GREEN ZONES A CROSS CA LIFORNIA TRA NSFORM ING TOX IC HOTSPOTS INTO HEA LTHY HOODS

Transcription

1 GREEN ZONES A CROSS CA LIFORNIA TRA NSFORM ING TOX IC HOTSPOTS INTO HEA LTHY HOODS Cal i f o r n i a En v i r o n m en t al Ju st i ce A l l i an ce

2 A b o u t t h e Cal i f o r n i a En v i r o n m en t al Ju st i ce A l l i an ce Th e Cal ifor n ia En vir on m en tal Ju stice Al l ian ce is a statewide, com m u n ity-l ed al l ian ce th at wor k s to ach ieve en vir on m en tal ju stice by advan cin g pol icy sol u tion s. W e u n ite th e power fu l l ocal or gan izin g of ou r m em ber s in th e com m u n ities m ost im pacted by en vir on m en tal h azar ds? l ow-in com e com m u n ities an d com m u n ities of col or? to cr eate com pr eh en sive oppor tu n ities for ch an ge at a statewide l evel. W e bu il d th e power of com m u n ities acr oss Cal ifor n ia to cr eate pol icies th at wil l al l eviate pover ty an d pol l u tion. Togeth er, we ar e gr owin g th e statewide m ovem en t for en vir on m en tal h eal th an d social ju stice. Ou r co r e m em b er s: Asian Pacific En vir on m en tal Networ k Cen ter for Com m u n ity Action an d En vir on m en tal Ju stice Cen ter on Race, Pover ty & th e En vir on m en t Com m u n ities for a Better En vir on m en t En vir on m en tal H eal th Coal ition Peopl e Or gan izin g to Dem an d En vir on m en tal an d Econ om ic Righ ts Ou r p ar t n er s: Cen tr al Coast Al l ian ce Un ited for a Su stain abl e Econ om y Leader sh ip Cou n sel for Ju stice an d Accou n tabil ity Pacoim a Beau tifu l Ph ysician s for Social Respon sibil ity? Los An gel es Fo r m o r e ab o u t CEJA, p l ease v i si t : w w w.cal ej a.o r g To co n t act u s, p l ease em ai l : cej a@cal ej a.o r g Lead A u t h o r s: Kay Cu aju n co an d Am y Van der war k er Desi g n : Kay Cu aju n co Co v er Ph o t o s: Br ook e An der son, Beth Bu gl ion e, Oscar Gr an de Gr een Zo n es M ap : Design Action Col l ective Pr i n t i n g : In k W or k s Co n t r i b u t o r s an d A ck n o w l ed g em en t s: CEJA w ou l d l i k e t o t h an k t h e f ol l ow i n g p eop l e an d or gan i zat i on s w h o con t r i bu t ed t o t h i s r ep or t an d t h e d ev el op m en t of t h e Gr een Zon es f r am ew or k. Cen ter on Race, Pover ty & th e En vir on m en t: In gr id Br ostr om an d Ju an Fl or es PODER: An ton io Diaz Com m u n ities for a Better En vir on m en t: Bah r am Fazel i, Neh an da Im ar a, Jose Lopez, Nil e M al l oy, Dar r yl M ol in a, an d Jasm in Var gas En vir on m en tal H eal th Coal ition : Car ol in a M ar tin ez, Geor gette Gom ez, an d Dian e Tak vor ian Asian Pacific En vir on m en tal Networ k : Vivian H u an g Cen ter for Com m u n ity Action an d En vir on m en tal Ju stice: Gr aciel a Lar ios an d Pen n y Newm an Eastyar d Com m u n ities for En vir on m en tal Ju stice: m ar k! Lopez Pacoim a Beau tifu l : Yvette Lopez an d M er cedes Or tiz Liber ty H il l Fou n dation : M ich el e Pr ich ar d an d Dan iel a Sim u n ovic Leader sh ip Cou n sel for Ju stice an d Accou n tabil ity: Ash l ey W er n er

3 Co m m o n Ro o t s an dta CoBLE r e PrOF i n cicontents p l es In t r o d u ct i o n : Co m m o n Ro o t s an d Co r e Pr i n ci p l es 2-6 Gr een Zo n es A cr o ss Cal i f o r n i a M ap 7 Cal En v i r o Scr een 2.0 : A New To o l t o A d v an ce Gr een Zo n es an d En v i r o n m en t al Ju st i ce 8-9 Co m m u n i t y Pr o f i l es San Fr an cisco: PODER Rich m on d: Asian Pacific En vir on m en tal Networ k & Com m u n ities for a Better En vir on m en t East Oak l an d: Com m u n ities for a Better En vir on m en t Fr esn o: Leader sh ip Cou n sel for Ju stice an d Accou n tabil ity Sou th er n San Joaqu in Val l ey: Cen ter on Race, Pover ty & th e En vir on m en t In l an d Val l ey: Cen ter for Com m u n ity Action an d En vir on m en tal Ju stice Nation al City: En vir on m en tal H eal th Coal ition Com m er ce: East Yar d Com m u n ities for En vir on m en tal Ju stice Los An gel es: Cl ean Up Gr een Up Boyl e H eigh ts: Un ion de Vecin os 29 W il m in gton : Com m u n ities for a Better En vir on m en t & Coal ition for a Safe En vir on m en t 30 Pacoim a: Pacoim a Beau tifu l 31 Lesso n s Lear n ed : In si g h t s i n t o Su ccessf u l Lo cal Gr een Zo n e Cam p ai g n s Co n cl u si o n : A d v an ci n g Gr een Zo n es St at ew i d e Ref er en ces & Reso u r ces

