#StopNESE

The Williams pipeline corporation wants to build a big new fracked gas pipeline from New Jersey and across the harbor to New York, where it would deliver gas onto land on the Rockaways. Called the Northeast Supply Enhancement, this pipeline project would effectively lock in decades of climate pollution by delivering fracked gas into the downstate grid, slowing the state’s transition to renewable energy.

Along with our allies, we’re organizing to get Governor Cuomo to stop this project by denying it the key permits it needs to be built. Last year, we had our first success, when the Governor’s Department of Environmental Conservation denied Williams’ application for a critical water quality permit.

Remarkably, the Governor’s office denied the permit at the exact same time as his 2018 primary challenger, Cynthia Nixon, announced her opposition to the pipeline at an event on the Rockaways with NYCC and community leaders opposing the pipeline. We’ll take it, of course! For its part, the Williams corporation immediately re-applied for this critical permit. Once again, we have to convince the Governor to deny it by the mid-April 1 year deadline set by the process for this application.

Williams CEO makes over $9 million per year and its top six executives make about $35 million per year. Among their hired lobbyists is Maggie Moran, who was Governor Cuomo’s 2018 campaign manager. To help defeat Williams, NYCC is organizing against the pipeline out on the Rockaways and throughout the city and pushing elected officials to oppose the project.

Banner drop to stop Williams pipeline at Governor’s office

Wall Street private equity firm Tiger Infrastructure, whose backers are dark-money Trump supporters, is the prime financier of the proposed Danskammer Energy Center, a large new fracked gas power plant that would be built in Newburgh, New York, on the Hudson’s shore in place of the barely-used obsolete gas plant currently at the site. If built, the new plant would pump out many millions of tons of climate pollution, far beyond the current plant’s pollution. It’s the latest large proposal for a new gas plant. NYCC jumped on this new announcement, helping to organize local and statewide opposition to the new proposal.

In August, NYCC and the Public Accountability Initiative teamed up to produce a deeply-researched report exposing the project – and its Trump-linked backers. Our report generated media coverage on the issue locally and in statewide media. We’re also supporting the local communities fighting the plant’s proposal. We expect that Danskammer will formally apply for a permit to build the facility in January, which will lead to a heightened battle to convince the Governor to stop this polluting proposal – and instead move the state to 100% renewable energy.

Climate and Community Protection Act

With the New York State Senate finally going Democratic, it’s time to pass legislation to move New York to 100% renewable energy while maximizing good, union jobs and investments into low income and communities of color. The CCPA accomplishes these goals. NYCC has been pushing for passage of the bill, which has passed three times in the Democratic-controlled Assembly, only to stall in the Republican-controlled Senate. Now, with Democrats in charge of both chamber, it’s time for them to deliver, even though Governor Cuomo opposes the legislation.

NYCC has been pushing elected officials to support the CCPA. NYCC also played a crucial role in the defeat of the Republican-allied Independent Democratic Conference or “IDC”, whose Senators, elected as Democrats, handed the Senate to Republicans in return for patronage and other favors. In the September primary election, we helped to defeat the IDC by electing six new progressive Senators who booted them out of office. We also helped elect Julia Salazar, who defeated another corporate Democrat who, although not a IDC member, had undermined progressive legislation by siding with corporate lobbyists over his constituents. After the primary, Democrats gained eight Senate seats from the Republicans, gaining a large, new majority in a blue wave. We’re pushing the Senators we helped elect to deliver results for their communities, including passage of the CCPA in 2019.

Member Spotlight: Rachel Rivera

During Hurricane Sandy, Rachel Rivera, a mother of six, heard a loud crack from her ceiling above her youngest daughter Marisol’s bed. Grabbing Marisol, she lifted her out of bed just minutes before the ceiling caved in onto her bed. The family fled into the night with nothing, losing their home and almost all of their possessions. They entered into the dysfunctional shelter system, becoming homeless in a city where affordable housing is all-too-scarce. Marisol still has anxiety issues stemming from Sandy. The climate crisis then upended Rachel and her family’s life, when Hurricane flooded out her mother and aunt’s homes in Puerto Rico – and killed a close family friend.

But Rachel has turned her family’s tragedy into a powerful motivation to fight for what’s right. She’s become a housing and climate activist with NYCC. Rivera is now a well-known leader in the city’s climate justice community. She is also a member of NYCC’s board of directors, helping to direct NYCC’s overall programs and organizations. At rallies, protests and public hearings, Rachel often tells her family’s story, helping to make clear the reality of the climate crisis for New York City’s communities of color.

Rachel is the most active Sandy survivor in the city’s politics. Her relentless advocacy is a big part of NYCC’s successful campaigns because she’s able to inspire action by her example. People know that Rachel’s family tragedy could be a similar tragedy for their family, inspiring them to take action. Her activism also helps move elected officials by bringing home the struggle New Yorkers face. NYCC and our partner’s victory on divestment would not have been possible without Rachel’s activism. Rachel is also a critical force that helped push the Council to introduce Intro 1253, which we hope to pass in 2019.