Senator Serrano Flips the Switch on the Empire Switch on the Empire State

Albany, NY - March 28, 2009 - A resolution introduced by Senator José M. Serrano (D-Manhattan/Bronx) which requested New Yorkers turn off their lights for an hour this evening,  unanimously passed through the New York State Senate on Monday.

The resolution requests that Governor David Paterson adopt 8:30 p.m., Saturday, March 28, 2009 as “Earth Hour” in an show of solidarity against global climate change. New York State residents joined millions of people from over 4,000 cities around the world in voluntarily turning off their lights for the hour.

“One cannot underestimate the power of a symbolic action. New York State is home to some of the most beloved landmarks in the world, from Niagara Falls in Buffalo to Yankee Stadium in my own district,” said Senator Serrrano in his statements on the floor of the Senate. “Last year, at my request, the Empire State Building and a number of other sites went dark for an hour.”

In addition to the Empire State Building, many other landmarks also went dark including the East River Bridges, a number Times Square billboards and the Chrysler Building. This was in addition to the countless New Yorkers that did their part to make the event a success.