Students organize for TREEage’s 5th annual Youth Day of Action in Albany
Source: QNS
Students from across New York state gathered at the State Capitol in Albany last week for TREEage’s 5th annual Youth Day of Action, urging lawmakers to pass legislation on some of the largest issues facing their generation, including climate change, tax equality and immigration.
Members of the state assembly, including Queens Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, joined students on the capitol’s famous Million Dollar Staircase as activists hosted a powerful storytelling action in the governor’s office War Room and over 100 legislative meetings.
The demonstration, which is the largest student-led climate action in the state, comes in the final days of the state’s $260 billion budget negotiations.
YDOA is organized by TREEage, whose membership is 100% high school and college students, in partnership with NYRenews, Invest in Our New York and Make the Road New York.
Students called on leaders to maintain — not roll back — mandates under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to ensure livable air quality and a healthy environment.
They also spoke about the importance of ensuring school buildings, where they spend most of their time, are green and healthy.
At the center of students’ advocacy were pressing issues, such as taxing the rich to raise revenue for climate change legislation and other programs, as well as passing the New York for All Act in lieu of recent reports of immigration officers showing up on campuses like Columbia University.
“We’re proud of these students for taking the initiative to make their voices heard and hope that the governor and state legislators are ready to listen and act,” said Shiv Soin, co-founder of TREEage. “Students have the most at stake in this budget fight, and as the 10th largest economy, New York State, on its own, has immense potential to serve as a powerhouse for a Just Transition, providing safe, clean, and greener schools and communities. This budget can serve as a roadmap to create a healthy future for them.”
Students offered personal testimonies and reacted to several recent statements made by Gov. Kathy Hochul and other state legislators, making recommendations on the future they want to see in their communities.
Key issues addressed by students included:
State money and investment toward climate adaptation and mitigation
Students want to put $3 billion into the Sustainable Future Fund this year to ensure it meets important climate goals and priorities.
Clean, healthy, and safe schools
Students pointed out that many school buildings across New York are not healthy learning spaces and need energy-efficient ventilation systems and critical infrastructure upgrades.
Healthy air to breathe and clean water to drink — especially in disadvantaged communities
Students said lawmakers need to maintain the emissions-reduction standards and the state methane-accounting standard under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and ensure that disadvantaged communities remain protected.
Polluters held responsible for their harm
Students said they wanted to ensure that corporate polluters — not youth, families, or working-class people — pay for climate action and investments.
Fair tax systems
Students demanded lawmakers raise taxes on the wealthiest residents to provide climate and other benefits for hardworking New Yorkers. They said the state is home to some of the wealthiest people in the country and massive corporations that don’t pay their fair share in taxes.
School and community protection from ICE officials
Students said the federal government is abusing its power, specifically around the deportation of immigrants and ICE’s use of brutal police force to enforce these orders in our communities. They want to ensure New York for All legislation is passed.
González-Rojas, who represents East Elmhurst, said she supported many of the issues students highlighted during the demonstration.
“Our communities in Queens are feeling the consequences of a system that is failing working families on multiple fronts,” she said. “From escalating raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that terrorize immigrant families, to rising costs and underfunded public services, to aging school buildings that harm our climate and our children’s health, the status quo is putting real strain on the people I represent.”
She said New York must respond to today’s issues with bold action, including passing the New York for All Act to protect immigrants, advancing the Invest in Our New York package so the wealthiest pay their fair share, and investing in green, healthy schools through initiatives led by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
“By protecting immigrants, investing in our communities, and confronting the climate crisis, we can deliver the resources and stability that our families deserve,” she said.
For more information about YDOA, visit TreeageTeam.org.
