Fight climate change 

Climate change is the greatest threat we face. It is man-made, and caused by corporate greed.  We must act immediately to combat our climate emergency, because its effects will be irreversible for our children and grandchildren. Quite literally, we must stop climate change to save the world. Our fight must base its solutions firmly in the principles of racial and economic justice, and prioritize the people of color who have been most harmed by climate change. As a mother, I know that this is a fight we cannot afford to lose.

I will continue to be a vocal advocate for a Green New Deal, guided by the principles of eco-socialism.

Public Power

We must stop neglecting our public utility infrastructure, and rapidly make a transition to 100% renewable energy sources that don’t make our communities sick. That is why I support expanding New York’s public power authority, NYPA, to develop new renewable energy and supply power directly to consumers (A8937/S7243), and requiring publicly owned properties to shift to 100% renewable energy and buy it directly from NYPA by 2025 (A8938/S7232). I also support creating a Downstate Power Authority, which would take over existing energy companies, either by buying them or through eminent domain, and provide energy as a public agency accountable to people, not corporate profits (A8887/S7273).

Divest from Fossil Fuels

In addition to requiring a shift to 100% renewable energy, New York must also take affirmative steps to end the use of fossil fuels. That is why I oppose development of any new pipelines and other fossil fuel infrastructure-- including the Williams pipeline, which harms many families in Staten Island and Brooklyn. We must also take New York’s money out of the existing fossil fuel economy, beginning with divesting the New York State pension fund from fossil fuel holdings (A1536-A/S2126-A).  

Climate Resilience

We must ensure that climate resilience infrastructure benefits all people, not just the wealthy. I will continue to take a lead on these issues from the local organizations that have been doing this work in our community for decades. I will also continue to fight for a just budget, so that the promises won on the state and city levels in 2019 by New Yorkers organizing for a Green New Deal can actually be realized. I will continue to fight to ensure that funding appropriately prioritizes our predominantly black and brown frontline communities, like our district. Lastly, I firmly believe that climate resilience is more than just infrastructure improvements-- it is about building a community that looks out for one another and comes together in times of crisis. I continue to organize so that we have mutual aid and community care systems in place next time there is an inevitable climate disaster.

Protect our Waterfront

As a community organizer and a member of our local Community Board, I led the fight against the proposed Industry City rezoning. This rezoning would have raised our already too high rents, for both homes and local small businesses-- accelerating gentrification, pushing out even more of our working class community, and making the neighborhood we love unrecognizable. We cannot allow our waterfront, one of the few working waterfronts left in the City, to become a playground for the rich. Instead, we must have a green working waterfront that benefits its surrounding working class communities of immigrants and people of color.  I will continue to put our community over profit.