Utica Residents Beat the Heat with Ice Cream and Important Conversations
In the Midst of Record-Breaking Heat, Concerns Arise Over Rising Energy Costs and Potential Cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency
UTICA, NEW YORK — Today, Empire State Voices and Citizen Action of New York helped Utica residents beat the heat with an ice cream social event in Oneida Square. Local residents stopped by for free ice cream and discussed some of the issues that matter most to them.
Much of the day’s conversation centered around how Congressman Brandon Williams’ anti-environment voting record has put big corporations over New York families. The congressman has repeatedly voted to cut funding for the Environmental Protection Agency and a host of other climate initiatives, threatening to raise New Yorkers’ energy costs while undermining efforts to combat pollution and climate change.
Just last week, Rep. Williams voted to give big oil and gas corporations a tax break while cutting funding for clean drinking water in our communities.
Empire State Voices and Citizen Action of New York helped Utica residents beat the heat with an ice cream social event in Oneida Square. | Credit: EMPIRE STATE VOICES
“[Our members of Congress] are not thinking about the little people like us. I mean, there’s a lot of struggling people right here,” said Tim, a resident of Utica. “They’re voting to give the large companies and corporations their votes and their money because they’re the ones giving them the money. It’s not about helping the starving person—it’s about the rich getting richer. We don’t have to stand for that.”
“The people of Central New York need their representatives in Congress to prioritize Central New York—it’s that simple,” said Senya Bekui, Central New York Lead Organizer for Citizen Action of New York. “Unfortunately, we’ve seen Congressman Williams turn his back on working families in his district and only fight for big corporations and the MAGA agenda too many times. New Yorkers aren’t dumb—we know when somebody’s trying to pull one over on us.”
“Temperatures are rising, and so are our energy costs. New Yorkers are begging for their representatives to put them and their families first.” -Sean Yang | Credit: EMPIRE STATE VOICES
“Rep. Williams loves to talk about fiscal responsibility, but there’s nothing responsible about selling out our communities in order to pay for tax breaks for oil and gas companies,” said Sean Yang, NY-22 Regional Organizing Director for Empire State Voices.“Temperatures are rising, and so are our energy costs. New Yorkers are begging for their representatives to put them and their families first. It’s time to invest in New York communities, not a handful of big corporations looking for yet another handout. That would be real fiscal responsibility.”
To learn more about Empire State Voices, please reach out to press@empirestatevoices.org
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About Empire State Voices
Empire State Voices (ESV) is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. ESV is fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same.
About Citizen Action of New York
Citizen Action of New York is a grassroots membership organization with seven chapters and affiliates across New York State. We work on issues important to our communities, including fair elections, equitable school funding, housing for all, environmental justice, and ending mass incarceration.
