The Newsletter for the Movement for
Economic, Climate, and Racial Justice
|
This month’s No Kings protest, the largest single-day political protest in US history, gives us reason to hope about our future in the face of an increasingly authoritarian federal government. With estimates as high as seven million people across the country, a multiracial, intergenerational movement is rising up to condemn mass deportation, increased militarization of our cities, the targeting of political opponents, and the dismantling of environmental and worker protections. In New York City, ALIGN helped carry the banner that called for ‘People Over Billionaires’ in the city with the highest concentration of billionaires in the world. When we say No Kings, we say Yes to democracy, the people’s power, and the never ending struggle for peace and justice.
|
People Power at the
2025 Movement Builders Awards
|
At the 2025 Movement Builders Awards we celebrated the strength and successes of our movement and the people leading the fight for a green, affordable New York. From the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program and SUNY decarbonization to Green Healthy Schools and the fight for a $30 minimum wage in New York City, together, we are shaping a stronger and more equitable New York. This year, we are proud to honor Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa and The Worker’s Justice Project for their incredible work fighting for a New York that works for all of us. NYC Comptroller Brad Lander was also able to join us for welcome remarks where he touched upon the importance of the intersection of labor and climate.
The Movement Builders Awards is also our biggest fundraiser of the year. If you couldn’t attend, you can still support our work by making a donation so we can continue the work in building a just, sustainable New York.
|
Pass the Delivery Protection Act
|
We rallied with Councilmember Tiffany Cabán and the Amazon Teamsters to introduce the Delivery Protection Act, a bill that will hold big delivery corporations like Amazon accountable and keep New Yorkers safe by improving labor conditions at the “Last Mile” facilities. These are the facilities that big companies use to get packages from warehouses to your door. But they aren’t the best neighbors. These facilities are packed in neighborhoods, bringing pollution and safety risk to pedestrians. They often rely on underpaid and unsafe jobs, often subcontracted to evade accountability. The Delivery Protection Act will require companies from directly employ their drivers, end shell “subcontractors”, protect workers from unfair firings, mandate real safety trainings, and more.
|
Fourteen million tons of waste is generated every year in NYC, affecting communities, workers, and the environment. Right now, New York City has inefficient waste and compost systems, too many polluting trucks causing havoc in our neighborhoods, and lack of community input in program development. We need to make sure our waste system is done right. The City is developing a new Solid Waste Management (SWMP) plan which will outline how our waste system will function for the next 10 years. In response, grassroots community organizations and labor unions from the Transform Don’t Trash coalition put together a new report “A People’s SWMP: 30 Recommendations for a Solid Waste System That is Healthy and Safe for All New Yorkers”. Our recommendations will transform our waste system to achieve waste equity, improve recycling programs and waste reduction, decrease truck pollution, and increase community participation.
|
Welcome Oriana, Our New Economic Justice Campaign Manager!
|
Oriana (she/her/ella) is our new Economic Justice Campaign Manager for ALIGN! Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Oriana moved to NYC in 2016 and has been working in advocacy, coalition building, and political organizing at the City, State, and Federal level for nearly a decade. Prior to starting at ALIGN, Oriana was the Senior Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Immigrant ARC, a coalition of immigration legal aid organizations. Most recently, in her previous role as the Director of Constituent Services for Queens’ Council Member Tiffany Cabán, Oriana worked in coalition with community based organizations and coordinated rapid response efforts in response to several on-going city-wide emergencies. A Queens based advocate, Oriana is passionate about fighting for a better, greener, more equitable and affordable NYC.
|
Current and former pregnant Amazon workers with Warehouse Life and Amazon Labor Union Local 1 rallied in NYC to share their brutal treatment working at warehouses.
|
Climate Director Jenille Scott doing community outreach for Green Healthy Schools Campaign at the New York Botanical Garden.
|
Jobs to Move America and other partners released a new report revealing troubling working conditions at Kawasaki's New York and Nebraska facilities and called for a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with the company.
|
Alongside United Way of New York City, we supported a free webinar on emergency weather preparedness.
|
|