4 Gr een Zo n es A cr o ss Cal i f o r n i a COM M ON ROOTS A ND CORE PRINCIPLES Im agin e a state m ade u p of h eal th y th r ivin g com m u n ities, wh er e each an d ever y u r ban an d r u r al n eigh bor h ood acr oss Cal ifor n ia h as th e m ean s to r edu ce an d pr even t in du str ial pol l u tion, tr an sition off fossil fu el s, gen er ate l ocal jobs, affor dabl e h ou sin g, pr ovide gr een open space, pr eser ve l ocal cu l tu r e, an d u se com m u n ity-l ed pl an n in g to su stain a vibr an t fu tu r e. Th er e is a statewide m ovem en t gr owin g to m ak e th is vision a r eal ity th r ou gh Gr een Zon es. Gr een Zon es ar e a pl ace-based str ategy th at u ses com m u n ity-l ed sol u tion s to tr an sfor m ar eas over bu r den ed by pol l u tion in to h eal th y th r ivin g n eigh bor h oods. Gr een Zon es ar e n eigh bor h oods h eavil y im pacted by pol l u tion? m ost often l ow-in com e com m u n ities an d com m u n ities of col or? wh er e r esiden ts ar e or gan izin g to r edu ce in du str ial pol l u tion an d cu l tivate n ew, coor din ated oppor tu n ities to im pl em en t com m u n ity-based sol u tion s. Th e Gr een Zones Acr oss Califor nia r epor t docu m en ts th e effor ts of diver se com m u n ities acr oss th e state to devel op n ew sol u tion s to l on g-stan din g en vir on m en tal h eal th an d ju stice issu es in th eir n eigh bor h oods. Th e r epor t pr ofil es th e wor k of th ir teen differ en t or gan ization s in el even com m u n ities acr oss Cal ifor n ia th at ar e u sin g th e tr an sfor m ative Gr een Zon e appr oach to r eal ize com m u n ity vision s for su stain abil ity an d econ om ic oppor tu n ity. Photo Courtesy of Environmental Health Coalition Each Gr een Zon e is a r efl ection of th e specific n eeds, pr ior ities, an d en vir on m en tal ju stice issu es in th e com m u n ity, bu t al l sh ar e com m on r oots. Th ey h ave devel oped fr om decades of or gan izin g by gr ou ps wor k in g dir ectl y in l ow-in com e com m u n ities an d com m u n ities of col or to addr ess th e over -con cen tr ation of pol l u tin g facil ities an d th e cum ulative im pacts of toxic em ission s. Th ey h ave em er ged fr om com m u n ity effor ts to r e-con figu r e th e u n h eal th y, often discr im in ator y, land use patter ns th at h ave sh aped h ow ou r com m u n ities l ook today. Photo Courtesy of PODER 2 Th e fol l owin g pr ofil es docu m en t a wide r an ge of str ategies to tr an sfor m n eigh bor h oods, fr om cr eatin g n ew l ocal or din an ces to in stal l in g air fil tr ation u n its to r ecl aim in g pu bl ic l an d for com m u n ity gar den s. W h il e each com m u n ity vision is u n iqu e, th ey al l sh ar e cor e pr in cipl es th at l in k th em togeth er : al l Gr een Zon es ar e com pr ehensive, com m unity-led, solution-or iented, an d collabor ative.

5 s an e ipr ci p lact es s Co m m o n Ro o t s: CudmCo u lrat v ei nim Low-in com e com m u n ities an d com m u n ities of col or h ave bor n e th e br u n t of pol l u tion for too l on g. Too m an y of ou r com m u n ities su ffer fr om asth m a, can cer s, an d oth er il l n esses bor n e fr om h eavy in du str ial pol l u tion. Th ese n eigh bor h oods face a dail y on sl au gh t fr om m u l tipl e sou r ces of pol l u tion, n ot ju st on e factor y or h igh way. Th ese toxin s for m a deadl y com bin ation with factor s l ik e h igh u n em pl oym en t an d pover ty. Un for tu n atel y, en vir on m en tal r egu l ation s on l y l ook at pol l u tion on a case-by-case basis an d in isol ation, r ath er th an th e?cu m u l ative im pacts? in an ar ea. Ou r state?s l aws an d pol icies l ook at on e sou r ce of pol l u tion at a tim e, r ath er th an exam in in g exposu r es th r ou gh ou t an en tir e n eigh bor h ood.usin g a?cu m u l ative im pacts? fr am ewor k, it is possibl e to see th e total ity of pol l u tion in a par ticu l ar ar ea, an d th e cu m u l ative bu r den of m u l tipl e differ en t sou r ces of pol l u tion on r esiden t h eal th an d wel l -bein g. Cu m u l ative im pacts is on e of th e m ost per sisten t an d devastatin g issu es in l ow-in com e com m u n ities an d com m u n ities of col or dispr opor tion atel y im pacted by en vir on m en tal pol l u tion. En vir on m en tal ju stice advocates h ave l on g pu sh ed for a scien tific m eth odol ogy to assess cu m u l ative im pacts, wh ich cou l d be in cor por ated in to decision -m ak in g pr ocesses. Al m ost al l th e or gan ization s in th is r epor t h ave en gaged in par ticipator y action r esear ch to docu m en t th e wide r an ge of bu r den s in th eir com m u n ities. In 2014, as a r esu l t of year s of advocacy, or gan izin g, an d r esear ch on th is issu e, th e Cal ifor n ia En vir on m en tal Pr otection Agen cy r el eased th e secon d ver sion of on e of th e l eadin g cu m u l ative im pact tool s in th e n ation, th e Cal ifor n ia Com m u n ities En vir on m en tal H eal th Scr een in g Tool, or Cal En vir oscr een 2.0. As you can see fr om th e m aps on pages 8-9, al m ost al l th e Gr een Zon es ar e l ocated in h igh l y im pacted com m u n ities. No m atter wh er e th e Gr een Zon e, al l th e com m u n ities str u ggl e with a deadl y com bin ation of pol l u tion, pu bl ic h eal th bu r den s, an d socioecon om ic str essor s. Co m m o n Ro o t s: Un h eal t h y Lan d Use Pl an n i n g Discr im in ator y l an d u se pr actices h ave pu t th e over wh el m in g m ajor ity of pol l u tin g sou r ces in th e back yar ds of th e m ost disen fr an ch ised. Th is in equ ity is a r esu l t of m an y factor s: a h istor y of r esiden tial segr egation an d discr im in ator y zon in g, l ower l evel s of pol itical an d econ om ic power, an d m ar k et-dr iven l an d u se an d econ om ic devel opm en t patter n s th at exacer bate th e con cen tr ation of en vir on m en tal h azar ds in l ow-in com e com m u n ities, wh il e distr ibu tin g th eir ben efits el sewh er e. Im pr ovin g l an d u se is often cen tr al to cr eatin g h eal th y n eigh bor h oods. Lan d u se pl an n in g can be an em power in g tool for com m u n ities to r e-im agin e h ow n eigh bor h oods can l ook. M an y of th e or gan ization s featu r ed in th is r epor t ar e u sin g differ en t l an d u se tool s in th eir Gr een Zon es, fr om wor k in g with city official s to in tr odu ce En vir on m en tal Ju stice El em en ts in th e Gen er al Pl an or l eadin g com m u n ity-based pr ocesses to devel op specific pl an s for th eir n eigh bor h oods. Th ey dem on str ate th at l an d u se pl an n in g can h el p addr ess ol d pr obl em s, wh il e cr eatin g a path for war d to im pl em en t n ew sol u tion s. Photo Courtesy of Environmental Health Coalition 3

