Tom in the News — September 18, 2020

Tom wants everyone to fight for climate and justice at the ballot box.

Tom penned an op-ed with George Galvis, Executive Director of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), asking CA legislators to pass meaningful police reform. Also, while fires rage on in California, Tom talked to reporters about the connection between natural disasters and climate change and called on everyone to vote for climate action and Joe Biden this November. Take a look.

• California’s leaders failed on critical police reforms. Where’s the moral courage? — Sacramento Bee
  “California has an opportunity to be a leader in police reform — and build a more progressive and equitable environment for all its residents — much like it’s done with progressive climate change laws. But with that comes a need for California legislators with strong political will to bring about much-needed police reform and not adhere to the status quo.” Read more here.
• Tom Steyer speaks about California fires and upcoming Nov. election — MSNBC
  “We’re in a situation, which is grim, which is expected, which is causing historic damage, and there’s absolutely no question that these fires are related to the record-setting heat on the West Coast this summer. So in fact, we need bold action. We need to take into account that this was predicted, as Governor Newsom said. And we have to do the kind of aggressive program that Joe Biden has proposed as part of his campaign.” Watch more here.
• Tom Steyer on Trump’s handling of climate change — CNN
  “There’s no doubt about the connection between climate change and these fires…We have three of the four biggest fires in California history going on right now. This year, just in California, we’ve burned up more acreage than exists in the state of Connecticut. This is a huge, immediate, urgent problem…Donald Trump is playing politics with the pain and suffering of American citizens. It’s reprehensible…This is a signal failure of leadership by the President of the United States. ” Watch more here.
• Tom Steyer Reviews CA Wildfire Response From Biden, Trump — KCBS Radio
  “Joe Biden has done a terrific job on climate. If you look at the plan, his climate plan, it is very progressive, it is very aggressive…If we elect Joe Biden and flip the Senate, the United States of America is going to make the changes we need to make and we’re going to lead the world to get this crisis under control…This president won’t deal with climate, and Joe Biden will. It couldn’t be a starker contrast…I believe Mr. Trump needs a dose of truth and reality in his face.” Listen in here.
• Climate change’s effect on current wildfires in the West — KGO
  “This is not a financial problem. This is not an economic problem. This is a political problem. Republicans get a third of their money for their campaigns, for their careers, from fossil fuels…The issue here is there are politicians putting their careers ahead of the health and safety of every single American, and that’s wrong, and Trump is leading them. It’s absolutely wrong, and the only way we change this is throw them out.” Listen in here.