It’s with great pleasure that I write to you as 2025 comes to a close. Here is what happened.
First off, I’m proud to report that, since the Citizens Air Complaint Program’s inception in 2018, the city has collected more than $100,000,000 in revenue fines, with participating citizens eligible to receive 25% of the base fines (the city keeps all late fees and penalties). And 2025 was a banner year in terms of submission of complaints into the Department of Environmental Protection – more than 160,000. Who would have imagined such success back in 2012 when the documentary film “IDLE THREAT – Man on Emission” first launched and started all the disruption?
A brilliant film maker named Molly Ragsdale took nearly two years to produce/direct and edit a sequel to IDLE THREAT. It’s called Idle Warriors. Molly’s film runs 20 minutes and focuses on the actions of 4 featured NYC activists making their rounds. The film is excellent and has had screenings at the following festivals.
- Dead Center Film Festival
- Sidewalk Film Festival
- Flickers Film Festival
- Catalina Island Film Festival
- Bend Film Festival
- Tallgrass Film Festival
- St. Louis International Film Festival
- Banff Mountain Film Festival
The film is currently unavailable to the general public.
After two years of nudging CBS TV – Eye on America the network created a segment which aired, not only in the NYC market but nationwide. It was a 4-minute running time and was viewed by about 3 million households plus 1MM Instagram hits. It was great working with the famous commentator James Brown. JB is such a gentleman.
CBS presents a rosy picture. Not so rosy press from the NY Post. They published a hit piece on behalf of the DEP and one NYC lawmaker, who proclaimed that some Citizen Clean Air participants make TOO MUCH money as they help to clean up the environment. Fortunately, we hear that the NY Post coverage actually backfired on the DEP and there are many new participants thanks to this coverage.
In order to advocate for the participants of the Citizens Air Complaint Program, a group of us environmentalists formed a non-profit organization called the New York Clean Air Collective. Its focus is to direct the city into more eco-friendly legislation. I’m one of the founding members and sit on the board of governors. It’s an impressive group, believe me. Very dedicated.
We hear tell that similar citizen led programs are springing up in DC and in some areas of Los Angeles. It’s long overdue.
While we have collectively been very successful, in 2026, the Citizens Air Complaint Program faces significant challenges. DEP continues to discriminate against New Yorkers with limited English proficiency by locking them out from participating in the Program. And DEP has been falling further and further behind in reviewing citizen submissions, which is deeply unfair to the companies that get tickets AND to citizen reporters. New leadership is needed, and we hope that 2026 brings a DEP that will open the Program up to all New Yorkers and dedicate sufficient resources to Air Code enforcement to make sure polluters get the message and STOP IDLING!
AS 2026 unfolds, it marks the 20th year since I began my pursuit of improving the air quality in my beloved city. Oh, what progress we have made!!! In recap, more revenue to the city. More income to the participants. Great free media coverage and cleaner air in NYC. Does it get better than that?
Best wishes to you and your family in 2026
GEORGE PAKENHAM
P.S.: Feel free to pass all this good eco news to your friends and family!