Dear Friend
A few years ago the Davos crowd acted like it cared about fighting change. Since then, elite fashion sensibilities have changed - and Trump took over the U.S. federal government. It's been extremely bad: Republicans push their fascist agenda forward while too many elected Democrats act like doormats.
At NYCC, we're primarily concerned with New York, and we think we've got a good plan to help turn this disaster around on climate and energy issues. Read on for our 3 point plan to fight back in the first half of 2026 - and win policies to reduce energy bills, create good jobs, and slash pollution to avoid global climate catastrophe.
1. Win with Mamdani and Delgado.
Over a year ago, political insiders gave NYCC a lot of side-eye for endorsing Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani the day he announced his run for Mayor.
Now, he's Mayor. It's huge.
We have to hold Mamdani and the system accountable to win the agenda we elected him to, including to fully implement and enforce New York City's "Green New Deal," Local Law 97. Mamdani owes nothing to real estate lobby. He didn't win with their money: he wouldn't take it. Unlike Eric Adams or Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani doesn't need to get a permission slip from the landlords, the city's top polluters, to take action.
We can all feel the difference and the possibilities now.
But the Governor of New York holds much more power than Mayor. We need a Governor who will stand up for the people. That's why we've endorsed Antonio Delgado.
Check out Antonio Delgado's website and donate now. This year, public financing begins with a 6 for 1 match on small contributions up to $250. Go make a donation now to help Delgado get lift off like a movement got Zohran Mamdani liftoff. We want to elect Antonio Delgado Governor of New York.
2. Get big with people power to push our bought-off Governor, Kathy Hochul.
When we endorse someone like Delgado, we don't know if they will win or not. But we do know he'd be far better. Yet electoral politics isn't nearly enough. We need to show real people power to win - whether it's Governor Hochul or Governor Delgado, who would be vastly better.
That's why climate movement activists and groups need to get big. It's not enough for us to propose good policy. We've got to show real power because politicians don't care about good ideas. They do bad things all the times for special interests that wield big checkbooks. Of course, we can't beat that with money. We can only beat it with people power.
It's important that we continue the calls to our representatives, petition drives, small and mid-size protests, and lobbying that we currently do. All that needs to get bigger AND ALSO we need to get thousands of us to march on Hochul in Albany. Here's why:
With the Democratic primary in New York decided by hundreds of thousands of votes, a couple hundred people at a protest is a good thing. Everything helps. But it's a couple thousand people that's a powerful show of force. Getting 2-3 thousand people to march on Hochul in Albany is a real show of power.
That's why alongside movement allies we're organizing Deadline Hochul. Join us in Albany on Saturday, April 18th. RSVP now so that we can show the power needed to move a corporate Democratic Governor like Hochul. (and if she doesn't listen to the people, she should worry about the results in the Democratic primary in June)
3. Drive New York city forward to win - and move New York state government.
At the city level, we've made enormous progress. Together, we got the city's $300 billion pension funds to divest from oil and gas companies. We won NYC Local Law 97, the world's most-important climate and jobs law at the city level. We passed Local Law 154, which end oil and gas in all new buildings. These victories were the product of multiracial organizing and mobilizing that pushed politicians HARD for results.
Because we won the city's end to gas in new buildings, we were able to win equivalent legislation at the state level. While corporate Governor Hochul is delaying the start of that law by misusing her own authority in an anti-democratic manner, the state law stands and will go into effect in a year or so. (Hochul may try to amend it, but we will be vigilant to make sure that will go nowhere in the NY State Legislature)
Now, at the city level, we're working to ensure that Local Law 97 is fully implemented and enforced, which is a constant battle with the deep-pocketed real estate lobby. We're also pushing for further, cutting-edge policy: getting the city pension funds take the next big actions on climate by moving their enormous business from dirtier money managers, like BlackRock, to cleaner money managers.
As big as that would be, our biggest city-level campaign will be for a policy we're calling #GasFreeNYC. Check out the policy blueprint. We want New York city to generously subsidize 1-2 family homeowners to get rid of their aging, dirty oil and gas boilers - and replace them with modern, energy-efficient and clean heat pumps. By paying for new energy efficient equipment the city can also mandate an end to all new oil or gas boiler installations in small buildings, while making ?New Yorkers better-off financially.
#GasFreeNYC would save money and cut pollution through energy efficiency - and by setting strong labor standards as a condition of the subsidies, New York City can create a whole new area of good, union jobs. As with Local Law 97, we want to create thousands of good, union jobs to cut pollution and reduce utility bills. Where Local Law 97 covers large buildings, #GasFreeNYC would cover small buildings.
We're looking to our new Mayor, Zohran Madani and the Council to set #GasFreeNYC into place - and our new Comptroller, Mark Levine, to move the pension funds forward. Winning at the city level helps setup victories at the state level. For example, by winning Mamdani's election, we're now set up to win taxing the rich to fund universal child care. Setting up a state win with city-level wins is a tried and true strategy - and that's a major part of our plan in 2026.
Check out this fun and chatty video interview on our agenda and the current situation!
What it takes:
YOU! We need a multiracial movement,organized and mobilized to get the results working people need.
So hit those links above and get involved!
Thank you!
- Jose, Pete, and Santosh at NYCC
