Local pol running for State Senate promotes climate plan ahead of Ida anniversary

State Assemblymember and State Senate candidate Jessica González-Rojas pitched a new environmental plan on Tuesday as Queens marks Hurricane Ida’s anniversary. Eagle photo by Ryan Schwach

By Ryan Schwach

Queens Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas launched a new set of climate and resiliency goals as the borough marks another year since Hurricane Ida and as the legislator launches her bid for the State Senate.

Currently locked in what is expected to be a tight Senate primary against incumbent Jessica Ramos, JGR listed several plans to promote climate goals and legislation in Albany, with or without federal support. She made the announcement in East Elmhurst Tuesday, blocks from the area hardest hit by Hurricane Ida four years ago this week.

“Four years after Hurricane Ida, Queen's families are living with fear of the next storm,” she said. “It was devastating, as we know and our neighbors know. Here we saw lives lost, we saw homes destroyed, and we saw so many families displaced.”

González-Rojas pitched a seven-point plan, some specifically joined with legislative action, to combat climate change.

“We can't afford short-term fixes,” she said. “We can't afford broken promises, Queens deserves long-term investment.

The assemblymember hopes to introduce legislation that would require more multi-lingual emergency alert notifications in specific communities, and legislation that would create a permanent flood relief fund for the state.

“We must ensure that we are rebuilding as a promise and not a gamble,” she said.

Additionally, the assemblymember and Senate candidate pitched a $15 billion commitment from the state for climate justice to make up for shortcomings in that department under the Trump administration, which has slashed funding for climate projects.

“That means resilient housing, that means renewable energy,” she said. “That’s how we protect against climate change and create opportunities for working families.”

“We're going to have to make up for the damage that the Trump administration is doing, but we cannot let climate justice continue to wait,” she added. “This is an urgent thing right now.”

González-Rojas was joined by neighbors who spoke in support of her plan, as well as her run for the Senate.

“My politics is about my children,” said East Elmhurst resident Samir Khan. “The decisions we make today will affect the livelihoods of our children in the future, and it's very disturbing to see that we still have major politicians who have a huge following who don't look at climate change as even a real issue.”

JGR announced her bid for the State Senate against incumbent Ramos earlier this year, and has gained a solid base among both progressive and moderate Democratic circles.

“People have encouraged me to run, so that's been wonderful,” she told the Eagle Tuesday. “I think it's because of my reputation of being a leader who's worked across the aisle…I'm someone who has a strong reputation of building those coalitions and building strong relationships to get things done.”