Carolyn Maloney, a Congresswoman, visited Queensbridge Houses Friday March 11th to discuss New York’s implementation of President Joe Bideen’s climate justice executive order. She also assessed the impact of pollution from nearby fossil fuel plants.
Queens was the site of an environmental programming series that saw elected officials and leaders visit Queens for community input and to discuss legislation related environmental justice. Maloney called on environmental justice to be implemented in her district, outside of Queensbridge Houses, the largest housing development in America.
Maloney said that we are only a few blocks from the worst polluting fossil fuel plant of New York State. Queensbridge and Big Allis are located so close to each other. Queensbridge residents live within one mile radius of 10 peaker plant. It’s no accident that so many of our children have asthma.
Maloney claimed that the large number of peaker plant in the area was strategically placed near Queensbridge Houses and Ravenswood Houses. This perpetuated systemic racism, as well as the disenfranchisement communities of color.
Members of Congress and activists noted that the Biden-Harris Justice40 Initiative was a significant step forward in environmental justice. It will deliver at least 40% of the climate and clean energy benefits to communities most affected by pollution and disinvestments.
Donovan Richards, Queens Borough President came out to support environmental justice for Queens County.
Richards said that the effects of climate change are well-known in our borough. Just 10 years ago, our residents have been through two of most destructive and deadly storms that our city has ever experienced.
Richards spoke out about his firsthand experience of the destruction caused by Super Storm Sandy as a council member representing southern Queens.
Richards stated that the pain is still with me today. This was the same pain that Queens’ northeast families felt last year when Hurricane Ida caused flooding in areas that had never been affected by flooding. The same pain many of us felt when we heard about the deaths of our neighbors in their basements.
Richards stated that he was proud of the infrastructure efforts, but that more needs to done in Astoria communities such as Asthma Alley.
Richards stated that there is much more work to be done in public housing. Many families’ needs have been overlooked and ignored. Too many families living in public housing are suffering from disinvestment. If you don’t believe climate change plays a part in this problem, you are simply wrong. There is no time to waste. It is now or never.
The borough president applauded Biden-Harris Justice40 Initiative. However, he said that we need to think larger and consider Queens communities’ losses exceeding 40 percent.
Leaders visited Ravenswood Generating Station after the press conference at Queensbridge Houses to learn more about ongoing efforts to make the plant renewable energy.
