Advocates from Brooklyn to Buffalo Unite, Calling on Governor Hochul to Make Corporate Polluters Pay Without Delay: “RELEASE THE REGULATIONS, FUND CLIMATE NOW!”
The statewide coalition NY Renews demands action on the Governor-stalled Cap-and-Invest program for pollution reduction and climate revenue raising; lobbies legislators across New York to lead in One-House Budget.
[Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Long Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn]
While NY state electeds were back in-district last week, constituents rallied at their regional offices, calling for the Fund Climate campaign in the One-House Budget Proposal. The campaign includes a number of climate justice programs and spending criteria that would invest in climate resilience and affordability for New Yorkers to transition to renewable energy. As for the “$1B in climate funding” that the Governor’s Executive Budget promised over the next 5 years, the campaign wants to ensure the full sum and more land on-budget in the Climate Action Fund — the section of the state budget earmarked for climate spending — this year.
In order to generate on-going, adequate revenue that can be used for climate investment, while steadily eliminating pollution, the Governor must reinstate the Cap-and-Invest program with safeguards that protect communities. As of now, the Governor is stunting progress by indefinitely pausing the program’s rollout and with it, a leading prospect for holding corporate polluters financially accountable and capping toxic emissions. Across the state, constituents pushed for legislative pressure on the Governor to immediately release draft Cap-and-Invest program regulations, so that the public comment and hearings period could commence.
In anticipation of the One-House Budget Proposal, member organizations of the climate justice coalition NY Renews held town halls, public education tables, community events, canvassing sessions, art builds, and other efforts to gain support for the Fund Climate campaign and engage local legislators.
Legislators contacted included Senator Jabari Brisport (SD-25), Senator Andrew Gounardes (SD-26), Assembly Member Harry Bronson (AD-138), Assembly Member Robert Carroll (AD-44), Assembly Member Maritza Davila (AD-53), Assembly Member Deborah Glick (AD-66), Assembly Member Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes (AD-141), Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon (AD-52), Assembly Member Michaelle C. Solages (AD-22), Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest (AD-57), Assembly Member Al Stirpe (AD-127), and Assembly Member Stefani Zinerman (AD-56).
During coordinated community conversations in six New York regions, residents were asked what is possible when we “Fund Climate.” From Buffalo to Brooklyn, answers aligned in resounding calls for cleaner air, cheaper utility bills, corporate polluter accountability, and projects that address climate resilience simultaneously with public health, housing, union labor opportunities, and restorative racial and economic justice.
In Rochester, for example, local advocates are drawing connections between climate projects, programs, and policy that would not only improve their community’s widespread asthma problem by cutting pollution, but also cost-of-living challenges, deepened by the dearth of opportunities for skilled labor in union jobs — a particular area of interest for Assembly Member Bronson (AD-138), Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee.
“Last year, Rochester ranked as the second worst ‘Asthma Capital’ in the country. Also, Rochester is now third highest in energy burden (the proportion of people's incomes paid for energy)...Two key wins for climate, the statewide ‘Cap and Invest,’ or climate funding and pollution reduction program, and the NY HEAT Act — which a recent report showed would mean an average monthly savings of $125 for the 22% of households in Monroe County who have a high energy burden — would accelerate our transition to a renewable economy…Climate funding offers a key opportunity for local groups, labor unions, and governments to all address problems our communities have been facing for too long… We believe a core need in our area is at least one Sustainability Workforce Training Center…This budget season in New York, we can start a transformational change that creates affordable energy, quality housing, and good jobs for all. Rochester and Monroe County need climate funding now,” said Graham Hughes, Director of Policy & Advocacy, Climate Solutions Accelerator.
In a mass public education effort in Long Island, there were two days of street canvassing for Fund Climate initiatives like the Affordable Climate-Ready Homes Program and a Community-Directed Grants Program, which are at stake this legislative session. Constituents of Assembly Member Michaelle C. Solages (AD-22) dropped by her office to thank her for consistently championing climate justice legislation and to reiterate the need for Governor Hochul to do the same. Assembly Member Solages is the chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Caucus, which includes the Fund Climate campaign in their People’s Budget.
“Between the health risks and the costs that our current energy system produces, New York residents, Long Islanders in particular, will not shoulder this burden anymore. It is the responsibility of these energy producers to follow the law, pay their fair share, and produce clean green energy. It's not only fair to implement a Cap and Invest program, but environmentally and socially just. Assemblymember Solages has been a champion on many climate issues, but with an outwardly hostile federal government now operating, New York State has to do more. Governor Hochul must stand true to her words that there are no Kings, and make New York a leader in climate action,” said Charlene “Chef” Ali, Long Island Progressive Coalition Board Member & Constituent of Assembly Member Solages.
