Despite a summer of orange skies from wildfires, sudden storms and flash floods, heavy unexpected snowfall, New Yorkers throughout the state have shown their resilience and commitment to the state by reinvesting in their communities and showing that preparedness is part of the solution.

Our legislators can “return our love” and commitment to the state’s future by ensuring New Yorkers have the laws they deserve, like the Green Transit, Green Jobs bill (S.6089/A.6414), that provides good jobs and a liveable future while addressing the causes of climate change.

New York State continues to have a vehicle pollution problem with transportation currently accounting for 28 percent of all fuel combustion emissions in the state. Healthy hearts and healthy lungs are critical to healthy communities and a strong workforce in New York.

The Green Transit, Green Jobs bill tackles this issue by requiring public transit authorities to purchase only zero-emission buses when replacing old diesel buses after 2029. This bill will address transportation emissions while helping safeguard our health from deadly tailpipe pollutants, especially for the low-income communities and communities of color that most frequently ride public transportation and are most likely to live near heavily trafficked areas.

The bill also ensures a just transition for workers maintaining and operating the buses in addition to creating good community-sustaining manufacturing jobs. A comprehensive Workforce Development Report will identify the workforce impacts of the transition and the necessary resources to retrain existing transit agency workers, who are also protected from layoffs or reductions in wages, hours, or benefits.

With the US Jobs Plan - a robust good jobs and equity tool- New York can use its market shaping purchasing power to support high-road manufacturers committed to good jobs and training for workers and incentivize in-state facility commitments to create good jobs for communities in New York.

We need your help calling on the Governor to include Green Transit, Green Jobs in her final budget NOW! Send a letter today!