Three-day Capitol climate sit-in ends with HEAT Act push
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Protestors gathered at the State Capitol in Albany for a three-day sit-in, urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the Climate Change Superfund Act (S2129B/A3351B). A "die-in" led by the younger demographic began the demonstration, culminating with statewide rallies backing the New York HEAT Act (S2016B/A4592B) on Thursday.
"Everyone sitting here represents hundreds who are not," said protestor Linda Edwards, 65.
The proposed Superfund Act requires polluters like fossil fuel companies to pay $75 billion over 25 years to fund climate resilience and recovery programs. The NY HEAT Act, meanwhile, aims to help New Yorkers transition to cleaner energy and make fuel cheaper by better controlling rate hikes.
Participants held signs demanding support for the original bill with no amendments, telling Gov. Kathy Hochul not to water it down by compromising with polluters. Check out the beginning of Thursday's rally for the HEAT Act in the Capitol Building, with words from Eduardo Hernandez of Citizen Action New York:
The demonstrations, which began on December 10, were part of a statewide week of action to hold polluters accountable for their role in climate change. On December 12, simultaneous rallies for the HEAT Act went up in Peekskill, Kingston, and the Adirondacks.
A coalition of environmental justice activists, lawmakers, faith leaders, labor representatives, youth groups, and consumer organizations backed the demonstrations, urging the government to address health problems caused by air and water contamination. Advocates—and experts—warned that climate emergencies are becoming more common and more expensive.
During the week, protesters staged teach-ins and sing-ins about drought, flooding, hazardous waste, and pollution. All told, 19 protestors were arrested over two nights for participating in the sit-in after the Capitol closed to the public at 7 p.m. Police charged them with criminal trespass.
One of those arrested was Rochester's Heidi Beutler, 72. She works with Third Act, an advocacy group of people over 60 that aims to help anxiety-ridden younger generations by protecting democracy and the environment.
"Masses of people have to go to jail," she said as a way to justify choosing to be arrested as part of the protest. "That's the only thing that's going to make the media pay attention."
Enabling the Superfund Act would save New Yorkers money and shift responsibility to corporations that are responsible for emissions, according to demonstrators. They characterized passing the bill as a moral obligation and underlined the potential for new clean energy jobs. They highlighted the disproportionate impacts on communities of color and low-income neighborhoods.
They pointed to a New York Public Interest Group analysis finding that each household in New York spends about $300 per year in taxes on climate expenses. Still, demonstrators called for more direct relief.
Supporters said that the NY HEAT Act would lower heating costs for families and reduce pollution in disadvantaged neighborhoods. They pointed to another analysis indicating that 25% of households in New York are low-income and have high energy costs. It theorized that the act could save those families as much as $136 per month.
Scores of organizations were behind the demonstrations, including Third Act, Food and Water Watch, Citizen Action of New York, Extinction Rebellion, the New York State Public Health Association, and New York Communities for Change.
A spokesperson from the Governor's Office declined to comment on the demonstrations.
The Climate Change Superfund Act resembles legislation passed in Vermont and pending in Massachusetts, California, and Maryland.