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Environmental Justice Opportunity Assessment and Analysis CJTC Presentation to CIWMB April 23, 2003. Introduce CJTC Review content and purpose of presentation What is Environmental Justice? Brief History of Environmental Justice (EJ) EJ as it relates to CIWMB Goals of the Contract
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Environmental Justice Opportunity Assessment and Analysis CJTC Presentation to CIWMBApril 23, 2003 Introduce CJTC Review content and purpose of presentation What is Environmental Justice? Brief History of Environmental Justice (EJ) EJ as it relates to CIWMB Goals of the Contract Introduce Community Perceptions Questions and Answers
The interdisciplinary research center works towards policy relevant research that addresses the concerns of community based efforts for social and economic justice. Our work is usually done in collaboration with community-based organizations (CBOs) that are rooted in low income, communities of color and is specifically focused on issue such as workforce development, affordable housing, and environmental justice.
What is Environmental Justice? “Residents of poor communities and in communities of color in the United States bear a "disproportionate" burden of toxic contamination, both through the generation and release of hazardous chemicals in their neighborhoods, and via the location of waste management facilities.” ―United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice, 1987 Redefining environment to where we live, work, pray and go to school. ―Delegates to the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit October 24-27, 1991, Washington DC "Environmental justice [vs. environmental equity] demands more than mere exposure equity. It must incorporate democratic participation in the production decision itself." ―Michael Keiman, Antipode 28(2), April 1996
Environmental Justice and CIWMB: Preliminary Data Analysis for California Prepared by: Manuel Pastor and Javier Huizar Center for Justice, Tolerance & Community University of California – Santa Cruz Databases: CIWMB Solid Waste Information System U.S. Bureau of the Census, Summary Files
What is the current pattern? There is an established pattern of inequity by race and income for various environmental “negatives” in California Toxic release inventory sites Respiratory risk indices from cumulative exposure layers Identified risks for school learning and academic performance
The Location of Toxic Release Emissions in California Using the Most Recent TRI and Demographic Data
What is the current pattern? There is an established pattern of inequity by race and income for various environmental “negatives” in California Toxic release inventory sites Respiratory risk indices from cumulative exposure layers Identified risks for school learning and academic peformance
The Public School Academic Performance Index and Estimated Cumulative Respiratory Risk from Ambient Air Toxics Exposure, LAUSD
Are there issues with CIWMB sites? To get at this, we downloaded the Solid Waste Information System Database, and Geo-coded all solid waste disposal, transfer, and waste tire sites Matched these at a block group level with demographic and income variables Conducted a preliminary analysis to see whether the patterns merit concern
Active and Permitted Disposal Sites, and the Population Percentage of the Census tract that is Non-Hispanic White in 2000, California
Active and Permitted Transfer Sites, and the Population Percentage of the Census tract that is Non-Hispanic White in 2000, California
Active and Permitted Waste Tire Sites, and the Population Percentage of the Census tract that is Non-Hispanic White in 2000, California
Active and Permitted Waste Disposal Sites, and the Population Percentage of the Census tract that is Non-Hispanic White in 2000, Northern California
Active and Permitted Waste Disposal Sites, and the Population Percentage of the Census tract that is Non-Hispanic White in 2000, Greater San Francisco Bay Area
Active and Permitted Waste Disposal Sites, and the Population Percentage of the Census tract that is Non-Hispanic White in 2000, Central Coast and the Central Valley
Active and Permitted Waste Disposal Sites, and the Population Percentage of the Census tract that is Non-Hispanic White in 2000, Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
Active and Permitted Waste Disposal Sites, and the Population Percentage of the Census tract that is Non-Hispanic White in 2000, Southern California
How do we go beyond visual pattern? Previous analytical efforts by the state seem to have relied on overly broad geography and problematic definitions or cutoffs for race variables. We: Used a tighter geographic unit for a better focus Sliced the geography to better capture sphere of effect Improved on race definitions Set up and ran a preliminary multivariate analysis
View of the Census Block Groups with the Water Area Clipped Out
Visual view of the Active and Permitted Disposal Sites with a One Mile Buffer Zone
View of Census Block Groups Intersected with Clipped One Mile Buffer Zones
View of One Mile Buffer Zone Intersected with Census Block Geography and with the Water Clipped Out
Analyzing the demography We decided to contrast each main site regulated by CIWMB – disposal, transfer, and waste tire – with demographics within one mile. We found that: Landfills/solid waste disposal seem more equitably located – but perceptions linger and have merit in a complex view Transfers and waste tire sites are very unevenly distributed by race and income
Main Conclusions While further analysis could be done, the notion that there is inequitable proximity finds support in the data • Even where support in the data is weaker, the data suggest why perceptions of inequitable proximity would exist and persist • Better outreach and improved community voice could help with both the reality and the perception
Environmental Justice Opportunity Assessment and AnalysisGOALS Coordinated, cohesive presentations on environmental priorities and concerns related to Board decisions, programs, and activities from community based environmental organizations at 2002/03 Board meetings Advice on methods to increase effective communication between community-based organizations and the Board
Environmental Justice Opportunity Assessment and AnalysisGOALS (continued) Advice on methods of successful marketing of the Board’s programs and activities for environmental justice achievement to identified community based environmental organizations, including a best practices study of environmental justice outreach and community relations strategies A final report summarizing environmental community based concerns and priorities on environmental justice and recommendations to the Board about community based perspective consideration and effective approaches to address environmental justice.
Environmental Justice Opportunity Assessment and Analysis WORKPLAN Completed Work Plan (November 2002) A. Identifying Key Organizations B. The Organizing/Outreach of Speakers C. Planning and Preparation of the Presentations D. The Board Meetings E. Best Practices Study and Research F. Final Report and Recommendations Meetings with Contractors
Community ParticipationSpectrum An Afterthought Community Input Sought After REACTIVE ROLE PROACTIVE ROLE Industry /Government Community Involvement driven continually from the start
Process for Building Authentic Community Participation Awareness and Trust Building: With the intention of moving forward, address and acknowledge previous policies and decisions that did not seek out sufficient community input or where there were difficulties. Effective Communication through Educating and Listening: Administrators/staff share knowledge and goals in an accessible and genuine way. Decision making bodies listen to and recognize the value of community concerns. Community invests time and energy to learn about the issues and prepare presentations. Mechanisms for Community Input: Coordination between entities to simplify processes Policy and Regulation Outreach Institutional Support and Recognition Provide resources and the space for community voice. Sustained Community Involvement Community must see concrete results that they endorse to stay involved.
Desired Outcome Goals, Concerns, Needs, defined with the community: Community Buy-in and trust Higher level of awareness Mechanisms in place and functioning Ongoing interest and participation