6 Co r e Pr i n ci p l es: Co m p r eh en si v e M an y of th e or gan ization s pr ofil ed in th is r epor t h ave won in spir in g victor ies in th eir com m u n ities, r an gin g fr om figh tin g off n ew pol l u tin g facil ities to secu r in g affor dabl e h ou sin g. H owever, th ese l ocal su ccess stor ies h ave n ot l ed to th e com pr eh en sive ch an ge n eeded in m an y com m u n ities of col or, l ow-in com e an d im m igr an t com m u n ities. Th e?piece-m eal? appr oach of m an y effor ts, focu sin g on on e issu e, is n ot su fficien t to over com e system ic bar r ier s to h eal th y en vir on m en ts an d l ocal econ om ic oppor tu n ities. Photo Courtesy of APEN Gr een Zon es u se a h ol istic appr oach to n eigh bor h ood tr an sfor m ation. Th ey sh ift away fr om figh tin g com m u n ity h eal th th r eats on e-by-on e to a m or e com pr eh en sive appr oach based on pr in cipl es of ju stice an d su stain abil ity. Co r e Pr i n ci p l es: Co m m u n i t y -Led Gr een Zon es ar e gr ou n ded in an au th en tic, com m u n ity-based pl an n in g an d vision in g pr ocess th at gives r esiden ts an oppor tu n ity to ar ticu l ate vision s for th eir n eigh bor h oods. Th is pr ovides a cl ear pl atfor m of com m u n ity-iden tified n eeds, am pl ifies th e voice of r esiden ts, an d pr ovides a r oad m ap for Gr een Zon e devel opm en t. Ever y or gan ization featu r ed in th is r epor t wor k s dir ectl y with r esiden ts in h igh l y im pacted com m u n ities, an d th ey al l h ave u sed a r an ge of str ategies to en gage com m u n ity m em ber s in Gr een Zon e devel opm en t. W h eth er it is com m u n ity-based su r veys, r egu l ar m em ber m eetin gs, l ocal h ear in gs, or l eader sh ip tr ain in g, Gr een Zon es l ift u p th e voices an d vision s of r esiden ts fir st an d for em ost. 4 Gr een Zon es bu il d l on g-ter m oppor tu n ities for com m u n ity devel opm en t. A ch al l en ge in doin g so is en su r in g th at n ew devel opm en ts ben efit existin g r esiden ts, an d th e in spir ation al n ew pr ojects in Gr een Zon es don?t pu sh ou t th e ver y peopl e wh o h el ped cr eate th em. Th at is wh y m an y of th e Gr een Zon es ar e foster in g com m u n ity con tr ol of r esou r ces an d pr ojects, th r ou gh a r an ge of in n ovative in itiatives, fr om l an d tr u sts to l ocal l y-own ed cooper atives. Th ese for m s of com m u n ity gover n an ce an d m an agem en t n ot on l y devel op l ocal capacity an d assets, bu t th ey can al so be safegu ar ds to u n in ten ded n egative con sequ en ces of n eigh bor h ood-l evel tr an sfor m ation.

7 Co r e Pr i n ci p l es: So l u t i o n -Or i en t ed Gr een Zon e com m u n ities sh ou l d be m odel s for wh at com m u n ity-l ed tr an sfor m ation can l ook l ik e. Th e Gr een Zon e cam paign s pr esen ted in th is r epor t togeth er advan ce m u l tipl e sol u tion s, in cl u din g pol l u tion r edu ction, tr an sition in g off fossil fu el s, affor dabl e h ou sin g, l ocal jobs an d tr ain in g, open gr een space an d r ecr eation ar eas, access to h eal th y food, in fr astr u ctu r e equ ity, an d pr eser vation of com m u n ity cu l tu r e. Bu il din g econ om ic oppor tu n ities th at pr ovide en vir on m en tal l y su stain abl e, l ivin g wage jobs for l on g-tim e r esiden ts is a cor e com pon en t of Gr een Zon es. effor t l ook s differ en t in each pl ace; in Los An gel es, th e Cl ean Up Gr een Up cam paign wil l facil itate th e pr ocess for bu sin esses to adopt gr een er pr actices. In San Fr an cisco, PODER is devel opin g com pl etel y n ew, wor k er -own ed cooper atives. In Nation al City, En vir on m en tal H eal th Coal ition is seek in g to ph ase-ou t pol l u tin g bu sin esses wh il e sim u l tan eou sl y devel opin g a n ew, gr een in du str ial par k th at is away fr om h om es an d sch ool s. Gr een Zon e com m u n ities ar e for gin g n ew, l ocal, l ivin g econ om ies th at ar e in extr icabl y l in k ed to th e over al l vision for en vir on m en tal h eal th an d ju stice. It goes h an d-in -h an d with ou r vision for r edu ced pol l u tion. M an y of th e Gr een Zon es featu r ed in th is r epor t ar e fin din g in n ovative ways to?gr een u p? bu sin esses. Th is Co r e Pr i n ci p l es: Co l l ab o r at i v e W h en r eadin g each of th e Gr een Zon e pr ofil es, th e depth of par tn er sh ips in ever y l ocal cam paign stan ds ou t. Fr om l ocal coal ition s l ik e th e L.A. Col l abor ative for En vir on m en tal H eal th an d Ju stice or th e Rich m on d En vir on m en tal Ju stice Coal ition, to task for ces an d wor k in g gr ou ps th at br in g togeth er com m u n ity-based or gan ization s with l ocal, state, an d feder al agen cies, im pl em en tin g Gr een Zon es r equ ir es m u l ti-faceted par tn er sh ips. Gr een Zon es seek to im pl em en t big ch an ges, an d n o on e or gan ization can do it al on e. Photo by Warren Hill 5

8 Gr o w i n g t h e St at ew i d e M o v em en t f o r Gr een Zo n es Fr om San Diego to th e In l an d an d Cen tr al Val l eys, an d fr om Los An gel es to th e Bay Ar ea, th e effor ts ou tl in ed in th is r epor t ar e dem on str atin g h ow toxic h otspots can be tr an sfor m ed in to h eal th y com m u n ities. En vir on m en tal ju stice com m u n ities ar e tak in g th e h eal th of th eir n eigh bor h oods an d en vir on m en t in to th eir own h an ds. Gr een Zon es ar e advan cin g com pr eh en sive, com m u n ity-l ed sol u tion s. W ith th is in tegr ated appr oach to tr an sfor m ation, com m u n ities can addr ess th e l on g-stan din g en vir on m en tal ju stice issu es th ey face. It is a n ew str ategy to ach ieve h eal th y en vir on m en ts an d th r ivin g, l ocal an d su stain abl e devel opm en t th at al l com m u n ities deser ve. Photo Courtesy of Environmental Health Coalition Ul tim atel y, Gr een Zon es is n ot ju st an oppor tu n ity for l ow-in com e com m u n ities an d com m u n ities of col or to l ive in h eal th y, th r ivin g n eigh bor h oods. It is an oppor tu n ity for al l of Cal ifor n ia an d th e cou n tr y to begin im pl em en tin g th e ju st, su stain abl e pol icies th at ar e n eeded to face th e ch an gin g cl im ate an d ch an gin g wor l d. Gr een Zon es can becom e a m odel for str en gth en in g l ocal econ om ies, en vir on m en ts, an d dem ocr acies acr oss Cal ifor n ia an d th e cou n tr y. 6

