New York, NY — Several of New York’s largest transit and environmental advocacy groups sent a joint letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, urging her to strongly oppose the controversial Constitution Pipeline project in ongoing negotiations with the Trump administration. The letter comes as Trump has publicly expressed interest in reviving the once-dead pipeline proposal, and as media suggests that Hochul is being pressured by Trump to greenlight the pipeline in exchange for Trump backing off his efforts to kill congestion pricing in Manhattan. The letter was facilitated by the environmental organization Food & Water Watch and the transit advocacy group Riders Alliance.

The letter states, in part: “Congestion pricing is proving to be both popular and effective as New Yorkers enjoy shorter commutes and cleaner air. The decision to deny the Constitution Pipeline, first made way back in 2016, has not only protected New York’s water, air, and climate, but also been a crucial piece of the state’s commitment to end our reliance on fossil fuels… Both of these issues must be complete nonstarters in any negotiations with the Trump Administration, and we urge you to publicly communicate that clearly.”

The Constitution Pipeline, a proposal to bring fracked gas from Pennsylvania to New York, would devastate New York’s water quality and climate goals while putting New Yorkers on the hook for nearly $1 billion in pipeline infrastructure costs. Despite being soundly rejected by New Yorkers and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation years ago, the Trump administration is now attempting to revive the project as part of its “drill, baby, drill” agenda.

“New York’s immensely successful congestion relief program is perfectly legal and no dirty deal is necessary to keep it in place,” said Danny Pearlstein, Riders Alliance Policy & Communications Director. “Riders are proud to stand beside our governor as she champions congestion relief and defends our way of life from baseless attacks by Washington bureaucrats. Just as there’s no going back to gridlock and underfunded public transit, we urge the governor to be absolutely clear that the path toward a safe and affordable New York lies with clean energy, not more fossil fuel extraction, air and water pollution, and damage to respiratory and ecosystem health.”

“With our environment and climate under unprecedented assault, the idea of building a massive pipeline project through waterways, forests, and wetlands of New York is truly infuriating,” said Laura Shindell, New York State Director at Food & Water Watch. “Moving off fossil fuels, reducing vehicle emissions and raising funds for public transit all go hand-in-hand in our fight for a cleaner, more livable future. These aren’t cards to be traded — New Yorkers spent years fighting for both of these outcomes. If Governor Hochul has any respect for the countless New Yorkers who don’t want dirty pipelines built through their communities, she’ll take a hardline stance against the Trump administration’s efforts to sabotage our lives and water.”