Environmental [In]justice: Environmental Health Coalition’s combat against Environmental Racism

1. Environmental [In]justice: Environmental Health Coalition’s combat against Environmental Racism Maribel Contreras, University of California, San Diego, Urban Studies and Planning Program Findings 1. Research Question: Are community-based organizations efficient in reducing and eliminating the detrimental burdens fostered by environmental racism, frequently risen through zoning patterns and incompatible policies? Abstract: Recent studies illustrate that despite efforts by federal, state and local governmental to diminish environmental racism, low socioeconomic and minority communities continue to bear a disproportionate burden of environmental threats such as toxic waste, including industrial and mobile source pollution. To counteract the detrimental effects of environmental racism, grassroots organizations have collaborated with many researchers and political officials to fight the problems and establish a more sustainable environment. This study focuses on the efforts of EHC advocating and combating against environmental racism while promoting environmental justice in impacted communities within San Diego County. The objective is therefore: to examine the effectiveness of the Environmental Health Coalition in aiding low-income minority communities affected by environmental inequalities. • Methodology: • Interviews, survey, scholarly journals, observations, and textual analysis, illustrate the degree to which the EHC has successfully acquired positive outcomes in reducing the levels of mobile pollution, and overall improve the quality of life. • Primarily concentration: • The Toxic Free Neighborhood Campaign • As a means to measure the effectiveness, the research maintained two foci: • 1. Assessing EHC’s ability to employ legal • statutes. • 2. Assessing the ability to enforce the statutes • and ensure that they be abided by. • Geographic Areas of Study: • National City’s Old Town Toxic Air Releases for Old Town and Three ‘Footprints’ in National City • Throughout their 30 year trajectory, EHC successfully acquired approximately 31 accomplishments. Among them lies: the prohibition of diesel truck driving schools and heavy duty truck prohibition around Old Town National City’s elementary schools. • The chart illustrates the success of the statute in decreasing mobile source pollution: Old Town suffered from severe toxic pollutants. EHC efforts significantly reduced excessive counts of air emissions. Specific Plan & Existing Land Uses CONCLUSION: • EHC is an efficient method to aiding the environmental burdened within the community. • EHC has achieved ample accomplishments which suggest the effectiveness of community-bases organizations. • EHC faced challenges to ensure that ordinances be abided, among the leading impediments: • Absence of monitoring system • Incompatible mix zoning which fosters the emission of toxic pollutants. • The dynamics and demographics of every community can be noticeable distinct thus it is impossible to suggest that a single policy can solve the issues and be effective. • In sum, this study draws attention to the changes set forth, illuminating their impact and draws light to the employment of further actions in the future combat against environmental injustice. Findings 2. • Though the data reveals a significant • reduction in traffic flow suggesting a decrease • in air pollution , there was strong evidence • indicating that toxic pollution remained • prevalent and identified land use planning as • a prominent cause. • Mix zoning combines industrial and • residential sectors within the same boundaries, • which contributes to the increase in health • disparities. • Approximately 70 % of the toxins noted • derive from auto body shops and paint shops, • and of which with nearly 130 business, • 34 body shops operate next to schools and • the 200 homes. Purpose: Is to better understand the ability of community-based organizations to effectively eliminate the disproportionate environmental risks and ultimately attain social, political, economical, and environmental change within the community . Significance: Environmental racism severely impacts the community’s welfare and the overall sustainability of San Diego. Thus community based initiatives will not only help reduce the risks but also provide an effective structure that can be implemented in communities with similar circumstances . Illustrates the incompatible mixed use zoning • Future Steps: • Implementation of : • The Specific Plan • Aims to address the obstructions • of incompatible mix land use planning. • Revitalization plans consists of: • Re-zoning the neighborhood & Constructing a Industrial Park Acknowledgements: - EHC - Reclaiming Old Town National City Community -National City: General Plan Update 2010 March 10, 2011