NY HEAT Act in the Budget! Rally & Lobby Day

Start: Wednesday, March 13, 202411:00 AM

End: Wednesday, March 13, 2024 4:00 PM

New York’s hottest climate legislation, the NY HEAT Act, is gaining momentum in Albany and it’s up to everyday New Yorkers to get it across the finish line. The NY HEAT Act would lower our utility bills and help move our homes and buildings off dirty fossil fuels.

The best chance of passing the transformative NY HEAT Act is by getting it passed in the state budget, which will be finalized by April 1st.

Join Renewable Heat Now and allies for a day of action and advocacy to get the NY HEAT Act included in the state budget. A mobilization of hundreds of people is critical to show Governor Hochul, Assembly Speaker Heastie, and Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins that they must prioritize climate & affordability by including the NY HEAT Act in this year’s budget.

What: Rally & Lobby Day in Albany for NY HEAT
Where: NYS Capitol, Albany
When: Wednesday March 13th, 11:00-4pm. See schedule below.

Please RSVP ASAP to get a seat on a bus, and so we can assign you to a lobby team (no prior experience required)!

Schedule:

11:00 - 12:00pm We will gather in the Legislative Office Building (LOB) Rooms 211 and 211A. There you'll sign in and meet up with your lobby team leader. You can leave your coat etc. in this area during the day.

12:00 - 1:00pm Rally on the Million Dollar Staircase in the Capitol Building. (We have signs to share with everyone)

1:00 - 1:45pm Lunch in Rooms 211 and 211A LOB (Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free wrap options will be available. Please bring your own reusable water bottle!) Get to know your Lobby Team.

2:00 - 4:00pm Lobbying. You may have scheduled lobby visits, or do “elevator pitch”/”birddog” lobbying in the hallways with your team. Training provided.

4:15pm - Board buses
4:30pm - Buses Depart to return to NYC & Rockland County

Transportation Details:
Sign up for or set up a carpool: https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/2sfgyq

Manhattan Bus
Across from the Tick Tock Diner, intersection of 34th Street and 8th Avenue
7:15am board buses
7:30am sharp departure
(Will arrive back in NYC around 7:30pm)

Brooklyn Bus
Barclays Center, 625 Atlantic Avenue, Across from the Old Navy
7:15am board buses
7:30am sharp departure
(Will arrive back in Brooklyn around 7:30pm)

Rockland County Bus stop:
Nyack, Palisades Mall, Lot J
8:15am
(the Manhattan bus will make a stop at the Palisades Mall to pick up new passengers)
(Will arrive back around 7pm)

Maps:
If you're traveling on your own please arrive a bit early to have time for parking and for passing through security (no scissors, knitting needles, knives, sticks, poles…) on your way to the Legislative Office Building’s Third Floor Terrace where it all begins.

For those of us who love a good map, here are three:

- a helpful Empire State Plaza Visitor Parking map for folks driving into Albany. MVP Lot frequently has openings when other

- an excellent map of the Empire State Plaza and Concourse and

- a great map of the NY State Capitol.

Remember to bring:
Comfortable shoes, a reusable water bottle, snacks, a Renewable Heat Now t-shirt if you have one, medicine and mobility aids if needed, a pen, and face masks are encouraged.

COVID safety:
Please take a rapid COVID test the night before or the morning of the 23rd and stay home if you are not feeling well. Masks are recommended. Masks will be available on the buses and at check-in. We highly suggest masking. Some legislators have a mask requirement for visitors. Let’s mask to keep each other healthy; we have a lot of work ahead of us!