For Immediate Release:
August 29, 2019
Contacts:
Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club - Grand Canyon Chapter: 602-999-5790
Arlinda Bajrami, Mi Familia Vota: 779-245-4887
Columba I. Sainz, Mom’s Clean Air Force: 520-664 8324
Adam Pimley: 406-579-6524
WHERE IS SENATOR McSALLY?
Arizona Community Leaders, Including Tempe Vice Mayor Lauren Kuby, Urge Senator McSally to Support Transitioning Arizona to a 100% Clean Energy Economy
(Phoenix, AZ) – Today, Tempe Vice Mayor Lauren Kuby joined Arizona community leaders to call out Senator Martha McSally for her failure to support bold policies that combat our climate crisis and bolster Arizona’s transition to a 100% clean energy economy, which already provides nearly 42,000 jobs across the state.
Members and volunteers from Mom’s Clean Air Force, Mi Familia Vota and Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter demonstrated at busy intersections throughout Maricopa County and participated in a subsequent press conference where they displayed banners with an image of Senator McSally and asking, “Where is Senator McSally” on climate change?
“Cities are heeding the call to spark a clean energy economy and create Climate Action Plans,” said Lauren Kuby, Vice-Mayor of the City of Tempe. “Arizona Youth are stepping up to lead as well. Our Elected Officials are duty bound to act in the face of the climate crisis engulfing Arizona, our region, and our nation. We are simply asking Senator McSally to do her job and help us to protect our environment, realign our economy, and prepare our state for a drier, warmer future.”
With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirming that July 2019 was the hottest month every recorded, Arizona in particular is already feeling the impacts of climate change. Recent reporting by the New York Times found that, as a result, heat-related deaths are spiking in Arizona, tripling from 76 deaths in 2014 to 235 in 2017. If the climate crisis is left unaddressed, Arizona can expect more frequent and intense droughts, extreme heat, wildfires, and worsening air quality.
“Today, at locations throughout the valley, we displayed banners asking where Arizona’s appointed junior senator, Senator Martha McSally has been,” said Sandy Bahr, chapter director for Sierra Club's Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter. ”She has not held any town halls in Arizona during the August recess and she has been noticeably absent on clean energy and addressing our climate crisis. We are asking that she show up for a 100% Clean Energy Economy, show up for addressing climate change, and show up in our communities to have a real conversation about taking action to address these important issues."
"We’re facing a climate crisis and children deserve clean air, we know the time to act is now and it’s going to take bold action to correct our course,” said Columba Sainz, Arizona Field Consultant for Moms Clean Air Force. “We need our Senator Martha McSally to stop hiding and listen to her constituents and support 100% clean energy economy.”
"Climate change is real and impacting our communities on a daily basis,” said Arlinda Bajrami, an Environmental Justice Organizer with Mi Familia Vota. “Without bold and ambitious action to combat this crisis, our state will suffer immensely. We need Senator McSally to support 100% clean energy economy now. She cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the climate crisis. Arizonians deserve better."
Arizona is well positioned for success in the transition to a 100% clean energy economy. Since 2008, Arizona has seen a 185-fold increase in solar electricity generation, and Arizona is home to more than 450 solar companies and over 7,500 solar jobs. As Arizona transitions to a 100% clean energy economy, that could be just the beginning.
A video of the press conference can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/MiFamiliaVota/
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