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10 Cal En v i r o Scr een 2.0 A NEW TOOL TO A DVA NCE GREEN ZONES A ND ENVIRONM ENTA L JUSTICE Th e Cal ifor n ia En vir on m en tal Pr otection Agen cy (Cal EPA), after year s of in pu t fr om com m u n ity or gan izer s an d advocates, h as devel oped a cu m u l ative im pact scr een in g tool cal l ed Cal ifor n ia Com m u n ities En vir on m en tal H eal th Scr een in g Tool : Cal En vir oscr een 2.0. Th e tool iden tifies h igh l y im pacted ar eas th at face a com bin ation of en vir on m en tal bu r den s, pu bl ic h eal th str essor s, an d socioecon om ic issu es. Cal En vir oscr een 2.0 u ses 19 in dicator s to pr ovide a statewide r an k in g for al l 8,000 cen su s tr acts in Cal ifor n ia. Th e h igh er th e total scor e, th e h igh er th e bu r den. Com m u n ities with h igh Cal En vir oscr een 2.0 scor es h ave a h igh cum ulative im pact of pol l u tion, popu l ation ch ar acter istics th at m ak e r esiden ts m or e su sceptibl e to th e n egative effects of toxic em ission s, an d socioecon om ic str essor s th at can be exacer batin g factor s, su ch as pover ty. NA TIONA L CITY 8 Gr een Zon es r ecogn izes th at ever yon e can br eath e easier an d l ive better wh en con dition s for th ose m ost im pacted ar e im pr oved. H owever, it can be difficu l t for pol icy m ak er s to iden tify over bu r den ed com m u n ities. Cal En vir oscr een 2.0 pr ovides on e cl ar ified system to iden tify en vir on m en tal ju stice com m u n ities. W ith it, we can effectivel y l in k th ese iden tified com m u n ities to vision ar y Gr een Zon e pol icies an d dir ect a var iety of r esou r ces an d pr ogr am s in to th e ar eas th at n eed it th e m ost. Th e bel ow Cal En vir oscr een 2.0 m aps sh ow each of th e n eigh bor h oods wh er e th e Gr een Zon es pr ofil ed in th is r epor t ar e l ocated. As you can see, th e vast m ajor ity ar e l ocated in h igh l y im pacted Cen su s Tr acts. M or e about CalEnvir oscr een2.0 can be found at: h ttp:/ / oeh h a.ca.gov/ ej/ ces2.h tm l RICHM OND OA KLA ND

11 Pacoima Boyle Heights FRESNO Wilmington PA COIM A BOYLE HEIGHTS W ILM INGTON SOUTHERN SA N JOA QUIN VA LLEY COM M ERCE INLA ND VA LLEY SA N FRA NCISCO 9

12 San Fr an ci sco PODER Photo Courtesy of PODER Tr an sf o r m i n g a To x i c Ho t sp o t w i t h Co m m u n i t y -Led So l u t i o n s San Fr an ci sco?s M i ssi on Di st r i ct is th e h ear t of th e city?s wor k in g cl ass Latin o com m u n ity. In th e Nor th east ar ea of th e M ission Distr ict, l an d u se pl an n in g pol icies h ave pr ior itized expen sive con dom in iu m an d r etail spaces, often pu sh in g ou t l on g-tim e r esiden ts an d th e sm al l, l ocal l y-own ed stor es an d th e sou r ces of in com e th ey pr ovide for r esiden ts. Th is con tr ibu tes to on goin g gen tr ification in San Fr an cisco by r aisin g th e cost of l ivin g an d pr icin g ou t l ow-in com e fam il ies an d r en ter s. Th e Excel sior Distr ict in Sou th east San Fr an cisco is a diver se an d gr owin g com m u n ity of pr edom in an tl y wor k in g cl ass peopl e of col or. Th e ar ea is h om e to th e city?s two m ajor fr eeways. In San Fr an cisco, 88 per cen t of th e peopl e l ivin g n ear th e fr eeways ar e peopl e of col or an d th e Excel sior h as h ad th e h igh est over al l n u m ber of peopl e h ospital ized for asth m a for 6 year s in a r ow. It h as been h istor ical l y n egl ected an d u n der -r epr esen ted in City H al l. Up u n til a few year s ago, th e distr ict r eceived l ittl e to n o dir ect affor dabl e h ou sin g an d wor k for ce devel opm en t in vestm en ts fr om th e City of San Fr an cisco. Peopl e Or gan izin g to Dem an d En vir on m en tal an d Econ om ic Righ ts (PODER) en vision s a com m u n ity wh er e ever yday peopl e ar e th e pl an n er s of th eir own 10 n eigh bor h oods. Th ey h ave been wor k in g with r esiden ts in San Fr an cisco?s M ission an d Excel sior Distr icts to cr eate n ew equ itabl e devel opm en t oppor tu n ities th at wil l dir ectl y ben efit r esiden ts. PODER an d l ocal r esiden ts h ave been or gan izin g to r ecl aim pu bl ic l an ds for n eigh bor h ood assets su ch as par k s an d open space, affor dabl e h ou sin g, u r ban agr icu l tu r e, an d wor k er / com m u n ity cooper atives. PODER bel ieves in equ itabl e devel opm en t th at is accessibl e an d affor dabl e for ever yon e r egar dl ess of im m igr ation statu s, is pr otective of pu bl ic h eal th an d th e en vir on m en t, an d in cl u des com m u n ity based gover n an ce an d stewar dsh ip. PODER u ses peopl e-power ed pl an n in g, town h al l for u m s, an d in -depth com m u n ity su r veyin g an d or gan izin g to ach ieve th is vision.

13 "Gr owing up in an im m igr ant fam ily in San Fr ancisco?s M ission Distr ict, PODER was m y outlet to expr ess m yself com pletely and honestly. I t was also a way of giving back." Ed gar M ol i n a PODER M em ber "As a m em ber of PODER, I m et with people that ar e cr eating im m igr ant-led wor ker -owned cooper atives. I think ther e should be a neighbor hood center that does this r ight her e in m y neighbor hood. Those m ost in need can get ahead by wor king with one another, so we can stop wor king for exploitative bosses". L ou r d es Rod r i gu ez PODER M em ber Bu i l d i n g So l u t i o n s Fr o m t h e Gr o u n d Up PODER is cr eatin g n ew peopl e-power ed equ itabl e devel opm en t oppor tu n ities in both th e M ission an d Excel sior Distr icts. In r espon se to th e M ission Distr ict?s h ou sin g affor dabil ity cr isis, PODER is wor k in g with th e City to iden tify pu bl ic an d pr ivate sites th at can be acqu ir ed for affor dabl e h ou sin g devel opm en t. Th ey ar e activel y or gan izin g again st displ acem en t an d h ave al so secu r ed th e devel opm en t of n ew affor dabl e h ou sin g, as wel l as a par k an d gar den, at 17th an d Fol som. Th ey ar e al so th e stewar ds of an oth er 2,700 squ ar e-foot gar den an d cu l tu r al space. Th e peopl e-power ed vision in th e Excel sior Distr ict h as cen ter ed on equ itabl e devel opm en t of two sites: an u r ban far m in th e l ocal Cr ock er Am azon Par k, an d a m ixed-u se affor dabl e h ou sin g devel opm en t. You th in PODER?s Ur ban Cam pesin os pr ogr am ar e en gagin g l ocal r esiden ts to devel op a far m design th at m axim izes gr een space an d l ocal food pr odu ction. Th e far m is expected to br eak gr ou n d in 2016 u n der PODER?s m an agem en t. PODER h as al so join ed for ces with oth er com m u n ity-based or gan ization s in th e n eigh bor h ood th r ou gh th e Com m u n ities Un ited for H eal th an d Ju stice (CUH J) al l ian ce. CUH J is m ovin g for war d a m ixed-u se affor dabl e h ou sin g devel opm en t in th e Excel sior at th e Bal boa Par k BART Station Upper Yar d. In stead of r el yin g on a devel oper to l ead th e design pr ocess, CUH J h as en gaged over 300 com m u n ity m em ber s in face-to-face com m u n ity su r veys to deter m in e pr ior ities ar ou n d affor dabil ity, com m u n ity-based devel opm en t, pu bl ic space, h eal th y devel opm en t, an d com m u n ity-based decision -m ak in g an d sel f-gover n an ce. For PODER, bu il din g n eigh bor h ood assets an d foster in g equ itabl e devel opm en t al so in cl u des cr eatin g in n ovative, com m u n ity-based m odel s for m eetin g econ om ic n eeds th at sim u l tan eou sl y bu il d n etwor k s of su ppor t. In addition to th e Upper Yar d devel opm en t, PODER an d oth er n eigh bor h ood par tn er s ar e al so cr eatin g a cu l tu r al l y r espon sive an d l in gu istical l y appr opr iate wor k for ce h u b in th e n eigh bor h ood, wh ich is set to open in ear l y Th e or gan ization h as l au n ch ed a pol itical edu cation an d l eader sh ip devel opm en t ser ies on com m u n ity an d wor k er -own ed cooper atives an d is su ppor tin g you th -l ed social en ter pr ises. On e exam pl e is th e Bicis del Pu ebl o in itiative, wh ich pr ovides fr ee bik es an d m ain ten an ce wor k sh ops to you th in San Fr an cisco. PODER?s Gr een Zon es effor ts cou n ter th e gen tr ification pr essu r es in San Fr an cisco im pactin g th e M ission an d Excel sior n eigh bor h oods by foster in g peopl e-power ed equ itabl e devel opm en t th at ben efits l ocal r esiden ts an d n u r tu r es a h eal th y, l ocal, l ivin g econ om y. Peop l e Or gan i zi n g t o Dem an d En v i r on m en t al an d Econ om i c Ri gh t s or gan izes Latin o im m igr an t fam il ies to addr ess en vir on m en tal in ju stices an d im pl em en t sol u tion s to ach ieve h eal th y, su stain abl e com m u n ities. PODER wor k s in San Fr an cisco?s M ission an d Excel sior Distr icts on com m u n ity-based cam paign s an d pr ojects in col l abor ation with n eigh bor h ood-based or gan ization s, gover n m en t agen cies, an d academ ic in stitu tion s, to ach ieve ch an ge. sf.or g 11

