CLIMATE RESILENCE

Building a safer, Healthier, Greener NEw York

Four years after Hurricane Ida devastated our neighborhoods of East Elmhurst, Corona, and Jackson Heights, too many families in Queens are still living with the fear that the next storm will bring the same destruction. But floods are not our only danger—extreme heat quietly claims lives every summer, and unsafe, outdated transportation systems leave our communities more vulnerable to both crisis and climate change. We cannot allow short-term fixes or broken promises to be the answer to challenges that demand long-term vision and sustained action.

As your next State Senator, I will bring people together—neighbors, experts, and colleagues across all levels of government—to deliver bold, practical solutions that protect our families, strengthen our infrastructure, improve our transit systems, and shield our most vulnerable from the deadly impacts of heat.

This Seven-Point Climate Resilience Plan lays out the path forward: a plan rooted in justice, collaboration, and the belief that every family deserves safety, dignity, and a future we can count on. With a collaborative, people-first approach, I will work in the State Senate to transform crisis into resilience and build a Queens that is safe, sustainable, and prepared for the future.

1. INSTANT ALERTS, INSTANT SAFETY

Protect Every Family with Multilingual Emergency Alerts

As your next State Senator, I will ensure no family is ever left in the dark. That means reintroducing my emergency notification bill to require city and state agencies to issue alerts in the top 10 languages spoken across our communities. In a crisis, every second counts, and language should never be a barrier to survival. By building coalitions across government and working alongside local partners, I will make sure lifesaving information reaches every household in Queens.

2. RELIEF THAT NEVER RUNS OUT

Create a Permanent Flood Relief Fund
As your next State Senator, I will champion a permanent promise of protection for families devastated by flooding. I will introduce legislation to establish a standing state fund that guarantees direct relief to homeowners—regardless of immigration status—so rebuilding is secure, not uncertain. This will only be possible by working with my colleagues across the Senate and Assembly and building broad coalitions that put people before politics. Together, we can ensure relief is guaranteed, not a gamble.

3. STRONGER STREETS, SAFER HOMES

Invest in Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

As your next State Senator, I will fight for Queens to build back smarter, not just stronger. That means modern drainage, green infrastructure, and shoreline protections that shield families from future storms. But resilience also means healthier, more efficient homes—so I will champion investments in heat pumps and energy-efficient retrofits that cut emissions, lower utility costs, and keep our homes safe during both extreme heat and cold. By working across agencies and with my colleagues in government, I will ensure Queens families benefit from the latest climate technology and infrastructure that truly prepares us for the future.

4. $15 BILLION FOR A SAFER FUTURE

Deliver Climate Justice through Statewide Funding

As your next State Senator, I will lead the fight to turn climate justice into climate jobs. New York must commit a bold $15 billion investment in resilient housing, renewable energy, and good, union green jobs. I first called for this scale of action in my op-ed, and I will build a broad coalition in Albany to make it reality. By working with colleagues statewide and partners on the ground, I will ensure Queens gets its fair share of funding to reduce pollution, cut emissions, and create careers that sustain families.

5. ONE RESPONSE, EVERY FAMILY COVERED

Strengthen Government Accountability and Coordination
As your next State Senator, I will fight to end red tape in the middle of an emergency. Families should never fall through the cracks because city, state, and federal agencies fail to coordinate. That’s why I will push for a unified emergency response plan that streamlines services, cuts delays, and prioritizes vulnerable communities first. With strong oversight, collaboration across government, and accountability to the people, we can deliver the protection and relief that every family deserves.

6. FAST TRACKS TO THE FUTURE

Invest in Sustainable Transportation
Climate resilience is also about how we move. I will fight for investments in public transit, bike infrastructure, and safer pedestrian networks that reduce emissions, cut traffic, and protect our neighborhoods. I am fighting for 6 minute bus and train service to keep New Yorkers safely moving and a free bus network to ensure costs are not a barrier to accessing school, work, and other essential travel. By partnering with city and state agencies, I will push to fast-track improvements so Queens families can rely on transportation that is safe, affordable, and climate-smart.

7. BEAT THE HEAT 

Protecting Vulnerable New Yorkers from Extreme Heat

Extreme heat is a silent killer—more deadly than floods, and it disproportionately harms children, the elderly, low-income families, and outdoor workers. I will push for a statewide heat resilience strategy: expanding cooling centers, subsidizing air conditioning for vulnerable households, and creating green spaces that cool our communities. With collaboration across agencies and advocacy groups, I will ensure Queens families are not left defenseless against this invisible but deadly threat.

Hurricane Ida showed us the cost of inaction—but it also showed us the power of community. Together, we fought for relief, raised our voices, and secured victories for our neighborhoods. Now we must take the next step and turn that urgency into lasting change—not just against floods, but against the deadly impacts of extreme heat and the vulnerabilities created by outdated transportation systems.

In the State Senate, I will work in partnership with my colleagues and alongside grassroots organizations to expand cooling protections for our most vulnerable neighbors, invest in safe and sustainable transit, and build the resilient infrastructure our families deserve. Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, but it is also our chance to reimagine our city—to make Queens safer, fairer, and better prepared for the future. Together, we can protect every family today and build a stronger tomorrow for the generations to come.