New York League of Conservation Voters
April 26, 2021
Contact: press@nylcv.org
Nearly 100 State and Local Officials From New York Call on Congress to Seize Historic Moment to Pass President Biden’s American Jobs Plan
Letter Calls for Clean Energy, Jobs, Justice, And Climate Action to Be at The Core Of Federal Economic Recovery And Infrastructure Bill
New York, NY – Nearly 100 state and local officials from New York are calling on Congress to pass an economic recovery plan centered around clean energy, climate justice, and good-paying union jobs. In the letter, organized by the League of Conservation Voters and Climate Power, 1,266 signers representing all 50 states and Washington, D.C. asked Congressional leaders to “seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help our communities recover by creating and sustaining millions of good-paying jobs, putting us on the path to 100% clean energy, and building a more equitable and just society.”
Letter signers from New York include Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, 13 State Senators, 21 State Assembly Members, and various Mayors and County Executives.
“New York is a leader in tackling climate change and investing in a clean energy future, and it’s no surprise that nearly 100 New York officials signed their support for the American Jobs Plan,” said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create new good-paying jobs, address our climate crisis, reduce pollution, and reverse decades of environmental injustices. Now is the time for bold action and we need the American Jobs Plan to get our country back on track.”
The letter calls on Congress to focus an infrastructure plan on three major principles, all outlined in President Biden’s American Jobs Plan:
- Put the U.S. on the path to 100% clean energy, powering everything from our electricity grid, transportation, and buildings with reliable, affordable clean energy.
- Promote equity by ensuring at least 40% of benefits go to the communities who need it most, prioritizing just and equitable solutions being led by low income and communities of color most harmed by toxic pollution and climate change.
- Incentivize high-quality, good-paying union jobs, especially in the domestic clean energy and manufacturing sectors, while supporting communities historically reliant on oil, gas, and coal jobs.
- “Together we can meet this historic moment and ensure this recovery delivers on the promise to build back better,” the letter says.
“Whether it is rising sea levels, flooding or extreme weather, our planet is in a climate crisis that affects everyone,” said New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “As we focus on our economic recovery, our country must invest in renewable energy that will not only create good paying jobs, but chart a cleaner, more sustainable path for all communities and future generations.
“The Biden Administration is making sure that America is a leader again in tackling climate change. New York is on the forefront of many efforts to address the climate crisis and transition to a low carbon economy,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. “As the state and the nation move forward, it is crucial that we ensure that New York’s vulnerable communities and workers who may be affected by climate change have a place at the table and realize the benefits of good jobs and a healthier environment that will come as we change how we do business. That’s why I am joining this effort by the New York League of Conservation Voters.”
“A recovery for all of us requires strong federal investments in infrastructure and jobs. President Biden meets the moment with the American Jobs Plan, which includes investments critically important to New York City including billions for public housing, transit, broadband and workforce development. This plan also treats climate change as the urgent crisis that it is, with new opportunities to create green jobs and make our cities more resilient. I thank President Biden for his leadership and look forward to working with our partners in Congress to get this done,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“In considering President Biden’s American Jobs Plan, Congress has the rare opportunity to walk the walk on climate and environmental justice,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. “We cannot revert back to our old ways of climate inaction and gridlock. By putting the Country on a path to 100 percent clean energy, prioritizing equity, and supporting labor we are investing in our future, and our children will thank us.”
“I am honored to sign this letter urging passage of the American Jobs Plan, adding my voice to those of my counterparts in government across the country in recognizing the need right now for major investments in our communities,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “We must think and act boldly today to rebuild and expand our infrastructure for tomorrow, prioritizing sustainable clean energy and the opportunities it presents, while ensuring that those opportunities are fairly and equitably accessed. We have a chance to build a greater America for the next generation, facing the realities of climate change, disinvestment, racial inequity and environmental injustice and working together on solutions. Our future and the future of our country depends on doing so.”
“Now is the time to rebuild, and a bold investment in our nation’s infrastructure can power a strong and sustainable economic recovery. Nassau County would benefit greatly from the passage of a robust plan that promotes clean energy and good-paying union jobs,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.
“The American Jobs Plan is a winning strategy for the American people – and notably us here in Westchester. I am proud to join with my colleagues in government from all across New York State to advocate for this legislation that will lead to high paying jobs, decreased pollution and increased focus on building our nation’s green infrastructure. President Biden can count me among the scores of leaders who support this vital plan,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer.
The American Jobs Plan has strong bipartisan support — 70 percent of all voters support the proposal after hearing details of the plan. Specific environmental and infrastructure policies in the plan, including investing in modernizing our outdated and dangerous electrical grid and expanding rural broadband are overwhelmingly popular. More than 80 percent of voters support eliminating all lead pipes in our drinking water systems and 70 percent of all voters support investing in clean energy generation and storage, like solar panels and wind turbines.
