To: Interested Parties
From: Jennessa Agnew, National Field Director, LCV
Date: September 24, 2021
Re: Voters and businesses across the country share why they want climate action NOW

We are in the midst of one of the biggest pushes for climate action in our nation’s history as members of Congress work to finalize the Build Back Better Act. From the ‘code red’ IPCC report, to devastating climate change-fueled hurricanes and tropical storms, scorching heat waves, drought, wildfires, and other extreme weather events that have impacted nearly 1 in 3 people in America just this summer, voters have had enough and it has never been more urgent for Congress to act on climate. Since launching in late June, LCV’s field program has been on the ground talking to voters and businesses, knocking on over 215,000 doors, and over 12,000 households and 8,000 businesses are displaying “Climate Action Now” signs in their neighborhoods. 

From state to state and district to district, voters and businesses have talked to our organizers about the climate crisis and what it means to them. And while their stories differ, one theme remains the same: they want to see climate action in Congress, and they want to see it now. 

• Sedona, AZ:  Barbara and Robert, who have lived in the area for 40 years are extremely concerned about wildfires due to climate change, and explained that Barbara’s sister lost her home to a wildfire in 2017. 

• Tucson, AZ: Rosario, the owner of  an alterations store, shared how she understands that marginalized communities suffer the brunt of pollution and the climate crisis while the wealthier areas have no pollution or potholes. She wants her neighborhood to have clean air and water, saying, “Our air feels different, sometimes my nose burns.” Rosario is doing her part by not wasting materials and using what she has on hand to create garments instead of producing more waste, but she wants to see Congress take action on the climate crisis and now proudly displays a “Climate Action Now” placard in her store window. 

• Tucson, AZ: Joel has pledged to educate his neighbors and hopes more Arizonans join the fight for environmental justice, clean energy jobs, and clean air and water. He wants to see more action on climate so we can protect our environment, saying, “I was born in New York, and I moved to Tucson 15 years ago. I fell in love with the clear skies and mountains. Now, I cannot see the stars the same and we have droughts every year. Something has got to change! We may not have a lot of money, but there’s a lot of us, we have strength in numbers and we mean business!” 

• Phoenix, AZ: Trent, who works for an electric company noticed the “Climate Action Now” signs in his neighborhood and wanted one for himself. Trent hopes to see our nation transition to a clean energy future once and for all and he’s excited for the opportunity to one day work in the clean energy sector himself. 

•  Winter Park, FL: A voter named Mr. Fried shared his desire to see action taken to address the climate crisis, particularly more clean energy jobs created in Florida. 

• Atlanta, GA: Rebecca voiced her support of climate action and clean energy jobs, sharing, “As someone who identifies themselves as a part of the older generation, I have seen the drastic effects climate change has had on our country. Whether it be by way of increasing hurricanes, wildfires or other increased natural disasters, I believe we must do whatever we can to help combat it and protect our earth”. 

• Decatur, GA: Jeremy, the manager of an appliance store, expressed concern for the negative impacts climate change could have on the local economy. He was glad to see LCV rallying local business support for climate action and was proud to display a “Climate Action Now” placard in his business. 

• Des Moines, IA: Patty, an elementary school teacher, worries about what the future will be like for young children having to grow up in a polluted world and wants to do everything she can to show her support for immediate climate action, saying, “I work with kids, and the environment we have now is all that’s left to them.”

  

• Lansing, MI: Nicole shared that she was forced to leave her home in Flint, Michigan because of the water crisis. Now, with the state of the climate and the amount of chemicals going into our water, she fears others will share this same fate. 

• Warren, MI: Alma recently visited both Oregon and her former home in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and noticed the drastic impacts of the climate crisis in each region. Now, she uses her power as a voter to choose candidates who will take immediate action on the climate crisis. 

• Royal Oak, MI: Nora, a pro-union voter, expressed that hearing President Biden talk about climate action and infrastructure investment as opportunities for major job creation has her really excited. She’s hopeful Congress will take the opportunity to act on climate and infrastructure and spur the creation of good union jobs in Southeast Michigan.

• Henderson, NV: To George, climate action means clean water. George wants to see more investments in clean energy and the conservation of natural areas because he is concerned about the looming state of emergency in Nevada due to the drought, saying, “we must move now if we want to save Lake Mead and Hoover Dam.” 

• Las Vegas, NV: Tanganyka shared that her electric bill has gone up dramatically and is excited about the opportunity for investments in climate action and clean energy to both conserve energy for her community and lower utility costs.

  

• Nashua, NH: At the Nashua Farmers Market, Dolores, the owner of DJ’s Pure Honey, was dismayed that climate change is negatively impacting bees, but she has hope that together, and with the help of Congress, we can make huge strides toward a greener future. 

• Dover, NH: Aaron is very concerned about climate change and what it will mean for his sons’ future. He hopes his representatives in Congress will continue investing time to work toward a more sustainable future, saying, “my kids, all the kids out there need your support.”

• Moorestown, NJ: William supports investing in clean energy jobs because he knows many people who lost their jobs during the pandemic, especially in New Jersey. He knows that we have an opportunity to create millions of good-paying clean energy jobs with the Build Back Better Act, and he’s calling on Congress to make it happen.  

• Wyckoff, NJ: Dan has been paying close attention to both the infrastructure and budget reconciliation packages moving through Congress and is excited about the opportunity to greatly improve transit in New Jersey. He even called his representative to make sure his voice was heard. 

• Somerville, NJ: Just days after the remnants of Hurricane Ida brought deadly flooding to New Jersey, Zaheer, speaking about the damage to his neighborhood and state said, “if anyone needed proof for climate change, the proof is right here.”

• Midlothian, VA: Mohammad previously worked as an oil engineer, but got away from that line of work as the peak oil scare developed. He believes the world needs to move away from such dirty fuel sources that are not renewable and make the transition to a clean energy future, and he hopes Congress will see this through.

• Virginia Beach, VA: Eugenio is very concerned about extreme weather events happening across the country — from the wildfires in California to the increase in flooding happening in his own community — and can’t understand why there are still people who deny the existence of climate change. In his neighborhood, flooding has been extreme in the past years — so bad that after raining for a week, water stood past the tires of his son’s car, and if you walked out to the street, the flood waters would rise above your knees.