Earth Day 2026 takes place Wednesday.  I’ll not be at any formal ceremony that day but I do hope to incorporate something appropriate in my day. I expect to incorporate references to Earth Day in any questions I pose to candidates for state legislative offices I interview that day at the NYC Central Labor Council.  Indeed, tomorrow I plan to release the 2026 Earth Day message — “Strengthen Bus Public Transit Both Green & Clean” — of the bus public transit union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1056 (“ATU1056”), which represents drivers and mechanics who work for MTA New York City Transit's Queens Bus Division.  I first advised ATU 1056 some 20 years ago. The message from ATU1056 president/business agent Luis Alzate urges “policymakers and the public to focus on bus public transit as a cost-effective and sound means to address transit deserts, improve our environment.”

On Earth Day, I also plan to note the opportunities GOtham GREEN® — a networking group I co-chair — provides to “annually recognizes worthy businesses, non-profits and individuals with Gotham Green Awards®” (Watch for award applications as summer ends.). It next meets May 20; reach out if interested.

Earth Day matters. In my “prior life” in government, I worked to pass a number of laws to benefit the environment.

As Earth Day 2026 approaches, let us strive to support policies and initiatives that help saves our environment. It makes us safer, creates jobs and builds communities.