For immediate release: June 19, 2018

Notice of News Conference

Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Location: North side of the County Court House, 92 Court Street, Binghamton,
Time:  11:30 AM

Mark Dunlea, the Green Party candidate for State Comptroller, will hold a press conference in Binghamton on Wednesday June 20 at 11:30 AM to announce his candidacy.  The event will take place on the north side of the County Court House, 92 Court St., Binghamton NY.

A major focus of his campaign is on climate change, starting with requiring the state pension fund to divest from fossil fuels. Dunlea has helped coordinate divestment campaigns in NYC and NYS over the last 5 years with 350.org. NYC recently agreed to divest but the State Comptroller prefers to talk with Exxon and other fossil fuel companies.

Dunlea will be accompanied by Howie Hawkins, the Green Party candidate for Governor.  Hawkins called for a ban on fracking from fossil fuels during his 2010 campaign. While grassroots activists eventually convinced Cuomo to agree to ban fracking in New York, Cuomo has continued to support the importation of fracked gas from neighboring states such as Pennsylvania. Hawkins will discuss the Green New Deal which seeks to transition to 100% clean energy while providing living wage jobs for local residents.

Hawkins and Dunlea will discuss the ongoing problems with corruption in the Cuomo administration.

Cuomo’s top aid was recently convicted for political corruption related to the CPV power plant in Orange County and development in Syracuse. Other Cuomo administration officials and donors are presently on trial over the awarding of government contracts as part of the so-called Buffalo Billion. Cuomo convinced the legislature to end the oversight of various state contracts just  before the contracts for the Buffalo Billion were awarded.

The FBI and the Manhattan District Attorney are also investigating the Cuomo administration over the awarding of $25 million in state contracts to Crystal Run right after the health care firm in the Hudson Valley gave Cuomo large campaign donations.

At 10:30 AM, Hawkins and Dunlea will appear with Bob Joseph on WNBF radio’s “Binghamton Now."

Dunlea was the long-time Executive Director of the Hunger Action Network of NYS. Hawkins is a retired Teamster from UPS.