Adopted December 2021.
Climate Change Platform
Climate change is impacting life in Brooklyn. The impacts will get worse and marginalized communities will suffer most. Political polarization has hampered efforts to address climate change at the federal level. This provides an opportunity for local governments to lead a proactive approach in the fight against climate change and its effects. The typical reactive approach creates opaque, unequal and discriminatory allocation of funding across climate change prevention, planning, and clean-up. New Kings Democrats (NKD) recognize that our broader policy goals depend on a successful response to climate change.
Candidates supported by NKD should be committed to using their platform to fight climate change and create a healthy, equitable, and sustainable city. We therefore will:
- expect candidates seeking endorsement to know about the climate-related issues impacting the community they seek to represent
- expect candidates have a detailed understanding of how they can influence climate change in the office they seek
- include pointed question(s) about climate issues on questionnaires for candidates seeking salaried positions
- ask candidates about climate issues during the endorsement interview and include climate issues in internally organized candidate forums for candidates seeking salaried positions
NKD will support climate policies and legislation that:
- are grounded in the participation and advocacy of historically disenfranchised communities most impacted by the effects of climate change
- offer long-term planning for resiliency and sustainability, with measurable annual targets
- embed climate science and equity in all land use policies and capital planning
- focus funding on the most impacted neighborhoods
- facilitate accountability and transparency in city agencies and processes
- accelerate New York City’s Net Zero by 2050 goal
- support green jobs and economic security in Kings County and beyond
- invest in clean infrastructure and industry
- secure clean air and water, climate and community resiliency, healthy food, access to nature, and a sustainable environment for all
Our elected leaders must advance climate issues. NKD expects candidates for office to understand the imperative and urgency to confront the challenges of climate change; and be willing and able to speak on climate policy. Laws and policy proposals must be evaluated based on their consequences for our climate. The social, economic, and racial challenges of Kings County are tied closely with climate risk and underrepresented communities must be at the forefront of policy and legislation.
Policy and Our Platforms
New Kings Democrats strive for transparency, accountability, and inclusionary democracy at the most local level of Brooklyn politics, the Kings County Democratic Party. We focus on issues aligned with transforming local politics and support partner organizations whose missions align with our values.
Our Policy Committee is focused on supporting the work of NKD through the development of platforms and educational resources (i.e. explainers). These tools help inform our political organizing, including endorsement of candidates, and support Brooklyn voters as they make decisions about how to engage with key races and policy issues.
Policy Areas
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Reforming the Brooklyn Democratic Party
Our platform on changing the Party rules
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Reforming Election Processes
A group of platforms on fixing our broken local election systems
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Increasing Rights and Representation
Platforms on how our Party and local officials can work to include everyone and respond to injustice
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Helping Brooklynites Run for County Committee through Rep Your Block
Our policy goals get closer to reality as more Brooklyn residents run for seats on County Committee
Issues are identified and comprehensively researched by our Policy Committee before discussion, revision, and an approval vote by NKD membership. For more information on the structure of this committee, see our Policy Bylaws here.
Our Policy Impact
Over the last 13 years, New Kings Democrats has built a base with members from all over Brooklyn. We have worked to endorse candidates, support legislation and policy, and empower more people to participate in Brooklyn’s County Committee. Below is a short timeline outlining our work and legislative support over the years.
- June 2016 County Committee Rules Reform
- June 2016 Establishment of Rep Your Block
- Sept 2016 Support for the Right to Know Act
- Sept 2016 Making the Case for a Constitutional Convention
- March 2019 County Committee Rules Reform Update
- Sept 2019 Support New York Charter Revision
- https://www.newkingsdemocrats.com/housingplatform
- Jan 2020 County Committee Rules Reform Push to Eliminate Gendered Seats
- July 2020 Support Communities United for Police Reform on repeal of 50A
- Dec 2020 NKD Proposed Reform Adopted! Elimination of Gendered Seats Achieved!!
- Nov 2021 Support Independent Redistricting Commission Ballot Initiatives
- March 2023 County Committee Rules Reform Update
- Sep 2023 Health Platform
- Feb 2024 Housing Platform Update
- Aug 2024 Judicial Elections and the Brooklyn Democratic Party's Role
- Jan 2025 County Committee Rules Reform Update
As new research and policy analysis becomes available, NKD may revise our positions. Educational resources or explainers are updated as needed.