Brooklynites who passed by the Park Slope Food Coop encountered tablers who highlighted parts of the Fund Climate campaign that both regulate and hold corporate polluters financially accountable, while also bringing New York in line with the progress required by the Climate Law. Organizers then coordinated drop bys and phone calls to legislators all over the borough to emphasize that the Governor’s plans aren’t on pace.
"As President Trump wages a hostile crusade to decimate all laws, policies, information and funding to address the climate crisis, it is of urgent importance that Governor Kathy Hochul uses the authority of the CLCPA to move forward with the legal commitments New York State has made to reach our climate goals. The Governor states her priority is affordability, yet she has delayed Cap & Invest and failed to include the NY HEAT Act in her Executive Budget, a bill that would put a cap on energy costs at 6%. Governor Hochul must commit to #Fund Climate through Cap & Invest. This is an opportunity for her to take action on affordability. It will lift the many costs of the climate crisis — impacting home, health, grocery and utility costs — off the households and onto the companies causing the climate crisis," said Molly Ornati, Co-Leader, Legislative Group, 350Brooklyn.
In the Governor’s hometown of Buffalo, a multiracial, intergenerational cross section of residents came together to celebrate their resilience. Their community’s historic Sustainability Workforce Training Center, for example, is a model for local climate justice solutions and embodies the possibilities of the Fund Climate campaign. Community members shared visions for a just transition away from fossil fuels toward healthy homes and renewable energy, then took collective action to call on Governor Hochul to release draft regulations for Cap- and-Invest immediately.
“The affordability crisis in our communities is unbearable while housing costs and utility rates continue to increase. The Governor must follow the Climate Law and recommendations included in the scoping plan. She must make polluters pay and reinvest in communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis," said Clarke Gocker, Sr. Director of Movement Building with PUSH Buffalo.
In Syracuse, organizers held a virtual teach-in on what the Cap-and-Invest program would mean for a wide array of constituents in Assembly Member Stirpe’s district.
"As the ultra-wealthy attempt to dismantle the federal government, states like New York need to be strong and decisive in protecting its people," said Ethan Gormley, Climate Justice Organizer, Citizen Action of New York. "Instead, Governor Hochul has done the opposite by further delaying New York's cap and invest program. Governor Hochul must get cap and invest back on track to show that she's willing to make polluters pay, invest in our communities, and shield ratepayers from greedy utilities."
Focusing on the significance of the Governor’s proclaimed priorities of public safety and families, the parent-led group Climate Families NYC brought the personal to the political with New York's most civically engaged youngsters. Parents organized public education through an interactive art build in lower Manhattan that included slogans such as “Release the Regs;” “Pass NY HEAT;” and “Fund Climate!” Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick, Chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee was invited, but unable to attend the event.
“Governor Hochul regularly reminds us that she is ‘New York’s first mom Governor,’ yet she fails to recognize that families across New York State are afraid and angry about the fossil-fueled climate crisis and the threat it poses to children today and for all of the foreseeable tomorrows. She has centered “affordability” in her agenda this year but is ignoring the fact that the climate crisis is costing families money now. We pay to repair flood-damaged homes and businesses; medical bills for diseases like asthma caused or exacerbated by pollution; inflated grocery prices due to drought; higher utility bills as we cool and heat our homes in extreme weather. As taxpayers, we pay to repair and adapt infrastructure and help communities recover after disasters. Most importantly, people are paying with their lives. The Governor’s decision to delay cap-and-invest, and her failure to include the NY HEAT Act in her Executive Budget, represent a delay on climate action that families simply cannot accept. That's why this weekend, Climate Families NYC gathered in a busy playground to spread the word to other families that Gov. Hochul and the NYS Legislature must provide meaningful funding for climate action this year and going forward,” said Laurel Tumarkin, Climate Families NYC.
At a town hall organized by the Sixth Street Community Center’s Teen Climate Justice Program, Program Director Anna Tsomo summed up the stark reality of teens in New York City and walked their talk.
"NYC has seen wildfires in our parks, flooding in the streets, and skies full of smoke. We know the climate crisis is here and now. What we need now is to get organized, get connected to our communities. We need to support and protect one another.”
But it’s not only true for teens. Concerned, engaged New Yorkers across the state are doing just that — showing up to support and protect one another — and calling on their government to do that same. After weeks of determined and strategic advocacy for the community benefits of the Fund Climate campaign, will the State Legislature come together to heed their people’s call? Will the Governor choose people over corporate polluters? The upcoming One-House Budget Proposal and ultimately, the final New York State budget for 2025-2026 will tell.
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NY Renews is is a coalition of 380+ environmental justice, community, faith, labor, and multi-issue organizations fighting for just climate policy for New Yorkers. We are the force behind the nation's most aggressive climate law, the 2019 NY State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.