Transformative Change for Our Communities = Angry Elected Officials
#Sandy5 thousands march over the Brooklyn Bridge
At NYCC, we’re pushing for big, transformative policy changes, because little stuff doesn’t make hardly any difference for our members. And there’s no time left on climate change: it’s time to go big or go home because radical cuts in pollution are needed… now. Our approach, frankly, is very different from most mainline advocacy groups. All-too-many advocacy organizations call it “leadership” when an elected official takes some marginal action in support of a public policy that’s really just a small, tentative baby step in the right direction. When we hear that, we think: this ain’t it, chief. Climate change demands radical action, immediately, to give us a fighting chance at avoiding worldwide catastrophe. The chart pictured here shows the deep and massive pollution cuts needed, immediately. There’s simply no time left for policy that’s a “step in the right direction.”
policies that don’t get the job done – and don’t seriously take on the powerful special interests that need to be overcome. Perhaps that makes some sense as a political strategy in red or purple states, but not in New York. We’re also unafraid of angering politicians. Seriously: most elected officials get mad when we pressure them in public. And they aren’t shy about calling and complaining, or even threatening our organization. We won’t name names, but we’ve taken some angry calls in the past 2 years as a result of our aggressive, results-oriented campaigns.
At the end of the day, though, while many groups prioritize access to elected officials, we prioritize results. As an organization, we don’t need to get a meeting. We don’t particularly care if they return our phone calls. It doesn’t matter to us if they list us in their press releases. While we NYCC demands real leadership on the issue, certainly prefer to be on good terms with elected which involves bold, transformative policy that leaders, we only truly care about results: serious actually slashes pollution while also taking on action that’s at the scale of the climate and ininequality… and that means overcoming oppo- equality crisis – and matches what our members sition from powerful, deep-pocketed corporate and their constituents want and need to get done. interests such as the real estate industry and/or Only building and deploying power through orgathe oil and gas companies. nizing and campaigns can win transformative results. So when they get mad and threaten us, we But you won’t catch us praising blue-state elect- don’t flinch. And funny enough, when they then ed officials who duck their responsibility to take turn around and do what we want, we’re besties on the climate crisis by only passing small bore again!
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