ASC's Intersections Newsletter — May 16th, 2025
Nora’s Note
From rising tides to rising ideas, this year's Waterfront Alliance made waves. Thank you to the Waterfront Alliance for hosting yet another insightful and rewarding Waterfront Conference. Arch Street’s Adrienne Kanter and Chanah Haigh spent the day in thoughtful conversation with leaders and advocates focused on the future of our waterfronts—from climate adaptation to smarter policy and planning.The opening plenary session led by Battery Park City Authority President & CEO, Raju Mann, posed big questions on strengthening environmental resilience, improving regulatory frameworks, and and building public-sector capacity for lasting impact. Grateful to the Waterfront Alliance for bringing together the voices that matter—and for reminding us why the health and future of our waterways matter, too.
Transportation
Labor negotiations advance at NJ Transit. A potential strike looms at NJ Transit as labor negotiations move in two different directions. Engineers who haven’t received a raise since 2019 overwhelmingly rejected NJ Transit’s wage offer, citing pay that lags far behind peers in other commuter rail systems. If a deal isn’t reached soon, engineers could strike as early as May 16, threatening to shut down all commuter rail service and disrupt travel for 350,000 daily riders. Read more about what's at stake for transit workers and riders. (Source: Railway Age)
Mid Hudson News: Ulster lawmakers advance housing incentives and transit funding in committee meeting
Mass Transit: WeGo launches new rideshare service to help individuals appear at court proceedings
Smart Cities Dive: DOT awards $3.2B to 180 projects
Climate
In the quest for crops that can thrive in a warmer future, scientists just had a breakthrough. As the changing climate threatens the future of our food supply, a breakthrough gene identified in rice offers hope for heat resistant and bountiful food source. This gene, cross bred into new rice strains by a group of Chinese Researchers, can produce up to 80% more grain than most rice strains under hot and arid conditions. Read more about how this breakthrough could help protect the food supply for half the world. (Source: Anthropocene Magazine)
Inside Climate News: Despite federal challenges, two leading solar advocates are continuing their forward push
Canary Media: Could this 1980s battery design unlock long-term clean energy storage?
Yale News: MacMillan initiative launches with session on building better climate agreements
Economic Development
Modular’s the magic to make workforce housing work. For nearly 20 years, high construction costs and restrictive zoning have slowed efforts to build affordable housing. Several projects in California, Idaho, and Colorado are successfully building modular housing units in a fraction of the time and cost compared to traditionally constructed housing. This initiative demonstrated the efficiency and scalability of modular construction, leading the state to approve $38 million in funding to support Colorado-based modular housing initiatives. Read more about modular housing. (Source: Forbes)
Gothamist: Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from restricting NYC housing funding
3 WKTR: Creativity and innovation praised in Portsmouth's small business scene
City Limits: Weigh in: deadline for comments on NYCHA’s Fulton and Elliot-Chelsea plan extended to 5/19
Digital
Proving grounds: governments build sandboxes to test AI. Governments are increasingly adopting "AI sandboxes," controlled, isolated environments, to safely explore and evaluate artificial intelligence applications without risking disruptions to live systems or compromising sensitive data. Massachusetts and New Jersey are among the leading states piloting these programs, with New Jersey launching its initiative following an executive order focused on responsible AI. These efforts reflect a broader trend in which governments aim to balance innovation with accountability. Read more about the growing global movement toward ethical and secure AI experimentation. (Source: GovTech)
Route Fifty: Tech helps New Jersey house unsheltered veterans
Investment News: Beyond the dashboard: making wealth tech human
The Verge: Indigenous scientists are fighting to protect their data—and their culture
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