Reactive from Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, founder and CEO of Dayenu
“The decision to approve the NESE Pipeline is a shonda for Governor Hochul and the state of New York, and a potential disaster for the people of the New York region. It is a move based not on concern for public health, household budgets, or the future of our climate. Instead, it is a shocking give-away to the fossil fuel industry, which is escalating the climate crisis as it rakes in egregious profits.
At a time when New York should be standing up to the Trump administration and its fossil fuel agenda; at a time when our state should be putting working people’s health, budgets, and well-being first; at a time when the climate crisis is accelerating at a terrifying pace; at a time when we desperately need our leaders to show courage, leadership, and moral fortitude, Governor Hochul’s decision does the opposite.
This decision will stand in history as a time when we backed down and locked our state into decades of pollution and higher prices, rather than investing in a more just and livable clean energy future.
We must change our priorities to value people and communities over profits for a few: bacharta b’chayim – choose life that you and your descendents may live (Deut 30:19).
In the future, we hope she decides to defend our rights and our climate – by rejecting the Constitution Pipeline and fully and swiftly implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.”