Astoria Rally For Climate Action: CM Constantinides' Fight Against Climate Change

ASTORIA, QUEENS — With President Trump's budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, one Queens legislator is combating climate change on a borough-wide level.

In honor of Earth Day, Astoria Climate Action Rally will kick off 6:30 p.m. April 28 at Shore Boulevard at Astoria Park Great Lawn, Councilman Costa Constantinides, a Democrat representing the 22nd District, announced Monday. The rally will be held in advance of the People's Climate March on Washington, which is set to take place April 29. The councilman is urging all NYC residents to join the event to send off those who will be attending the march in Washington.

During the rally, Constantinides will also be promoting a Personal Climate Action Plan. All attendees will receive a reusable bag to take home.

The rally is co-sponsored by Councilwoman Aravella Simotas, a Democrat representing the 36th District, New York League of Conservation Voters, Astoria Park Alliance and Astoria March.

This is only one of the steps that Constantinides is taking to help the environment.

New York City Council passed a bill sponsored by Constantinides last week that will ensure that the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Mental Health and Hygiene evaluates environmental justice communities, other low-income neighborhoods, and communities of color. The outcome of these evaluations, including major sources of pollution and barriers to participation in environmental decision-making processes, will be made available on an online map.

Another bill, sponsored by Councilwoman Inez Barron, a Democrat representing the 42nd District, was also passed to establish an interagency effort to bring equal access to pollution protection, greenspaces and waterfronts to these communities.

Constantinides is also urging people to sign a petition to end the use of fuel oils in the city's power plants.

"In 2015, five power plants in Manhattan and Queens burned 19.2 million gallons of number 6 oil, even though they are mandated to phase out this oil by 2020," read the petition. "Plants are also still burning number 4 oil, which the City Council has mandated they phase out by 2030."

"As the recent executive order on climate shows, the Trump administration will choose fossil fuels over our public health and safety. It's up to cities to make combating climate change and reducing pollution a top priority. That's why we are hosting this rally for climate action," Constantinides said.

"We will reaffirm our support for actions that decrease pollution and increase use of renewable energy. I look forward to seeing our Astoria community join us on April 28th to show that we stand together on climate."

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images