In a letter to the editor, Assemblyman John Allen (D-32) invites everyone to join him at a Climate Superfund Act rally in Hoboken next week, sharing some recent personal developments that changed his perspective.
Dear Editor,
There are moments in life when the quiet illusion of “someday” vanishes, when the clock runs out, and you understand with perfect clarity that the time to act is not tomorrow, not next month, not next year, but now.
I recently faced such a moment. A few weeks ago I learned I had cancer. I was lucky because the surgery was successful, and I am, for now, cancer-free. But the experience left me with a profound truth I can’t shake: our time is far shorter than we imagine.
Not just for our lives. Not just for our planet. But for those who will inherit what we leave behind. This is why we have to act now, because we do not have time to waste.
We have all borne witness to devastating impacts of climate change across the globe, and in our immediate backyard. Super Storm Sandy wreaked havoc on New Jersey, and Hoboken in particular, destroying homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure.
I still vividly recall the image of my wife strapping garbage bags to herself as she waded through waste deep water on our sidewalks fleeing the City to find shelter with friends.
And who was left with the bill for cleaning up and rebuilding? You. Me. And the taxpayers of New Jersey. This is offensively wrong.
Fortunately, The Climate Superfund Act is ready. It would finally require the fossil fuel corporations that knowingly fueled the climate crisis to bear the cost of the harm they caused.
Companies like Exxon’s own scientists produced detailed reports and models showing the likely trajectory of carbon dioxide levels and their associated temperature increases.
In fact, Exxon’s climate models from the 1980’s accurately predicted the warming that has occurred since.
Yet, the fossil fuel industry embarked on a disinformation campaign in a deliberate strategy to protect profits, expand production, while the policy makers and the public were misled about the severity and certainty of climate risks.
Big Oil, just like Big Tobacco, must be held to account for the damages and the lies. This is not radical; it is the most basic principle of justice – if you break it, you buy it.
Our bill has the support of dozens of Assembly members and Senators, more than 30 municipalities, and over 100 labor and advocacy organizations.
It has the votes. What it lacks is urgency. Each day of delay compounds the toll not just in the abstract, but in destroyed homes, flooded streets, shuttered businesses, and uprooted families.
These are not acts of fate; they are debts accrued by decades of corporate pollution, paid by you, me, and every neighbor we know.
On August 14 in Hoboken, we will rally to demand action. I will be there not only as a legislator, but as someone who has been reminded just how short and precious time is. We cannot pretend that the storms will wait for us to find the perfect moment.
We cannot keep passing the burden to the next generation. The time to act is now. Not after the next hurricane. Not after the next flood. Not after the next wake-up call.
Stand with me on August 14 11am at Pier A. The climate crisis will not wait. Neither should we.
John Allen
Assemblyman for the 32nd Legislative District
 invites everyone to join him at a Climate Superfund Act rally in Hoboken next week.){kind=link}