Green Juice NYC Mayoral Endorsement

We interrupt our coverage of the coolest clean energy technology (and the sickos who don't want us to have it) to make this publication's first-ever political endorsement:

Green Juice endorses Zohran Mamdani for Mayor of NYC!

(crowd gasps... one brave child steps forth... starts a slow clap... the clapping builds to raucous applause)

With election day less than a week away (this Tuesday, June 24!), the race for mayor is closer than it's ever been.

There are a number of strong candidates. Brad Lander, who just yesterday was illegally detained by ICE brutes while sticking up for immigrants, is certainly one of them. I like Brad a lot! I ranked him #2 on my ballot. (The Democratic Primary features Ranked Choice Voting, which allows you to rank up to five candidates in order of preference.)

But if you look at the latest polls, this race likely comes down to a choice between two very different candidates.

In one corner, you've got disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo: a repeat sexual harasser, narcissist, and remedial math student banking on his father's name and millions of dollars in donations from corporate and real estate interests.

In the other corner: the ascendant Zohran Mamdani, Queens Assemblyman and social media phenom whose progressive campaign is laser-focused on making New York City a place where everyone can afford to live. Zohran entered this race as a total long-shot, but by dint of his ceaseless campaigning, winning platform, and a massive corps of volunteers, he's closed the gap. In fact, one recent poll even shows Zohran beating Cuomo in the final round of voting.

But Green Juice readers want to know: how do the candidates stack up on the pressing issue of climate change?

Let's compare their policies.

Climate Platform

Andrew Cuomo: fails to even mention climate change

Head on over to andrewcuomo.com/issues and search for the word "climate". This is what you'll see:

Nary even a mention. The same is true for the words "energy", "solar", "wind", and "nuclear". Pathetic!

The closest Cuomo comes to a climate platform is a line item on composting, in which he advocates for providing "incentives and resources for landlords." Of course.

I'm all for composting, but composting ain't gonna cut it. We're in a full-on climate crisis. Election Day is forecasted to hit 100 degrees F. Consider voting early to beat the heat.

(My one permitted scary climate fact of the day: Alaska just declared its first-ever heat advisory. They're getting 22 hours of sunlight a day at the moment, and the "real feel" may reach 110 degrees F.)

Is it possible Andrew Cuomo's pastrami sandwich-sized climate blindspot is related to the fact that he's accepted over $100,000 from oil and gas companies during previous election cycles?

One can't help but wonder.

So what about Zohran?

Zohran Mamdani: climate champion

Hop on over to ZohranForNYC.com/platform and try that search again.

Boom! Three hits!

Zohran’s got a highly detailed plan to build out renewable energy projects on city-owned land. He calls for enforcing the important building decarbonization mandate of Local Law 97. He's got a plan to assist middle-income homeowners with reducing their emissions. Zohran's got a disaster preparedness program, a multi-agency approach to tackling extreme heat, and he's strongly opposed the latest round of Con Ed rate hikes.

But my favorite part of Zohran's climate platform is what he calls Green Schools for a Healthier NYC, which is a roadmap for renovating 500 public schools with renewable infrastructure and transforming 500 of the city’s heat-absorbing asphalt schoolyards into vibrant green spaces, creating 15,000 union jobs in the process.

Green schoolyards have been shown to reduce heat, improve air quality, and even raise student test scores. If you want to read more, check out this 11-page policy memo that outlines everything Zohran will do to make NYC greener, healthier, and more equitable.

The skeptic responds: Campaign promises are one thing. What about their records?

On the record

Cuomo: all fracked up

I did a little research. Turns out, Cuomo approved major fracked gas infrastructure like the fracked gas-fueled CPV Valley Energy Center, along with the construction of the new gas pipeline required to support it. Cuomo attempted to put a loophole in Local Law 97 that would allow landlords to get out of their obligation to lower emissions by purchasing cheap, ineffective Tier 2 RECs. And Cuomo aggressively closed the Indian Point Nuclear Plant, which at the time was providing about 25% of New York with clean electricity.

Zohran: fighting for public power

Despite only three years in the Assembly, Zohran’s already got a strong record on fighting for climate action here in New York. He fought for (and helped pass) the Build Public Renewables Act, which demands the state's publicly owned utility, NYPA, build out renewable energy projects across the state. He fought for (and helped pass) the All-Electric Buildings Act, which will phase out fossil fuel infrastructure and appliances from being included in new building construction starting in 2026. Zohran led the charge to defeat a dirty fracked gas plant in his Assembly District from energy giant NRG Energy, and he won over $100 million in operating funds to improve our subways and buses. Finally, he created NYC’s first successful fare-free bus pilot, which as mayor he plans to expand citywide.

Our verdict: the climate crisis needs a breath of fresh air—not more of the status Cuomo

Zohran Mamdani is precisely the kind of bold, uncompromising leader that our city, country, and world desperately need to embrace. A leader who recognizes the climate crisis is not merely something young people bitch about but an existential threat to life on this planet.

It's not going to be easy. Zohran is up against The Machine. Cuomo's super-rich real estate and corporate donors are pouring millions upon millions of dollars into his campaign, flooding the airwaves and filling our mailboxes with racist anti-Zohran propaganda. Even more money will flow into the Cuomo campaign this week.

We all need to pitch in to get this guy elected. The good news is that you, too, can help. No matter who you are or where you live.

What you can do

Knock on some doors

If you're in the tri-state area (even if you're not an NYC resident!), it's not too late to join a neighborhood canvass. Thousands of volunteers, myself included, have already knocked on over one million doors. You can be part of the largest volunteer effort in New York City history.

Canvassing is the most effective thing you can do to get a politician elected. It's also really fun and rewarding to talk to your neighbors. Plus, if you're new to canvassing, you'll get paired up with an experienced canvasser who can show you the ropes.

Find a canvass near you

Phone bank

Don't live in the area but still want to help out? Join one of the daily phone banks and make some calls. There's one tonight that Zohran will be on, along with author Naomi Klein at 6pm EDT.

Sign up to phone bank

Make a donation

Zohran has maxed out on his eligible campaign funds, but you can still donate to a PAC that's running pro-Zohran ads during this crucial final week. We can't let Cuomo control the narrative!

Donate here

Tell your New York people

Surveys show that over a third of New Yorkers still haven't even heard of Zohran Mamdani. If you've got friends and family here in the city, let 'em know who to vote for... and make sure to tell them who not to rank.