14 Ri ch m o n d A SIA N PA CIFIC ENVIRONM ENTA L NETW ORK COM M UNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONM ENT Photo by Shadia Fayne Wood Tr an sf o r m i n g a To x i c Ho t sp o t w i t h Co m m u n i t y -Led So l u t i o n s Ri ch m on d, a city with a popu l ation of al m ost 90 per cen t peopl e of col or, h as faced a l egacy of en vir on m en tal r acism, bl igh t an d econ om ic divestm en t for decades. Con tr a Costa Cou n ty, wh er e th e city is l ocated, h as th e secon d h igh est con cen tr ation of h eavy in du str y in th e state, an d th e City of Rich m on d l ies in th e sh adows of th e 3,000 acr e Ch evr on Oil Refin er y. Th e r efin er y pr ocesses 240,000 bar r el s of oil per day an d is th e l ar gest gr een h ou se gas em itter in Cal ifor n ia. Th e bu r den of pol l u tion h as l ed to sever e con sequ en ces in air qu al ity, pu bl ic h eal th, an d safety. Bad pol icies h ave al l owed h igh -em ission, l ow-job in du str ies to con cen tr ate in Rich m on d to steal th e h eal th an d weal th of l ocal r esiden ts. Ch il dr en in Rich m on d ar e twice as l ik el y to h ave asth m a as com par ed to ch il dr en in th e r est of th e state, an d th er e ar e h igh er r ates of l ow bir th weigh t babies, can cer, an d r espir ator y il l n esses. Th e city h as al so been h it h ar d by for ecl osu r es. Despite th ese con dition s, com m u n ity gr ou ps in Rich m on d ar e advan cin g in n ovative com m u n ity-l ed sol u tion s to bu il d str on g an d r esil ien t com m u n ities. As th e fir st m ajor ity peopl e of col or city in th e n ation to h ave Com m u n ity Ch oice En er gy an d a pr ogr essive City Cou n cil m ajor ity, Rich m on d is poised to becom e a th r ivin g Gr een Zon e. 12 Photos by Ryan Sin APEN stan din g u p for jobs, h eal th, safety an d com m u n ity ben efits at a Rich m on d Pl an n in g Com m ission H ear in g.

15 Bu i l d i n g So l u t i o n s Fr o m t h e Gr o u n d Up Th e Asian Pacific En vir on m en tal Networ k (APEN) an d Com m u n ities for a Better En vir on m en t (CBE) an ch or th e Gr een Zon es cam paign in Rich m on d. W or k in g with th e Rich m on d En vir on m en tal Ju stice Coal ition (REJC) of l abor, h eal th, bu sin ess, h ou sin g, an d com m u n ity advocates, th ey ar e bu il din g a?ju st Tr an sition? fr om an extr active an d expl oitative econ om y to a l ocal l ivin g econ om y th at su ppor ts th e wel l -bein g of fam il ies, em power s peopl e, cl ean s th e en vir on m en t, an d cr eates safe an d h eal th y n eigh bor h oods. REJC is bu il din g a peopl e-power ed cooper ative econ om y th at pu ts r esiden ts back to wor k with su stain abl e, l ivin g wage jobs. By par tn er in g with u n ion s to bu il d wor k in g cl ass power in th e cl ean en er gy econ om y, REJC is en su r in g th at com m u n ity m em ber s in Rich m on d ar e u n ited in th e figh t for com m u n ity own er sh ip an d wor k er -dir ected en ter pr ises. Th ey ar e al so devel opin g su stain abl e dem on str ation pr ojects th at h igh l igh t m odel s of Ju st Tr an sition, su ch as com m u n ity sol ar cooper atives. Com m u n ity l eader s on th e fr on tl in es of pol l u tion th em sel ves ar e devel opin g th ese in n ovative sol u tion s. Lipo Ch an th an asak, an APEN m em ber an d Rich m on d r esiden t, was n am ed by th e W h ite H ou se as a Ch am pion of Ch an ge for Cl im ate Resil ien ce in r ecogn ition of h is l eader sh ip an d or gan izin g effor ts. APEN an d CBE ar e cr eatin g cu r r icu l u m on th e Ju st Tr an sition fr am ewor k for th eir l eader sh ip devel opm en t pr ogr am s to con tin u e gr owin g th e pol itical con sciou sn ess an d l eader sh ip of com m u n ity r esiden ts. By wor k in g to in stitu te com m u n ity gover n an ce over k ey r esou r ces su ch as h ou sin g, en er gy, water, waste, an d pu bl ic l an d, APEN an d CBE en vision th e cr eation of cou n cil s th at en su r e com m u n ity con tr ol over pu bl ic r esou r ces. Th is vision for com m u n ity l eader sh ip an d own er sh ip is at th e h ear t of th e Gr een Zon es wor k in Rich m on d. Rich m on d is a Gr een Zon e, bu il din g Ju st Tr an sition pr ojects th at wil l r evital ize th e city by in vestin g in com m u n ity in n ovation an d gover n an ce, wh il e foster in g l ocal r esil ien cy. Asi an Paci f i c En v i r on m en t al N et w or k is on e of th e few or gan ization s in th e cou n tr y expl icitl y devel opin g th e l eader sh ip an d power of l ow-in com e Asian im m igr an t an d r efu gee com m u n ities to figh t for en vir on m en tal, social, an d econ om ic ju stice. APEN is bu il din g n ew m odel s of devel opm en t, l an d u se, an d r esou r ce al l ocation in Rich m on d an d Oak l an d, an d acr oss th e state, to br in g fu n dam en tal ch an ges to ou r econ om ic an d social in stitu tion s to pr om ote h eal th y, gr een, ju st com m u n ities. g Com m u n i t i es f or a Bet t er En v i r on m en t wor k s in wor k in g cl ass Latin o an d Afr ican Am er ican com m u n ities of Oak l an d, Rich m on d, W il m in gton, an d cities of Sou th east Los An gel es Cou n ty. CBE com bin es com m u n ity gr assr oots or gan izin g, scien ce-based advocacy an d l egal in ter ven tion in to a u n iqu el y effective str ategy to su ccessfu l l y im pact ch an ge an d im pr ove th e qu al ity of l ives for th e r esiden ts. g St ep h an i e H er v ey, CBE M em ber "W hen I fir st cam e to the Bay Ar ea, I didn't know a lot about envir onm ental injustice. I knew about pollution and knew it was som ething that we had to pay attention to. W hen I got to Richm ond and ther e was an explosion at Chevr on, that's when I r ealized I had to do som ething about this, that I was not going to sit and let som e big cor por ation just pollute the air and walk away without r em edy or accountability. That's when I star ted to get involved with Com m unities for a Better Envir onm ent. CBE r eally taught m e a lot about policy m aking. They took m e into the tr enches of gr assr oots wor k, seeing people dir ectly im pacted, connect with them, shar e our stor ies and see how we'r e connected. One of the solutions that we've been wor king on is im plem enting the Gr een Zone. The Gr een Zone is r eally im por tant because it's a pr otective zone for vulner able com m unities who suffer dispr opor tionately fr om clim ate change. W e need to feel confident that we have the answer s within our selves and that we don't need anyone telling us. W e'r e on the fr ontlines. W e have a vision so we also have the solution." 13

