ASC's Intersections Newsletter — June 18, 2026
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Nora's Note
The Second Independence Day. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom delayed is part of our history, and freedom pursued is part of our responsibility.
On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned that they were free more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. That history reminds us that progress is not always immediate, and justice is not always delivered when it is promised.
At Arch Street Communications, we honor Juneteenth as a day of remembrance, reflection, and renewed commitment. We recognize the generations of Black Americans whose courage, resilience, and leadership have shaped this country, and we acknowledge the work that continues in pursuit of a more just and equitable future.
Transportation
After years of preparation, the World Cup finally returned to North America this June. The New York City metropolitan area is set to be one of the tournament’s key locations, as the final game of the tournament will be hosted at MetLife Stadium. As soccer fans from all around the world make their way to the Meadowlands, NJ Transit officials have placed 80 multilingual ambassadors in the area to help fans navigate New Jersey’s transportation system. Read more about how the metropolitan area prepared for the World Cup here. (Source: Gothamist)
AMNY: MTA camera enforcement coming to Brooklyn and Manhattan bus routes on June 12
Streetsblog: In New Jersey, mayors show how quickly we can slow down drivers
Mass Transit Magazine: OCTA Board approves that $2 billion FY 26-27 budget, advances transit investments
Climate
The Colorado River Basin is running severely low on water, and Lake Mead is expected to drop to a level that could cut the Hoover Dam's production capacity by 70%. In response, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is investing $52 million to install new turbines that can operate at a lower water level, reducing the impact on power generation to 58%. Read more about what this could mean for the future hydropower cost and reliability in the Southwest. (Source: Inside Climate News)
Grist: For the first time, Americans are getting more of their electricity from solar than coal
Canary Media: In this house, an EV helps power appliances—and the grid
Happy Eco News: California Condor reintroduction in Yurok Tribe ancestral territory reaches historic milestone
Economic Development
In the midst of a nationwide housing shortage, New York, a city that has historically struggled with record high rental prices and low vacancies, has seen a significant rise in the number of apartment housing starts and completions in the last year. Thanks to zoning reforms, such as City of Yes, and new tax breaks designed to incentivize denser infill housing, the city saw the completion of over 38,000 new housing units in 2025, the most since 1965, with 43,000 more units currently underway. Read more for information on specific developments and industry analysis. (Source: Commercial Observer)
Smart Cities Dive: Seattle’s social housing experiment takes first major steps
The City: Council Bill would make city-owned grocery stores permanent
Planetizen: 32 years after it was banned, could Massachusetts get rent control back?
Digital
A former SpaceX engineer is betting that the next energy breakthrough won’t come from the stars, it’ll come from deep underground. Critical Energy recently raised $22 million to adapt rocket engine technology for geothermal power generation, using modular turbines designed to withstand the extreme temperatures and pressures found miles below the Earth’s surface. The approach reflects a broader trend in clean energy: applying aerospace and advanced manufacturing expertise to accelerate deployment of proven technologies. As AI-driven electricity demand continues to surge, geothermal is attracting renewed attention for its ability to provide reliable, around-the-clock power without the intermittency challenges of wind and solar. Read more about Critical Energy’s approach and the growing momentum behind next-generation geothermal energy. (Source: TechCrunch)
GovTech: California, Texas among first states in AI cyber cohort
Route Fifty: Data center moratoriums gain ground in states and cities
Forbes: How an airline is rewiring itself for the age of AI
About Arch Street Communications
At ASC, we help government agencies, corporations and nonprofit organizations across the globe communicate issues that affect people’s lives. We’re the bold, nimble, women-owned small business (WBE) that has supported strategic communications programs to build stronger communities for 30 years.
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