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While others said this campaign was unwinnable — and at many points, the possibility of a loss loomed large — the momentum and energy of the campaign were infectious. “In some ways, in hindsight, this was like a dream campaign. People cared so much, and there were so many people willing to give up their free time for this, because they felt that deeply about it.”
Winning a Ban on Fracking in New York
Alex Beauchamp Food & Water Watch Northeast Region Director
All of this work culminated on December 17, 2014, when Cuomo held the final cabinet meeting of the year in Albany. In a surprise turn of events, the State Health Commissioner and the head of the DEC spoke against allowing fracking to move forward. Said Health Commissioner Howard Zucker, “I asked myself, 'Would I let my family live in a community with fracking?' The answer is no. I therefore cannot recommend anyone else's family to live in such a community either." Fracking was effectively banned in New York. “There were panicked email messages that morning from people worried we were going to lose,” remembers Emily. “So there were screams of joy in our office when we heard the news!” NYAF had already planned to march in Albany once again in Jan- uary 2015. But now, the coalition was pivoting — we would be marching to celebrate a victory.
From “unwinnable” to a “dream campaign.”
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