

Andrea Sears

Andrea Sears has been a radio journalist for 30 years participating mostly at WBAI-Pacifica Radio in NYC as an editor, anchor and reporter for more than two decades. Sears contributes to a variety of publications through involvement in the New York News Connection, a Bureau of the Public News Service.

Business

Pandemic Presents Extra Perils for People with Disabilities

Andrea Sears Apr 28, 2020

People with disabilities loaded hundreds of pallets of provisions on the USNS Comfort (Mercy-class hospital ship) for its trip to New York. Photo credit U.S. Navy. NEW YORK -- Skyrocketing unemployment in the COVID-19 pandemic poses an…

Crime

Fewer Youths in Juvenile Detention Amid Pandemic

Andrea Sears Apr 27, 2020

According to Vincent Schiraldi, co-director of the Columbia Justice Lab at Columbia University, the pandemic has raised the kinds of questions about detention that always should have been asked. File photo: Pixabay. NEW YORK -- A recent…

Crime

Report: Jails Could Add 100K COVID-19 Deaths

Andrea Sears Apr 23, 2020

A one-week delay in reducing jail populations could mean 18,000 lives lost to COVID-19, according to a new report. There are almost 740,000 people in American jails where social distancing and other preventive measures are difficult if not…

Environment

Challenges and Lessons for 50th Earth Day

Andrea Sears Apr 20, 2020

Earth Day 50 will focus on the importance of continuing investment in the health of the planet. Photo credit: lovelyday12/Adobe Stock. NEW YORK -- Wednesday is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. And to mark the occasion,…

Health

Veterans Stepping Up to Fight COVID-19

Andrea Sears Apr 20, 2020

The Ryan Larkin New York-Presbyterian Field Hospital can treat more than 216 patients. Photo credit: Frederick Wellman. NEW YORK -- Since Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued executive orders allowing people with varying degrees of training to help…

Business

NYC Shelter Security Officers Claim They’re Denied Sick Leave

Andrea Sears Apr 15, 2020

According to Denis Johnston, vice president of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, the employers either delayed or withheld sick pay, required doctors' notes for one- or two-day absences, and retaliated against those…

Stocking Up On Tainted Tuna? Report Alleges Problems with Fishing Practices, Working Conditions at…

Andrea Sears Apr 13, 2020

Sleeping quarters on a Taiwanese company-owned vessel fishing for tuna in the mid-Atlantic. Photo credit: Greenpeace. NEW YORK — As households try to stock up on shelf-stable foods, a Greenpeace investigation has found potential…

Crime

As COVID-19 Surges, So Does Domestic Violence

Andrea Sears Apr 9, 2020

The lack of privacy during stay-at-home orders can make accessing domestic violence services more difficult for the people who need them. Shutterstock.com licensed. NEW YORK - While stay-at-home measures appear to be slowing the spread…

Economy

New York Budget Bill Advances Clean Energy

Andrea Sears Apr 2, 2020

Expediting renewable energy development could help New York's economy after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Image by Sebastian Ganso. ALBANY, N.Y. - Clean energy advocates in New York say the budget passed by the Legislature this…

Health

Rights Advocates Say State Budget Abandons Immigrants

Andrea Sears Apr 1, 2020

Rights advocates say immigrants removed from their families are being put at risk of exposure to COVID-19 in federal detention facilities. Photo credit: vivalapenler / Adobe Stock. NEW YORK - Immigrant rights advocates say New York must…

Business

Making Sure All New York Kids Are Counted

Andrea Sears Mar 25, 2020

Young black and Hispanic children are missed by the census at twice the rate of white children. Photo credit: Monkey Business / Adobe Stock. NEW YORK -- Children under five are the largest age group to be missed in the U.S. Census, so …

Health

Nurses Petition Congress for COVID-19 Protection

Andrea Sears Mar 23, 2020

A 3M Respirator #8210 or N95 mask, disposable particulate respirator designed to help provide reliable respiratory protection of at least 95 percent filtration efficiency against certain non-oil based particles and helps reduce inhalation…

Health

Hunger Advocates: White House Reneged on SNAP Boost

Andrea Sears Mar 23, 2020

With businesses shutting down across the country to stop the spread of the coronavirus, millions of people are losing their jobs, and senior centers and school meal programs have shut down. Photo credit: PixelRobot / Adobe Stock / Pixbay…

Education

Helping Fill the Coronavirus Learning Gap

Andrea Sears Mar 19, 2020

The toolkit has tips and resources to help keep children engaged, active and learning while schools are closed. Photo credit: Flamingo Images/Adobe Stock. ALBANY, N.Y. - With schools closing around the country to help slow the spread…

