Officials from New York Call on Congress to Pass American Jobs Plan

For Immediate Release
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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