New York Lawmakers, Bronx Community Members, and Clean Air Advocates Call on Governor Hochul to Defend Clean Trucks

Amid polluter pressure to undermine or delay New York’s adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) program, New Yorkers, including elected officials, community leaders, and clean air advocates, rallied in the South Bronx today to urge Governor Hochul to stand up to attacks on clean air policy and follow through on the full implementation of the ACT program beginning in 2024.

Diesel truck pollution has long been fueling an air quality crisis in areas like the South Bronx, where over 15,000 trucks spew dangerous exhaust every day. This tailpipe pollution has been linked to major health hazards including lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illness, like asthma. Because of this high concentration of diesel trucks, air quality in the South Bronx is among the worst in the entire state, with asthma rates eight times the national average.

Recognizing the urgent need to address this crisis, New York joined states across the country in adopting the Advanced Clean Truck standards in 2021. These standards were designed in direct collaboration with truck manufacturers with ample built-in flexibilities to ensure the life-saving shift to cleaner trucks would be feasible for industry. But in recent months, truck makers across the country have begun a campaign of misinformation and opposition in a last-minute effort to pressure states for delays — resulting in Oregon and Massachusetts announcing a rollback of their own ACT implementation timelines last month.

In response to the attacks on clean air, advocates released the following statements:

“In a city where the air is heavy with diesel’s dangerous legacy, the call for clean trucks is not just an environmental imperative but a moral one. As our communities breathe in the consequences of pollution, it’s clear — we need the Advanced Clean Trucks program now, not later. I stand united with my colleagues, community leaders, and advocates for clean air in urging Governor Hochul to implement this critical initiative without delay. Our commitment to purifying our air transcends politics — for it is our residents’ health and our children’s futures at stake. Together, let’s champion a cleaner, healthier New York.” — Senator Robert Jackson

“Ensuring the full and timely implementation of clean truck standards is not just an environmental issue — it is a matter of public health and climate justice for our communities,” said Assembly Member Amanda Septimo (AD-84). “The South Bronx, like many urban areas, suffers from the harmful effects of pollution, with trucks contributing significantly to respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and environmental degradation. Our residents deserve to breathe clean air. I urge Governor Hochul to prioritize the health of our families, protect our climate, and implement these life-saving standards without further delay.”

“As the federal government becomes more hostile to green energy projects and initiatives, with the incoming Trump administration, New York must do all that we can to close the gap,” said Assembly Member Karines Reyes, R.N. “I implore Governor Hochul to stick to the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) timeline for implementation. The public health and environmental justice of South Bronx communities cannot afford to wait for relief from the pollution that fossil fuel-burning trucks spew into the air daily. We cannot allow big corporations, seeking to maximize and protect their profit margins, to dictate our neighbors’ and children’s ability to breathe.”

“This city depends on trucks that spew toxic pollution to move goods in and out of the city. The Bronx has one of the highest asthma rates in the nation and in Hunts Point, we have over 15,000 daily truck trips. It is clear that we need electric trucks on the road to reduce emissions,” said Dariella Rodriguez, Director of Community Development at THE POINT CDC. “We need Governor Hochul to stick to the timeline for the Advanced Cleans Trucks program to improve air quality and protect our communities.”

“Dirty diesel trucks are wreaking havoc on the health of New York’s most vulnerable communities. The ACT regulation was one of the first steps in switching out dirty fossil fuel-powered trucks for electric vehicles to provide our communities with cleaner air,” said Kevin Garcia, Senior Transportation Planner with the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. “Governor Hochul cannot listen to the false alarms and needs to ensure that we meet our climate mandates by sticking to the ACT implementation timeline.”

“Delaying cleaner trucks comes at a real cost to New Yorkers’ health and quality of life. Every day we wait means more pollution in our neighborhoods, more asthma attacks for our children and elderly, and more strain on our public health systems. Cleaner truck standards aren’t just an environmental win — they’re a necessity for protecting our communities and ensuring a healthier, safer future for all New Yorkers.” Jessica Enzmann, Senior Clean Transportation Campaign Organizer with the Sierra Club.

“Implementing the Advanced Clean Trucks rule on time and on schedule is a critical step towards New York. By standing firm and following through on its implementation timeline, Governor Hochul can protect communities like the South Bronx from diesel pollution, improve public health, significantly reduce transportation emissions across New York State,” said Jaqi Cohen, Director of Climate and Equity Policy at Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

“Thanks to policies like the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, New York State is about to enter into the era of electric trucks, which will all but zero out the emissions from the tens of thousands of truck trips that spew deadly exhaust in and around the South Bronx every day. This electric future can’t come soon enough for the children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses who are most vulnerable to the harmful effects from this toxic pollution,” said Alok Disa, Senior Research and Policy Analyst at Earthjustice. “Again, now is the time to stay the course, not slam the brakes, on this feasible, practical, and life-saving policy. We urge Governor Hochul to resist industry’s cynical efforts to thwart New York’s march towards a zero-emissions transportation sector. Zero excuses.”