Education

Faculty Face Challenges as SUNY Goes to Distance Learning

Andrea Sears Mar 12, 2020

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that City and State University of New York campuses will switch to online learning for the majority of classes through the end of the academic year. File photo. ALBANY, N.Y. - Faculty at SUNY…

Health

COVID-19 Major Threat to Some People with Disabilities

Andrea Sears Mar 12, 2020

People with disabilities such as lupus or HIV/AIDS have compromised immune systems. Some medications may lower resistance to infections, and the incidence of lung disease, heart disease, diabetes and cancer increases with age. File photo:…

Business

New York Workers Rally for Anti-Wage Theft Bill

Andrea Sears Mar 3, 2020

Workers at rallies in New York City, Binghamton and Buffalo are urging legislators to include the SWEAT bill with this year’s budget bills that must be passed by April 1. Workers say loopholes in NY labor laws undermine recent…

Business

Record Settlement for Death of Man in New York Prison

Andrea Sears Feb 27, 2020

Karl Taylor (Left) was one of nearly 10,000 people in New York prisons who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Taylor died of a heart attack. But lawyers for Taylor's family alleged he had been beaten and strangled by guards in…

Environment

Major Environmental Review Law Under Attack

Andrea Sears Feb 27, 2020

Proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) would restrict review of long-term environmental impacts on major federal projects like pipelines and dams. File photo: Pixabay. NEW YORK -- Environmental groups testified…

Business

New Proposal to Expedite Clean Energy in New York

Andrea Sears Feb 24, 2020

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed budget amendment would create a new Office of Renewable Energy Permitting to expedite the development of renewable energy projects. The current siting process was created for permitting fossil fuel generating…

Business

Three Non-Profit Environmental Organizations File Lawsuit Against U.S. Department of Defense for…

Andrea Sears Feb 21, 2020

According to the suit, the case challenges the U.S. Department of Defense’s failure to conduct an environmental review and to comply with applicable environmental requirements before approving the incineration of millions of gallons of…

Business

Security Officers In Five Boroughs Bargaining for New Contract

Andrea Sears Feb 20, 2020

Local 32BJ began negotiations Wednesday to renew contracts with building owners and security contractors. The contracts will cover 14,000 workers at colleges, government buildings, museums, libraries, stadiums and landmarks around…

Environment

Trump Budget Called a ‘Big Step Backward’ for Great Lakes

Andrea Sears Feb 14, 2020

"Many local and state governments are cash-strapped and depend on the federal government and its partnership with those communities to help pay to provide essential clean water services," says Chad Lord, Healing Our Waters - Great Lakes…

Environment

Environmentalists Call for Commitment to New Climate Spending

Andrea Sears Feb 11, 2020

Investing clean-energy dollars in vulnerable communities creates jobs and fights climate change. A coalition of environmental, justice, faith, labor and community groups says Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed budget comes up short on…

Education

Turn Up to Fight Childhood Hunger

Andrea Sears Feb 10, 2020

One-in-six children in New York is food insecure. That's more than 730,000 children. But many parents can't access or aren't aware of school breakfast, after-school supper and summer meal programs that can help. File photo: Pixabay. …

Environment

Concerns Raised about Changing NY Drinking Water Regulations

Andrea Sears Feb 5, 2020

The proposed revisions would allow water suppliers that exceed the MCLs to apply for deferrals that could delay installing treatment technology for up to three years. Cunningham said she believes the revisions are unnecessary. File photo:…

Politics

Rally in Albany Seeks Respect and Dignity for All

Andrea Sears Feb 3, 2020

The Respect and Dignity for All platform includes 17 policy priorities for immigrants and working-class people of color in New York. Photo credit: Dubo/Adobe Stock. NEW YORK -- Hundreds of immigrants and people of color are in Albany…

Health

A Personal Mission: Help for Patients with Rare Cancer

Andrea Sears Jan 31, 2020

There are about 12,000 cases of sarcoma diagnosed each year, and making it possible to get to a treatment facility is a critical step in patient care. The Sarcoma-Oma Foundation helps people with medical travel expenses and access to…

Environment

Tests Show Toxic PFAS Contaminate Water

Andrea Sears Jan 27, 2020

PFAS, used in the hundreds of everyday products, are called 'forever chemicals' because they build up in our bodies and don't break down. Very small doses have been linked to cancer, immune and reproductive harm and other diseases. File…

Business

Transportation Workers Ask Albany for Better Benefits

Andrea Sears Jan 14, 2020

Transportation-hub workers say the Healthy Terminals Act would help them get quality, affordable health care. Photo credit: SEIU 32BJ ALBANY, N.Y. - Workers at New York's transportation hubs went to Albany yesterday to tell legislators…

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