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

New York Plots Course for Clean Energy, Jobs

Andrea Sears Jan 11, 2020

Building 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind power for New York by 2035 will require skilled workers. Gov. Cuomo's proposals for New York include ambitious goals for developing renewable energy and training a workforce to help make it…

Legal

Lawsuit Seeks NYPD Cell-Phone Search Records

Andrea Sears Jan 6, 2020

Last year a court ordered the NYPD to respond to an earlier FOIA request over its use of cell phone surveillance technology against protesters. It has not yet responded to this new lawsuit. File photo: Pixabay. NEW YORK - New Yorkers…

Business

Veto of New York Wage-Theft Bill Draws Criticism

Andrea Sears Jan 3, 2020

Some employers accused of wage theft avoid judgments by transferring their assets to family members and declaring bankruptcy. Dunlea points out that the SWEAT bill would freeze those assets while ensuring that the people accused are…

Crime

Keeping Girls Out of New York’s Juvenile Justice System

Andrea Sears Dec 30, 2019

According to project director Lindsay Rosenthal, when Vera Institute of Justice first started, 56 girls were in long-term juvenile detention in the city. But in the first six months of 2019, there were only seven. File photo: Pixabay. …

Business

Workers Rally Outside Gov. Cuomo’s Office: Sign SWEAT Bill Now

Andrea Sears Dec 23, 2019

Workers are rallying outside Gov. Andrew Cuomo's NYC office Monday. Workers plan to be back outside the governor's office Tuesday and every weekday after Christmas through the end of the month unless the bill is signed. Photo credit:…

Society

Pentagon Must Show Trans Ban Documents

Andrea Sears Dec 20, 2019

The Defense Department has said the documents are irrelevant and that exposing them would hinder future discussions between low-level officials and their superiors - claims the court rejected. File photo: Pixabay. New York - The…

Business

Immigration Advocates Celebrating As Green Light NY Law Now in Effect

Andrea Sears Dec 16, 2019

On Monday, the Green Light New York law took effect, clearing the way for all drivers in the state to get a license regardless of immigration status. And the law prohibits Department of Motor Vehicle offices and county clerks…

Business

Report Calls for Carbon Pricing to Advance NY Clean Energy

Andrea Sears Dec 9, 2019

Reynolds notes that carbon pricing is similar to the approach taken by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, but instead of selling pollution credits, carbon pricing factors the cost of pollution directly into the market price of power…

Business

Economists Fault Trump Administration’s Mercury Rule Proposal

Andrea Sears Dec 5, 2019

Reducing mercury emissions also cuts sulfur dioxide and particulate pollution. A new report says the Trump administration's proposal to weaken rules for emissions of mercury and other toxic substances is based on a faulty economic…

Business

More than 1/3 of America’s Fish and Wildlife Species at Increased Risk of Extinction; Bill…

Andrea Sears Dec 4, 2019

New York state has identified 366 "Species of Greatest Conservation Need," 166 of which are designated as high priority. The bill has more than 150 co-sponsors, including six members of the New York congressional delegation. File photo:…

Business

Survey: Consumers Want Automakers to Support Cleaner Cars

Andrea Sears Nov 29, 2019

Despite strong consumer interest in clean cars, several automakers are siding with Trump administration efforts to freeze emission standards and stop states adopting tighter standards. Comments by Alexandra Zissu, a member of Moms Clean…

Business

“Trouble in Toyland” Report Finds Unsafe Toys Still in Stores

Andrea Sears Nov 21, 2019

Hundreds of thousands of children end up in hospital emergency rooms every year with toy-related injuries. Photo credit: Jovan Nikolic/Adobe Stock. ALBANY, N.Y. - Choking hazards, loud sounds and hidden toxins are some of the dangers…

Business

Forum to Explore Public Health Impact of Wind Energy

Andrea Sears Nov 14, 2019

A public forum coming up in Buffalo next week takes on the impact of rapidly expanding wind energy development on public health. Studies have shown positive public health and climate impacts from wind farm development. File photo:…

Business

Draft Plan for Green Transportation Draws Praise

Andrea Sears Nov 11, 2019

Switching to electric buses will help ensure all communities benefit from the Transportation and Climate Initiative. Photo credit: Oleksandr/Adobe Stock. ALBANY, N.Y. - The draft of a policy proposal for a regional effort to switch to…

Health

Report Shows New York as Leader in Children’s Health Insurance

Andrea Sears Oct 30, 2019

A report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families found that between 2016 and 2018, the number of uninsured children nationwide increased by more than 400,000 while New York continued to reduce those numbers. File…

