New York City mayor seeks billions from oil companies, blames them for climate change

[IsailedawayfromFR]

A week after a brutal snowstorm froze New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio delivered Wednesday a one-two punch in the name of climate change, announcing he will seek billions in damages from five major oil-and-gas companies while moving to divest from fossil fuels.

“It’s time for them to start paying for the damage they have done,” said Mr. de Blasio at a press conference at the Manhattan Youth Center. “It’s time for big oil to take responsibility for the devastation they have wrought.”

The dual-front attack was promptly pilloried by industry groups as a cynical political stunt even as it put New York City at the forefront of the environmental movement’s campaign to recruit local governments as allies in the climate fight.

Flanked by municipal leaders and top climate activists, the Democratic mayor said his goal is to divest the $189 billion public-pension funds from fossil fuels by 2022, which he said would make New York City the first major U.S. city to do so.

Mr. de Blasio also announced that the city has filed a lawsuit against five top energy producers, blaming the companies for greenhouse-gas emissions that he said have produced disasters such as Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

“I remember those days after Sandy in the Lower East Side. I remember how desperate it was. I remember how much fear and confusion there was,” said Mr. de Blasio. “And this was a tragedy that was wrought by the actions of the fossil-fuel companies. Let’s be clear. That’s where it came from.”
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/10/bill-de-blasio-divests-new-york-pensions-sues-oil-/

How unhinged is this guy?

All he will end up doing is causing the price of heating NYC homes to rise and for the return on the NYC pension funds to decrease.

[Frank Cannon]

There is a huge pension gap in NYC. This Commie Pinko is setting up this straw man so that when the whole thing blows up, he can blame the oil companies.

[LottieDah]

I thought the methane from cow flatulence was responsible for "climate change"?

[GrouchoTex]

I heard that they lit up the Empire State Building in green to promote climate change.
Gee, I wonder where they got all that energy to do that?

Idiots.

[Right_in_Virginia]

A week after a brutal snowstorm froze New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio delivered Wednesday a one-two punch in the name of climate change, announcing he will seek billions in damages from five major oil-and-gas companies while moving to divest from fossil fuels.

[GtHawk]

I understand that he has hired AlGore as his go to expert, but New Yorkers shouldn't worry Al isn't taking any money up front, he'll be in it for a percentage.

[Applewood]

Maybe these companies should cut service to City Hall.  Let's see how the mayor and the rest of his uber-liberal, socialist government deals with no heat when the temperature drops below zero. 

[Smokin Joe]

[Free Vulcan]

Welcome to left wing populism, aka pimpin' the masses and grifting the deep pockets to fill budget holes.

[catfish1957]

How unhinged is this guy?

All he will end up doing is causing the price of heating NYC homes to rise and for the return on the NYC pension funds to decrease.

All O & G companies should pull out of NYC and let the citizenry  get their gasoline, and all other hydrocarbon products from outside the city limits.  Let's see how that plays out for him politically.

[thackney]

All O & G companies should pull out of NYC and let the citizenry  get their gasoline, and all other hydrocarbon products from outside the city limits.  Let's see how that plays out for him politically.

Sadly, many of them would tell you they don't need gasoline or diesel, they ride the subway and bus.

[catfish1957]

Sadly, many of them would tell you they don't need gasoline or diesel, they ride the subway and bus.

If NYC had to get their gas in Joisey, think of all the cab drivers who would have to near double their fares.   That would get some high level attention alone.

And if NYC'ers don't like NG, I'd love to be the guy controlling the spigot in winter.

[goatprairie]

How unhinged is this guy?

All he will end up doing is causing the price of heating NYC homes to rise and for the return on the NYC pension funds to decrease.

Dangerously, perhap criminally unhinged. Blaming oil companies for weather events is something sick leftists do. DeBlasio is a sick leftist.  But gullible people believe him. Levying fines on industries that keep us moving and warm is one more step towards a civil war.

[LMAO]

How unhinged is this guy?

All he will end up doing is causing the price of heating NYC homes to rise and for the return on the NYC pension funds to decrease.

He's a Progressive.

They don't think that far. Progressivism/Leftism are child philosophies.

To test this, go to any any Elementary school aged kid and take any issue and listen how they view it and how they would deal with any problems we face. They sound no different than adult leftists

[Fishrrman]

Keep in mind that deBlasio was not only elected (73%) the first time, but won re-election with 66% of the vote.

New Yorkers are gettin' the government that they voted for!

[Smokin Joe]

All O & G companies should pull out of NYC and let the citizenry  get their gasoline, and all other hydrocarbon products from outside the city limits.  Let's see how that plays out for him politically.

I'm sure the Canadians will supply them. I hear they'll take US dollars at par on the exchange too...