Recognizing the risks posed by in-person meetings and actions in the face of the coronavirus, the climate movement in New York City has suspended previously planned events. For the week of March 16, 350Brooklyn Families has postponed its press conference and meeting at Cuomo’s office and the library workgroup has done the same for its March program on transportation.
We did, however, have a wonderful March Monthly Meeting on the plastics problem last Thursday via Zoom. Thank you to everyone who “came” to that meeting! We’ll be taking this week by week and keeping you posted on the form future events will take.
Meanwhile, as we practice our “social distancing,” there’s lots of important work you can do from home. Here are some actions you can take:
1. When I'm 64
If you missed last Friday’s video from 350Brooklyn Families wishing Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan/Chase, a happy birthday (and a lot else), here it is: “When I’m 64: Kids Call on Chase to Protect Their Future.” bit.ly/whenim64climate. Please watch, and then Tweet, post on FB, and share widely with the hashtag #whenIm64.
2. Tell Speaker Johnson to Stop Plastic Straws
One take-away from last Thursday’s meeting was that we really need to put pressure on City Council Speaker Corey Johnson to bring the plastic straw bill to a vote. There are more plastic bans waiting in the wings but this one will break the logjam. Please take two minutes to call him at 212-788-7210 or tweet @NYCSpeakerCoJo to ask him to support the Skip The Straw bill (bill 936) and bring it to a vote on the council floor.
You can use your own words or this script: "Hi, my name is YOUR NAME. I'm calling from YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD to urge Speaker Johnson to please support bill number 936, the Skip the Straw bill that would require that plastic straws only be handed out upon request and not automatically be given to people. This is important to me because I am very worried about our growing plastic pollution crisis which is threatening our oceans and wildlife and also all our health."
3. Send Comments to Stop New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
While we have focused on the plan by Williams to bury a fracked gas pipeline off our shores, the NESE proposal also includes a huge compressor station in New Jersey as well as a new pipeline there. The Stop the Williams Pipeline Coalition supports our New Jersey allies as they work to persuade their DEP to deny these permits. So when you get email from Stop the Williams Pipeline Coalition this week, send comments to the NJ DEP! You’ve done this before and you’re good at this!
4. Urge Support for the Renewable Rikers Act
350Brooklyn salutes Speaker Corey Johnson and Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo for their visionary leadership in supporting the Renewable Rikers Act! The Act will enable us to update our decrepit wastewater treatment infrastructure, transfer control of Rikers Island from the Department of Corrections to the Department of Environmental Protection and build a 100-acre Solar Farm on Rikers - replacing asthma-causing peaker plants. Reach out to your Council Member today and urge them to restore hope and move our city forward by supporting the Renewable Rikers Act now!
5. Ask Governor Cuomo to Provide More Relief
There is a movement now to get Governor Cuomo to provide a much more serious relief package than what is currently coming, including extension of Medicaid, paid sick leave for ALL workers, basic income for those who lose their jobs, and moratorium on evictions. A lot of folks are still out there working, including airport and food service workers - many of whom do NOT have more than 5 sick days or health insurance. Call Governor Cuomo at 518-474-8390! Here is a call script.
We hope you all stay well and weather this crisis in good spirits. We look forward to the time when we can all see each other face-to-face again!
