A Just Transition for Central New York – Invest in Community, Not Extraction

We call on you to champion a just transition that puts working families, community ownership, and human dignity at the center of our region’s future. As the Micron project transforms our economy, we demand that you pursue policies that build lasting community power, not corporate profit. Our Demands 1. Community-Owned Energy – You both have supported climate action. Now go further: champion community solar, public power, and worker-owned renewable co-ops. With rising energy costs hurting families, energy democracy means lower bills and local jobs, not corporate monopolies. 2. Worker Cooperatives – Senator Ryan, you introduced a bill to prioritize worker co-ops for state contracts. We urge you to build on this, and Assemblymember Hunter, to join him in making employee ownership a core economic development strategy for the Micron era. 3. Community Land Trusts (CLTs) – Assemblymember Hunter, you endorsed the community grid to free up land for development. We call on you to ensure that land stays permanently affordable through CLTs – keeping housing accessible for generations, not Wall Street. 4. Alternatives to Incarceration – Assemblymember Hunter, you have worked to reform the criminal legal system. We urge you both to expand restorative justice, treatment, and community-based safety – proven to reduce recidivism and keep families together. 5. Single-Payer Healthcare – Senator Ryan, your union background and your work on healthcare access make you a natural champion for the New York Health Act. Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege tied to employment. Why This Matters The Micron project is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We can build an economy that works for everyone – or we can hand it to developers and corporations. We choose community wealth, democratic ownership, and a just transition.