Dear Representative Max Rose,

In observance of Earth Month, we are writing as constituents of New York 11 from both sides of the Verrazzano Bridge to express our united support for the Green New Deal and the various policies it incorporates. As communities who witnessed the devastation of Superstorm Sandy firsthand, and have been at the forefront of environmental disasters such as illegal dumping at Brookfield and years of exposure to toxic fumes from the former Fresh Kills Landfill, we understand that we are facing a climate and environmental emergency and that we must act now to protect our communities from further devastation. As our representative, we need you to stand with us and add your support as a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal resolution.

Our organization, Move Forward Staten Island, and our allies strongly believe that such action is overdue, and we call for bold, actionable movement on climate change. Collectively, we support Congressperson Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY12) and her proposed resolution, H.Res.109: Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal.

We are disheartened by your public comments on the proposed resolution, and we urge you to reconsider. We believe that you still can support the creation of a committee that can research and develop a mobilization plan for, at the very least, a significant part of the Green New Deal proposal. This committee, with members from Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources and Science, and Space and Technology committees can work together to help our country become carbon neutral and reduce greenhouse gases. Opposing the resolution rather than joining your colleagues to refine and shape a feasible path forward to address climate change and the systems that support it, is a betrayal to your constituents and future generations who stand to suffer as a result.

We are calling on you to support a plan that would:
-Invest in and develop renewable sources for all of the country’s power generation through a just transition for communities and workers
-Improve and decarbonize transportation, agriculture and manufacturing infrastructure
-Upgrade buildings with energy-efficient technology
-Build a national “smart” grid and ensure affordable access to electricity for all Americans
-Fund a draw down and capture of greenhouse gases
-Reduce pollution by restoring natural ecosystems and restore and protect threatened, endangered, and fragile ecosystems through locally appropriate and science-based projects that enhance biodiversity and support climate resiliency
-Make the United States the world’s largest exporter in green technology and expertise including by making public investments in the research and development of new clean and renewable energy technologies and industries
-Create a green jobs guarantee to employ workers to build the urgently needed infrastructure of the future

We look forward to working together to make this a reality and protect our beautiful district and the country as a whole from the disastrous effects of climate change.

Respectfully,

Move Forward Staten Island

Staten Island Women Who March

Fight Back Bay Ridge

Sustainable Staten Island

Communications Workers of America Local 1102

Staten Island Coalition for Wetlands and Forests

Staten Island 4 Change