16 East Oak l an d COM M UNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONM ENT Tr an sf o r m i n g a To x i c Ho t sp o t w i t h Co m m u n i t y -Led So l u t i o n s East Oak l an d is a vibr an t com m u n ity with a l ar gel y Latin o an d Afr ican Am er ican popu l ation. It is al so a h igh l y in du str ial ized ar ea. Th e 880 fr eeway tr aver ses th e h ear t of th e n eigh bor h ood, car r yin g diesel tr u ck s l aden with goods fr om th e Por t of Oak l an d, wh ich is th e fifth bu siest con tain er por t in th e n ation, th at spew h igh am ou n ts of toxic air con tam in an ts dail y. Oth er pol l u tion -pr odu cin g in du str ial facil ities, su ch as th e AB&I Fou n dr y, sit r igh t n ext to h om es. As a r esu l t, East Oak l an d h as on e of th e h igh est asth m a h ospital ization r ates in Al am eda Cou n ty, with ch il dr en u n der five especial l y h ar d-h it. In th e El m h u r st n eigh bor h ood of East Oak l an d, Com m u n ities for a Better En vir on m en t (CBE) is wor k in g with r esiden ts to ch an ge th e l on g-stan din g patter n s of poor l an d-u se. CBE wor k s with com m u n ity l eader s to m ak e th e con n ection s between l an d u se, pol l u tion, an d h eal th im pacts th at in for m th eir Gr een Zon es wor k. Usin g a r an ge of str ategies, su ch as com m u n ity-based par ticipator y air m on itor in g, al l ian ce-bu il din g, an d or gan izin g, CBE is wor k in g with r esiden ts to devel op in itiatives th at wil l im pl em en t com m u n ity-l ed vision s for an equ itabl e, h eal th y an d r esil ien t com m u n ity. CBE m em ber s dem on str ate h ow to m on itor air qu al ity at AB&I du r in g a Lan d Use an d Bu il t En vir on m en t Tou r of East Oak l an d. 14

17 Bu i l d i n g So l u t i o n s Fr o m t h e Gr o u n d Up In or der to r evital ize East Oak l an d, CBE is wor k in g on ch an gin g l ocal zon in g to pr om ote h eal th ier l an d u se option s th at en su r es pu bl ic l an d is u sed for pu bl ic good. For year s, CBE h as wor k ed with r esiden ts to docu m en t th e im pacts of diesel tr u ck in g on l ocal h eal th an d air qu al ity u sin g com m u n ity-l ed data col l ection an d r esear ch. In Ju l y 2015, th e City of Oak l an d passed an or din an ce th at establ ish ed n ew tr u ck r ou tes to l im it th e r esiden tial ar eas th at diesel tr u ck s pass th r ou gh in East Oak l an d. CBE h as al so been wor k in g to pr even t n ew toxic facil ities fr om com in g in to th e n eigh bor h ood, su ch as a pr oposed m ega-cr ator iu m. Th ese effor ts r edu ce LIFEemINSURANCE l ocal em ission s, im pr ove air qu al ity, an d pr ovide ben efits to l ocal r esiden ts. CBE wor k s in col l abor ation with diver se stak eh ol der s an d par tn er s su ch as th e Cal ifor n ia En dowm en t?s East Oak l an d Bu il din g H eal th y Com m u n ities In itiative. As th e ch air of th e Lan d Use Com m ittee, CBE l au n ch ed a par tn er sh ip with th e City of Oak l an d an d th e Al am eda Cou n ty Depar tm en t of Pu bl ic H eal th to devel op n ew H eal th y Devel opm en t Gu idel in es for th e City of Oak l an d. Th e gu idel in es wil l h el p city pl an n er s eval u ate wh eth er n ew devel opm en ts in East Oak l an d an d th r ou gh ou t th e City tr u l y pr otect an d ben efit com m u n ity h eal th an d th e en vir on m en t. CBE is al so wor k in g with r esiden ts an d oth er l ocal or gan ization s to devel op a com m u n ity-based pl an th r ou gh th e El m h u r st Neigh bor h ood Pl an n in g In itiative. Th is effor t h as in cl u ded two year s of com m u n ity m eetin gs an d par ticipator y m appin g to addr ess th e ch al l en ges, an d advan ce th e vision, n eigh bor h ood assets, an d oppor tu n ities iden tified by l ocal r esiden ts for better air qu al ity an d a cl ean er en vir on m en t. Col iseu m City, a m assive spor ts com pl ex in East Oak l an d, h as em er ged as a m ajor focu s of l an d u se str u ggl es in th e ar ea. Th e City of Oak l an d is pl an n in g to sel l h u n dr eds of acr es of pu bl ic l an d to a devel oper to bu il d th r ee n ew spor ts ven u es, th ou san ds of n ew h om es, an d n ear l y 8 m il l ion squ ar e feet of u r ban r etail an d office space n ear a pu bl ic tr an sit stop. CBE an d oth er com m u n ity-based or gan ization s, in cl u din g a br oad base of l abor, you th, faith, h ou sin g an d tr an spor tation advocates, ar e wor k in g to en su r e th e Col iseu m City Devel opm en t Pl an in cl u des com m u n ity ben efits to East Oak l an d r esiden ts. CBE?s Gr een Zon es wor k is al so addr essin g th e sh or tage of gr een space, h eal th y food option s, an d u r ban agr icu l tu r e for l ocal you th an d r esiden ts. Th ey h ave facil itated a u n iqu e par tn er sh ip between th e City of Oak l an d Tassafar on ga Recr eation Cen ter an d Acta Non Ver ba You th Ur ban Far m. Th e far m br ok e gr ou n d in 2010 an d is l ocated ju st beh in d th e r ecr eation cen ter?s basebal l fiel d. Th e far m offer s r esiden ts an d ch il dr en with a safe ou tdoor space to gar den an d l ear n abou t th e food system. Du r in g th e spr in g an d su m m er, th e far m offer s day cam ps to h u n dr eds of you th in East Oak l an d. Th r ou gh col l abor ation with th e City of Oak l an d an d com m u n ity l eader s, CBE?s Gr een Zon e effor ts pr ovide East Oak l an d r esiden ts with a voice in com m u n ity pl an n in g decision s th at can tr an sfor m th eir city in to a h eal th y, th r ivin g, an d r esil ien t h om e for ever yon e. Esther Goolsby is an East Oakland r esident and long-tim e m em ber of Com m unities of a Better Envir onm ent. She r ecognizes that the Coliseum City developm ent will dr am atically change her beloved city and or ganizes to defend the hear t and soul of Oakland. W ith hundr eds of acr es of public land in East Oakland being developed with m illions of dollar s of public funds, Esther and CBE m em ber s ar e or ganizing to ensur e that the any new developm ent in Oakland ser ves the public good. Est h er Gool sby, CBE M em ber Com m u n i t i es f or a Bet t er En v i r on m en t wor k s in wor k in g cl ass Latin o an d Afr ican Am er ican com m u n ities of Oak l an d, Rich m on d, W il m in gton, an d cities of Sou th east Los An gel es Cou n ty. CBE com bin es com m u n ity gr assr oots or gan izin g, scien ce-based advocacy an d l egal in ter ven tion in to a u n iqu el y effective str ategy to su ccessfu l l y im pact ch an ge an d im pr ove th e qu al ity of l ives for th e r esiden ts. g 15