Business

Schumer Plan Tackles Transportation to Fight Climate Change

Andrea Sears Oct 27, 2019

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer estimates the plan will replace 63 million gas powered cars with electric vehicles by 2030. File photo: Pixabay. ALBANY, N.Y. - Clean air advocates say combating climate change requires switching from…

Business

John F. Kennedy Airport Workers Strike for Organizing Rights

Andrea Sears Oct 21, 2019

Striking workers at John F. Kennedy Airport on Monday were joined by union leaders and elected officials. Photo: 32BJ SEIU. NEW YORK - Passenger-service workers including baggage handlers and wheelchair agents staged a strike at John F.…

Forum to Focus on Safety of Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants

Andrea Sears Oct 8, 2019

Indian Point is one of several nuclear power plants across the country scheduled for decommissioning. Photo: Mandritoiu / Adobe Stock. MONTROSE, N.Y. - Elected officials, environmental groups and scientists will gather in Montrose on…

Business

Multiple Court Rulings Bring Relief to Immigrant Workers, Families

Andrea Sears Oct 1, 2019

Three separate court rulings last week blocked federal efforts to step up immigrant detentions and deportations. Photo: JP Photography/Adobe Stock. NEW YORK - Unionized workers in New York are praising three recent court…

Finance

Cuomo Urged to Release Census Outreach Funds

Andrea Sears Oct 1, 2019

Advocates say to get an accurate count, census outreach efforts need to begin by January. Photo: U.S. Census Bureau NEW YORK - Now is the time to begin distributing funds for promoting participation in the 2020 census: That's the…

Finance

Concentrations of Child Poverty Persist in New York

Andrea Sears Sep 27, 2019

More than 700,000 children in New York State live in areas of concentrated poverty. File photo: Pixabay. ALBANY N.Y. - A new report says the percentage of children living in areas of concentrated poverty has dropped in 29 states, but…

Business

Clean Cars a Matter of Life and Breath for New York

Andrea Sears Sep 25, 2019

The American Lung Association gives ten New York counties a failing grade for high ozone days, including some of the state's most densely populated areas. Photo: 290712/Adobe Stock. NEW YORK - New York is one of 14 states that has…

Environment

Conference to Address Achieving Clean-Energy Goals

Andrea Sears Sep 10, 2019

The two-day conference is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, and Friday, September 20, at the Albany Capital Center and will feature discussions on the challenges of and opportunities for building wind farms, solar arrays and offshore…

Society

Immigrants, Advocates Move to Defend Driver’s Licenses

Andrea Sears Sep 6, 2019

The Green Light Law would give 750,000 immigrants in New York access to a driver's license. (Nomad_Soul/Adobe Stock) NEW YORK - Restoring immigrants' access to driver's licenses would benefit all New Yorkers - that's the message of a…

Education

Student Homelessness Growing in NYC

Andrea Sears Aug 30, 2019

Between the 2010-11 and 2016-17 school years, the number of homeless New York City school children increased 56%. (vectorfusionart/Adobe Stock) NEW YORK - Rising numbers of New York City school children experience homelessness every…

Environment

Conservationists Object to Forest Service Rule Change

Andrea Sears Aug 26, 2019

NEW YORK - Conservation groups say proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act would cut off the public's right to comment on more than 90% of decisions affecting national forests and grasslands. The groups filed their …

Environment

New York State Suing EPA Over Hudson PCBs

Andrea Sears Aug 22, 2019

From the foothills of the Adirondacks to New York Harbor, Hudson River fish still are contaminated with PCBs. Photo: rabbit75_fot/Adobe Stock. ALBANY, N.Y. - Environmentalists are calling the state of New York's lawsuit against the…

Business

Bigger Tax Break for NYC Green Roofs

Andrea Sears Aug 14, 2019

Green roofs lower heating and cooling costs by increasing a building's energy efficiency. Photo credit: Victor217, Adobe Stock. NEW YORK - Some building owners in New York City now have added incentive to create a green space on their…

Society

New Rule Threatens More Immigrant Family Separations

Andrea Sears Aug 13, 2019

On average, naturalized citizens have lower poverty rates and higher incomes than native born Americans. Photo: Blvdone/Adobe Stock. NEW YORK - Nutrition and immigrant advocates are condemning a new rule denying green cards to…

Environment

Agricultural Practices Critical to Fighting Climate Change

Andrea Sears Aug 12, 2019

NEW YORK - A new report says farming has an important role to play in fighting climate change. The Climate Change and Land Use report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says rising temperatures and severe weather are…

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