As CA Burns, We Take the Fight to National Grid
NY ❤️ LA
We are saddened and outraged by the wildfires devastating parts of Los Angeles. We have had far too many wake-up calls confirming what science has told us since the 1970's: To sustain life on our precious planet, we must stop burning fossil fuels.
Here are two actions you can take to respond to the disaster unfolding in Los Angeles:
Contribute to mutual aid groups in Los Angeles
Join the fight against the largest fossil fuel facility in New York, National Grid’s LNG depot in North Brooklyn
Guardian graphic. Image: Maxar
More than 200,000 people have evacuated their homes as a result of the climate-fueled wildfires scorching L.A. The United States is a top emitter of greenhouse gases, and it is our duty to stop the burning of fossil fuels promoted by companies like National Grid. We must stand up to profiteering corporations and to the lax state regulators who refuse to rein them in.
We learned from our allies in Los Angeles that the LA Fire Department (LAFD) recently suffered a severe budget cuts of $18 million, which according to LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley “limits their capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires.” Jacob Raabe, an LAFD spokesperson, emphasized how under-resourcing a community leads to reliance on volunteer-run mutual aid efforts by stating, "Any fire department, even our size, is stressed thin, which is why we call in our mutual aid partners."
Please support to the best of your ability Mutual Aid Network Los Angeles during this emergency
At the same time we support aid efforts in Los Angeles, we must continue our fight against National Grid, the climate-busting utility that operates a toxic LNG depot in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Please join us on Sunday, January 12 to learn more about this facility and to connect with other activists committed to shutting down this depot.
Join our Info Session, which will include refreshments, zines, and stickers, followed by a walking tour. National Grid, a UK-based monopoly corporation doing business as our local gas utility in parts of New York, recently submitted its long term plan to state regulators. The plan clearly commits National Grid, and subjects its customers, to a toxic fracked gas future. We demand National Grid comply with our climate law, retire its fossil fuel systems, aggressively adopt energy efficiency measures, and replace their gas system with thermal energy networks and community solar.
Where: Cooper Park on Maspeth Ave, Greenpoint Brooklyn, 11211, MAP
When: Sunday, January 12, starting at 3:00 pm for an info session. We will depart at 3:30 sharp for the walking tour. We will return to Cooper Park around 4:50 pm. Optional Happy Hour at Mary’s Queer Irish Bar beginning at 5PM.
Why: The more we know, the more we build community power; we can build a city that serves the people, not shareholder-owned corporations. We Won't Pay To Be Poisoned
Did you know New York State's largest fossil fuel depot is sited in North Brooklyn, adjacent to homes, businesses, and playgrounds?
Did you also know that we pay for this facility through our monthly utility bills?
The gas systems should be RETIRED, NOT REPLACED! New York State law requires that we get off all fossil fuels by 2050 to mitigate the climate disasters unfolding in real time before us. We shouldn’t be paying BILLIONS of dollars to National Grid to invest in their decrepit gas system!
Climate change is here, with extreme heat, brutal cold, massive wildfires, devastating hurricanes, and previously unimaginable floods. We CAN build an energy system that does not harm us!
The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) and the governor must ensure that we meet the requirements of the state climate law, protect our residents, farms, and businesses, and lead the nation by enacting bold climate policy.
We must address our inequitable energy system in the spirit of justice and liberation. Let's work together to protect our homes and neighbors and kick fossil fuel companies out of New York. Let's work together to create a more just future for all.
With passion and energy,
Kim, Michael, Jeanne, Elliot, JK, Hennessy, and Claire!