18 Fr esn o LEA DERSHIP COUNSEL FOR JUSTICE A ND A CCOUNTA BILITY Photo Courtesy of Leadership Counsel Tr an sf o r m i n g a To x i c Ho t sp o t w i t h Co m m u n i t y -Led So l u t i o n s Fr esn o an d m an y of Cal ifor n ia?s agr icu l tu r al l y r ich r egion s ar e al so som e of th e l owest in com e r egion s of th e state. In th e San Joaqu in Val l ey, fam il ies ar e exposed to en vir on m en tal h azar ds, l eft with water too fil th y to dr in k an d wastewater oozin g fr om dil apidated septic system s. For decades, th e n eigh bor h oods of Sou th east an d Sou th west Fr esn o h ave been an u n h eal th y m ix of h om es an d in du str y, in cl u din g th e n otor iou s Dar l in g In ter n ation al r en der in g pl an t, wh ich h as oper ated for year s with ou t pr oper per m its. Despite th ese ch al l en ges, th e San Joaqu in Val l ey h as a l on g an d r ich h istor y of com m u n ity activism am on g r esiden ts wor k in g to br in g positive ch an ge to th eir com m u n ities, h ol d decision -m ak er s accou n tabl e, an d cr eate oppor tu n ities for a br igh t fu tu r e for th eir ch il dr en. Th ese com m u n ities dr aw str en gth fr om th eir in cr edibl e r acial, eth n ic, cu l tu r al, an d l in gu istic diver sity an d th eir im m igr an t r oots fr om cou n tr ies ar ou n d th e wor l d. 16 Dar l in g In ter n ation al Ren der in g Pl an t in W est Fr esn o. Leader sh ip Cou n sel for Ju stice an d Accou n tabil ity wor k s in Sou th east Fr esn o, Sou th west Fr esn o, Cal wa, an d disadvan taged u n in cor por ated com m u n ities th r ou gh ou t th e Cen tr al Val l ey. In Fr esn o, Leader sh ip Cou n sel is par tn er in g with r esiden ts an d advocates too tr an sfor m n eigh bor h oods in to a th r ivin g Gr een Zon e wh er e r esiden ts can l ive in safe an d h eal th y n eigh bor h oods.

19 "W her e we live deter m ines how we live and also how long we'll live. I f we'r e sur r ounded by industr ial facilities that im pact our health, it shor tens our life span and plays havoc with our kids' life span. I f people have jobs and ar e able to take car e of them selves, have clean water, clean air, and a decent place to live, they have better outcom es all ar ound. Ever ybody deser ves that." M r s. M ar y Cu r r y, Ch ai r of Con cer n ed Ci t i zen s of W est Fr esn o Bu i l d i n g So l u t i o n s Fr o m t h e Gr o u n d Up Th e 2014 Fr esn o Gen er al Pl an u pdate pr ocess pr ovided an oppor tu n ity to addr ess r esiden t n eeds in over bu r den ed ar eas. Togeth er with th e Fr esn o Bu il din g H eal th y Com m u n ities In itiative, Leader sh ip Cou n sel h el d n u m er ou s com m u n ity for u m s an d wor k sh ops to deter m in e r esiden t pr ior ities for l an d u se ch an ges th at wou l d l ead to l ess pol l u ted, h eal th ier an d m or e affor dabl e n eigh bor h oods. Th r ou gh th is ou tr each effor t, th e coal ition iden tified sever al k ey issu es in th e com m u n ity: th e over con cen tr ation of in du str ial an d oth er pol l u tin g l an d u ses; th e n eed for in cr eased in vestm en ts in Sou th Fr esn o n eigh bor h oods; an d m or e access to affor dabl e h ou sin g th r ou gh ou t th e City. Th e In du str ial Com patibil ity Assessm en t in Fr esn o is on e of th e fir st effor ts to addr ess th e toxic m ix of in du str ial an d r esiden tial l an d u ses th at pl agu e Sou th east an d Sou th west Fr esn o. Th e assessm en t wil l exam in e wh eth er it is com patibl e to zon e in du str ial an d h eavy com m er cial facil ities n ext to h om es, sch ool s an d oth er sen sitive l an d u ses. It wil l th en cr eate a pl an to addr ess an y in com patibil ities th r ou gh tool s su ch as r ezon in g, facil ity r el ocation, an d n eigh bor h ood gr een in g. Leader sh ip Cou n sel r ecen tl y won a n ew pol icy in th e Fr esn o Gen er al Pl an to con du ct th e In du str ial Com patibil ity Assessm en t, an d is n ow seek in g pol itical su ppor t fr om th e City to par tn er on th e pr oject. In addition to th e assessm en t, Leader sh ip Cou n sel is wor k in g to pr otect com m u n ity h eal th by advocatin g for im pr oved per m ittin g stan dar ds in Fr esn o?s devel opm en t code for sitin g an d expan din g facil ities. Th e n ew stan dar ds wou l d al so in cl u de a str en gth en ed pu bl ic pr ocess th at is r espon sive to com m u n ity n eeds, an d su ppor t m or e affor dabl e h ou sin g devel opm en t th r ou gh ou t th e City. Th is wor k bu il ds off or gan izin g an d com m u n ity action s to oppose th e sitin g of n ew in du str ial l an d u ses in Sou th Fr esn o n eigh bor h oods an d l on g-ter m com m u n ity advocacy, in cl u din g pen din g l itigation, for th e City to r equ ir e th e Dar l in g In ter n ation al r en der in g pl an t to com pl y with th e l aw. Leader sh ip Cou n sel or gan ized r esiden ts, ar r an ged m eetin gs with l ocal decision -m ak er s an d effectivel y u sed th e m edia to advan ce th eir l an d u se goal s. As a r esu l t, th ey even su cceeded in ch an gin g l an d u se design ation s in an d ar ou n d l ow-in com e n eigh bor h oods of col or fr om in du str ial to l ess in ten sive u ses, in cl u din g r etail an d r esiden tial. Leader sh ip Cou n sel?s com m u n ity-l ed pl an n in g effor ts in Sou th east an d Sou th west Fr esn o wil l im pr ove th e en tir e r egion, an d cr eate n ew stan dar ds an d pol icies th at wil l ben efit th e n eigh bor h oods m ost bu r den ed by pol l u tin g l an d u ses. L ead er sh i p Cou n sel f or Ju st i ce an d Accou n t abi l i t y based in th e San Joaqu in an d East Coach el l a Val l ey m obil izes com m u n ity voices, advocates for sou n d pol icies, an d er adicates in ju stice to pr om ote equ al access to oppor tu n ity r egar dl ess of r ace, in com e, an d pl ace. shipcounsel.or g 17

