NYLCV Gives Green
(212) 361-6350, Ext. 206
For Immediate Release: May 3, 2021
Shachar Sharon, ssharon@nylcv.org
NYLCV Endorses Borough President and City Council Candidates in Upcoming Primary
NYLCV is the only NY environmental group that endorses and scores candidates
New York, N.Y. – The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) announced its endorsements for Borough President and City Council candidates in the 2021 primary election cycle, endorsing 46 candidates with outstanding environmental records, 14 of whom are incumbents.
Every election year, NYLCV develops candidate questionnaires based on the League’s policy priorities, including cleaning up the transportation sector, improving greenspaces, reducing waste, increasing resiliency, and building a clean energy future. The NYLCV New York City Chapter recommends endorsement decisions based on interviews with the candidates and questionnaire responses. In the case of incumbents or candidates who previously served in the City Council, the board also considers the candidates’ scores on the 2020 NYLCV City Council Environmental Scorecard, which grades legislators based on votes and co-sponsorships of key environmental legislation, and lifetime NYLCV scores.
In the past year, the City Council worked to encourage waste reduction, improve public health, and promote sustainable transportation. They introduced or passed legislation including an e-scooter pilot program to reduce pollution and expand access to zero-emission micromobility, the Renewable Rikers Act to repurpose Rikers Island for sustainability and renewable energy infrastructure, and the CORE Act to close the gap on food scrap collection and organic waste recycling that was created by cuts in last year’s budget. These steps will make progress toward meeting the City’s emission reduction goals, yet there is more work for the next City Council to do.
Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said, “This is a big election year for New York City, as two-thirds of the City Council will be entirely new. Amidst the climate crisis, New York City must be a beacon of hope and leadership on the environment and serve as a role model for cities around the world. We are confident that these candidates will fight for our planet by advocating for transformative legislation that will create clean energy, green jobs, and a healthier future, and fight environmental injustice. We believe these candidates are dedicated to protecting the environment and we urge voters to support them in their upcoming election.”
The full list of endorsed candidates can be found below.
Non-Incumbent Endorsements
- Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President
- Mark Murphy, Staten Island Borough President
- Leticia Remauro, Staten Island Borough President
- Jenny Low, City Council District 1
- Erik Bottcher, City Council District 3
- Julie Menin, City Council District 5
- Gale Brewer, City Council District 6
- Shaun Abreu, City Council District 7
- Cordell Cleare, City Council District 9
- Carmen De La Rosa, City Council District 10
- Pierina Sanchez, City Council District 14
- Althea Stevens, City Council District 16
- Amanda Farias, City Council District 18
- Austin Shafran, City Council District 19
- Sandra Ung, City Council District 20
- Tiffany Cabán, City Council District 22
- Steve Behar, City Council District 23
- Shekar Krishnan, City Council District 25
- Amit Singh Bagga, City Council District 26
- Nantasha Williams, City Council District 27
- Lynn Schulman, City Council District 29
- Mike Scala, City Council District 32
- Lincoln Restler, City Council District 33
- Jennifer Gutierrez, City Council District 34
- Crystal Hudson, City Council District 35
- Sandy Nurse, City Council District 37
- Alexa Avilés, City Council District 38
- Justin Krebs, City Council District 39
- Kenya Handy-Hilliard, City Council District 40
- Mariya Markh, City Council District 48
- Selina Grey, City Council District 49
- Sal Albanese, City Council District 50
Incumbent Endorsements
- Donovan Richards, Queens Borough President
- Carlina Rivera, City Council District 2
- Keith Powers, City Council District 4
- Diana Ayala, City Council District 8
- Eric Dinowitz, City Council District 11
- Kevin Riley, City Council District 12
- Rafael Salamanca Jr., City Council District 17
- Francisco Moya, City Council District 21
- James Gennaro, City Council District 24
- Adrienne Adams, City Council District 28
- Selvena Brooks-Powers, City Council District 31
- Alicka Ampry-Samuel, City Council District 41
- Justin Brannan, City Council District 43
- Farah Louis, City Council District 45
The New York League of Conservation Voters is the only non-partisan, statewide environmental organization in New York that takes a pragmatic approach to fight for clean water, healthy air, renewable energy, and open space. For more information, visit www.nylcv.org.
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