Freshman State Senator Daphne Jordan (R-Saratoga County), who is already earning a reputation for having one of the most extreme right-wing voting records in the New York State Legislature, now is gaining even more notoriety. Two days ago, the watchdog group, Environmental Advocates Action of New York, awarded Jordan with their “Oil Slick Award” which they give annually to a New York State politician that regularly puts “the priorities of polluters ahead of public health and safety.”
In a district that has seen a raft of abuses from corporate polluters over the past several decades, such as PCB contamination of the Hudson River by GE and PFOA contamination of the Hoosick River by Saint-Gobain, this award highlights many examples of how Jordan continues to turn her back on her constituents.
From The Times Union, Albany, New York, October 15, 2020:
“ALBANY – A leading environmental group on Thursday lauded Central New York state Sen. Rachel May while blasting Saratoga County Sen. Daphne Jordan in its annual environmental scorecard.
May, a Syracuse Democrat, was recognized for sponsoring bills that would classify hydrofracking waste as hazardous waste along with other measures by Environmental Advocates Action.
Jordan, though, won the organization’s annual “Oil Slick” award for joining fellow Republicans in opposing bills that help combat toxins in toys and keep hazardous chemicals from food.
“Voters should vote no on Sen. Jordan this November,” said Environmental Advocates Action executive director Peter Iwanowicz, citing her votes on keeping potentially harmful PFAS chemicals out of food packaging, stream protection and chemicals used in toys, among others.”
Daphne Jordan Keeps Turning Her Back On Us...
Environmental Advocates Action of New York specifically criticized Jordan for voting against stream protection (S 5612-A, 2020), removing toxic chemicals from children’s toys (S 501-B, 2019), classifying hydrofracking waste as hazardous (S 3392, 2020) and also opposing legislation that would protect endangered species (S 8750, 2020). In addition, the scorecard from Environmental Advocates also highlighted that Jordan voted against banning PFAS/PFOA chemicals from food packaging (S 8817), opposed outlawing toxic coal tars from being used on road pavements (S 6308-A),
From Environmental Advocates Action of New York:
Oil Slick Award: Senator Daphne Jordan (RHalfmoon)
“Environmental bills that come before the Legislature are an opportunity for members to show what side they are on. For example, the Legislature passed a bill to ban dangerous PFAS chemicals from food packaging. These are the same chemicals that have contaminated the drinking water of Senator Jordan’s constituents in Hoosick Falls, creating a years-long struggle to provide clean and safe water for its residents. Voting on legislation that rids PFAS chemicals from our environment means standing with communities like Hoosick Falls who have suffered from devasting PFAS contamination issues. Voting no means standing with polluting corporations that profit while the public gets sick. Senator Daphne Jordan sided with the polluters, not her constituents.”
Protecting streams for sportsmen and boaters? Senator Jordan voted no (S.5612-A 2020).
Protecting kids from dangerous chemicals in toys? Senator Jordan voted no (S.501-B 2019).
Protecting our waterways from toxic fracking waste dumped here by Pennsylvania gas and oil drillers? Senator Jordan voted no (S.3392 2020).
Protecting endangered species? Senator Jordan voted no (S.8750 2020).
Anyone else seeing a pattern here?”
Patrick Nelson Presents A New Way Forward...
The good news is that Daphne may be very defeatable this year, especially with Donald Trump’s poll numbers now cratering both nationally and locally throughout Upstate New York. Senator Jordan currently represents an Albany-area suburban swing district with a small Democratic enrollment advantage that Trump won by less than three points in the 2016 presidential election. In 2018, Jordan won her first election narrowly by only six points, placing her in a potentially precarious position this year. The Democratic challenger, biochemist Patrick Nelson of Saratoga County, has regularly reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that our air, our water and our natural resources in the Upper Hudson Valley region will be protected for many generations to come. Nelson’s campaign website outlines his environmental platform, which calls for more investment in sustainable technologies, transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable energy and a complete modernization of our electric grid.
From the campaign website of Patrick Nelson for New York State Senate:
“A strong economy requires and thrives in a clean environment. There is no conflict between creating jobs and a growing economy and taking care of our natural resources. Air must be clean to breathe and water safe to drink. We must rise to the challenges of climate change together before it is too late and get off fossil fuels as quickly as humanly possible. Doing this will drive innovation in our state, leading to new jobs and a higher quality of life.”