Below is the full list of New York elected officials that signed onto the letter:
Eric Adams, Borough President, Brooklyn
Catherine M. Fahey, Common Council, Albany
Ginnie Farrell, Common Council, Albany Majority Leader
Jack Schnirman, Comptroller, Nassau
Scott M. Stringer, Comptroller, NYC
Thomas P. DiNapoli, Comptroller, NYS
Corey Johnson, Council Member, NYC Speaker
Adrienne Adams, Council Member, NYC
Helen Rosenthal, Council Member, NYC
Justin Brannan, Council Member, NYC
Vanessa L. Gibson, Council Member, NYC
Daniel P. McCoy, County Executive, Albany
Mark Poloncarz, County Executive, Erie
Laura Curran, County Executive, Nassau
George Latimer, County Executive, Westchester
Lynne Lekakis, County Legislator, Albany
Raymond Joyce, County Legislator, Albany
Sam Fein, County Legislator, Albany
William Reinhardt, County Legislator, Albany
Arnold W. Drucker, County Legislator, Nassau
Ellen W. Birnbaum, County Legislator, Nassau
Tom McKevitt, County Legislator, Nassau
Cynthia B. Doran, County Legislator, Rensselaer Deputy Minority Leader
Bridget Fleming, County Legislator, Suffolk
Sarah Anker, County Legislator, Suffolk
Kara Hahn, County Legislator, Suffolk Deputy Presiding Officer
Robert Calarco, County Legislator, Suffolk Presiding Officer
Catherine Borgia, County Legislator, Westchester
Catherine Parker, County Legislator, Westchester
Christopher Johnson, County Legislator, Westchester
Kitley S. Covill, County Legislator, Westchester
Nancy Barr, County Legislator, Westchester
Ruth Walter, County Legislator, Westchester
MaryJane Shimsky, County Legislator, Westchester Majority Leader
Tara N. Gaston, County Supervisor, Saratoga
Nancy Kaboolian, Mayor, Village of Ardsley
Nicola Armacost, Mayor, Hastings-on-Hudson
Shawyn Patterson Howard, Mayor, Mount Vernon
Noam Bramson, Mayor, New Rochelle
Bill de Blasio, Mayor, New York City
Rika Levin, Mayor, Ossining
Nancy Kaboolian, Mayor, Village of Ardsley
Robert Williams, Mayor, Village of Elmsford
Amy Paulin, NYS Assembly
Chris Burdick, NYS Assembly
Donna Lupardo, NYS Assembly
Edward C. Braunstein, NYS Assembly
Emily Gallagher, NYS Assembly
Fred W. Thiele, Jr., NYS Assembly
Harvey Epstein, NYS Assembly
Jo Anne Simon, NYS Assembly
John T. McDonald III, NYS Assembly
Linda B. Rosenthal, NYS Assembly
Michaelle Solages, NYS Assembly
Nily Rozic, NYS Assembly
Patricia Fahy, NYS Assembly
Patrick Burke, NYS Assembly
Rebecca A. Seawright, NYS Assembly
Richard Gottfried, NYS Assembly
Robert Carroll, NYS Assembly
Sandy Galef, NYS Assembly
Steve Englebright, NYS Assembly
Steve Otis, NYS Assembly
Steve Stern, NYS Assembly
Steven Cymbrowitz, NYS Assembly
Thomas J. Abinanti, NYS Assembly
Kathy Hochul, NYS Lieutenant Governor
Alessandra Biaggi, NYS State Senator
Andrew Gounardes, NYS State Senator
Diane J. Savino, NYS State Senator
Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, NYS State Senator
Gustavo Rivera, NYS State Senator
James Gaughran, NYS State Senator
John Brooks, NYS State Senator
John W. Mannion, NYS State Senator
Liz Krueger, NYS State Senator
Michelle Hinchey, NYS State Senator
Robert Jackson, NYS State Senator
Samra Brouk, NYS State Senator
Shelley B. Mayer, NYS State Senator
Todd Kaminsky, NYS State Senator
Martin C. Aronchick, Town Councilman, North Salem
John Kirkpatrick, Town Councilman, White Plains
Katherine J. Daniels, Town Councilmember, North Salem
Nancy Seligson, Town Supervisor, Mamaroneck
Rich Schaffer, Town Supervisor, Babylon
Edward P. Romaine, Town Supervisor, Brookhaven
Peter K. Van Scoyoc, Town Supervisor, East Hampton
Paul Feiner, Town Supervisor, Greenburgh
Peter G. Barber, Town Supervisor, Guilderland
Douglas E. LaGrange, Town Supervisor, New Scotland
Warren Lucas, Town Supervisor, North Salem
Dana Levenberg, Town Supervisor, Ossining
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