Costa Constantinides Holds a press conference on the steps of City Hall earlier this month calling for CNN to hold its climate debate in Queens or Brooklyn
Aug. 23, 2019 By Shane O’Brien
Council Member Costa Constantinides has criticized the Democratic National Committee’s decision not to hold a single-issue debate on the climate crisis.
DNC officials voted down a resolution on Thursday that would have called for an official presidential debate based solely on the issue of climate change.
The DNC committee voted 17-8 against the resolution, although several Democratic candidates for the 2020 nomination said that they supported the idea.
Constantinides, who is Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection in the New York Council, slammed the DNC’s decision and strongly urged them to reconsider. He said that climate change will have an adverse effect on the economy and agriculture among other areas of American life.
The Council Member also criticized Donald Trump’s policy of denying climate change.
“This is the existential crisis of our generation, which will negatively impact our economy, infrastructure, agriculture, housing market and national security,” Constantinides said. “America deserves a robust discussion on how the women and men vying to challenge the climate-denier-in-chief will address this threat.”
Constantinides also reiterated his request to CNN to host their climate town hall in either Queens or Brooklyn. CNN will host a separate climate change debate featuring many Democratic candidates in New York City on Sept. 4.
The news agency confirmed this week that at least 10 Democratic candidates will take part in the town hall and Constantinides again asked that they host it in either borough. Constantinides said that parts of both Queens and Brooklyn could be underwater within decades if something is not changed in the approach to climate change.
“I again call on the network to bring the candidates to a community already dealing with rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and toxic air.
“There are several suitable locations in Queens and Brooklyn with easy access to mass transit and New York City’s airports, both of which could be underwater within decades unless there’s a massive mobilization to make our country more resilient.”
Earlier in the month, Constantinides was part of a group of 13 federal, state and city officials who wrote a letter to CNN requesting that they hold their town hall in either Queens or Brooklyn.
CNN has yet to announce a venue for next month’s town hall.
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Clueless Costa and his trusty podium-focus on Steinway street-it is a mess. Homeless, empty storefronts and garbage everywhere. Focus on the uptick in crime in Astoria.