August 27, 2013
Contact: Irene Van Slyke, 718-852-5668
Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Endorses John Liu for Mayor of NYC
(New York, NY) – Today, the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter proudly announced its endorsement of John Liu for Mayor of NYC.
“The Sierra Club is proud to endorse John Liu for New York City Mayor. John has proven himself to be a true champion of the environment, both as a councilmember and as NYC Comptroller,” said Ken Baer, Chair of the NYC Sierra Club. “John Liu understands the challenges of climate change, and as Mayor wants to make the city's infrastructure more resilient and update our building codes so we can withstand severe weather,” continued Baer. “As an agent of change, John Liu wants to issue ‘Green Apple Bonds’ so we can invest in infrastructure improvements, and create highly-skilled jobs.”
Liu has proposed plans to support more solar, wind, and energy efficiency programs in New York City through the “Green Apple Bonds” initiative. In addition, he has championed the modernization of local mass transit to improve air quality, advocated for expanded access to healthy, locally grown food, and called for revitalizing the city’s brownfields, making our most blighted areas viable centers for economic and community growth once again.
Liu also has extensive experience in holding fossil fuel companies accountable, wielding the city’s shareholder power as comptroller to affect change in some of the country’s most powerful corporations – including forcing ExxonMobil to disclose chemicals used in the fracking process.
His opposition to fracking in New York goes beyond just protecting the City’s watershed. Liu fundamentally understands that expanded industrial gas development statewide threatens the air we breathe, the farms that put food on our tables and the upstate tourism economy that has strong ties to the five boroughs.
“John Liu wants to improve the environment for average New Yorkers, by funding parks more equitably, and creating more community gardens,” said Irene Van Slyke, Chair of the Sierra Club's Political Committee. “As mayor John wants to reduce greenhouse gases and electric bills. John Liu wants to take advantage of the rooftops in the City, and produce more solar power.” Van Slyke stated.
“The Sierra Club looks forward to John Liu's tenure as Mayor.” Baer concluded.
The Sierra Club is America's largest and most effective grassroots environmental organization, and works to elect candidates who will lead the fight to protect public health, create a clean energy economy, and champion legislation to protect our air, water, and wild places.
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