20 So u t h er n San Jo aq u i n Val l ey CENTER ON RA CE, POVERTY & THE ENVIRONM ENT Photo by Brooke Anderson Tr an sf o r m i n g a To x i c Ho t sp o t w i t h Co m m u n i t y -Led So l u t i o n s Th e Cen t r al Val l ey r egion h as a l on g h istor y of activism as th e bir th pl ace of th e far m wor k er r igh ts m ovem en t, l ed by Cesar Ch avez. Th is l egacy r em ain s eviden t today as r esiden ts in th e sm al l, cl ose-k n it com m u n ities th at dot th e l an dscape ar e com m itted to wor k in g togeth er to im pr ove th e h eal th an d vital ity of th e r egion. Un for tu n atel y, r u r al com m u n ities th r ou gh ou t Cal ifor n ia?s Sou th er n San Joaqu in Val l ey (Ker n, Kin gs, an d Tu l ar e cou n ties) face sign ifican t ch al l en ges to h eal th y l ives an d n eigh bor h oods. M an y of th ese com m u n ities h ave str u ggl ed with year s of disin vestm en t fr om l ocal gover n m en t an d l ack access to basic in fr astr u ctu r e, in cl u din g cl ean dr in k in g water an d efficien t sewer system s. W h il e ser vin g as th e agr icu l tu r al cen ter of th e n ation, th e San Joaqu in Val l ey faces deep pover ty, food in secu r ity, an d u n em pl oym en t. Ker n, Kin gs, an d Tu l ar e cou n ties h ave sign ifican tl y gr eater per cen tages of poor peopl e an d peopl e of col or th an th e state of Cal ifor n ia. In Sh after, for exam pl e, th e popu l ation is 80 per cen t Latin o an d 20 per cen t of th e popu l ation is bel ow th e feder al pover ty l in e. 18 Th ese com m u n ities h ave been h eavil y im pacted by en vir on m en tal h azar ds in cl u din g exposu r e to pesticides, som e of wor st air qu al ity in th e n ation, an d over 90 per cen t of Cal ifor n ia?s fr ack in g oper ation s. Th r ou gh th e For gotten Voices cam paign, th e Cen ter on Race, Pover ty & th e En vir on m en t (CRPE) is wor k in g with r esiden ts to im pr ove com m u n ity pl an n in g, in cr ease in vestm en ts, an d im pr ove in fr astr u ctu r e in th e com m u n ities of Al l en swor th, Ar vin, Del an o, Du cor, Lam on t, Gr een fiel d, an d W asco. CRPE h as h el ped for m l ocal com m u n ity gr ou ps in th ese ar eas an d pr ovides su ppor t, tr ain in g, advisin g, edu cation al wor k sh ops in th e com m u n ity, an d str ategic advocacy assistan ce for com m u n ity-l ed pol icy r ecom m en dation s.

21 Bu i l d i n g So l u t i o n s Fr o m t h e Gr o u n d Up CRPE is wor k in g with com m u n ity m em ber s to r ecl aim r esou r ces to r evital ize th eir n eigh bor h oods. H u n dr eds of th ou san ds of fam il ies in Cal ifor n ia do n ot h ave access to safe dr in k in g water in th eir h om es, sch ool s, or wor k pl aces. For decades, th ese com m u n ities h ave been con tin u ou sl y an d del iber atel y excl u ded fr om fu l l par ticipation in th eir l ocal water decision -m ak in g gover n an ce. In r ecen t year s, h owever, com m u n ity r esiden ts h ave begu n to ch al l en ge th ese system s of disem power m en t. On e exam pl e is in Del an o, wh er e CRPE is wor k in g with INSURANCE th e l ocal com m u nlife ity gr ou p Gu ar dian s of Del an o to obtain fu n din g for n ew water an d wastewater tr eatm en t pl an ts to en su r e cl ean dr in k in g water an d adequ ate sewage system s. CRPE an d th e Gu ar dian s of Del an o ar e cu r r en tl y tr yin g to fin d addition al fu n din g sou r ces to cover th e costs of water system u pgr ades so l ow-in com e r esiden ts don?t see th eir u til ity r ates r ise. Th e sm al l town of Ar vin is facin g a sim il ar cr isis in in fr astr u ctu r e to m eet basic n eeds. CRPE is wor k in g with r esiden ts to pr essu r e th e City an d Cal ifor n ia En vir on m en tal Pr otection Agen cy to fu n d an d con str u ct n ew dr in k in g water wel l s to r epl ace th e wel l s con tam in ated by a Su per fu n d site. Del an o, Ar vin, an d m an y sm al l town s n eed com pr eh en sive, com m u n ity-based pl an n in g. To addr ess th is n eed, CRPE is cu r r en tl y pu sh in g for an u pdate in th e Ker n Cou n ty Gen er al Pl an th at wou l d tack l e som e of th e pr essin g com m u n ity devel opm en t n eeds of th e Sou th er n San Joaqu in Val l ey. Two cr itical issu es CRPE an d l ocal r esiden ts h ope to addr ess th r ou gh th is pr ocess ar e r estr iction s on fr ack in g, an d defin in g al ter n ative econ om ic oppor tu n ities in th e Val l ey. Cal ifor n ia's Cen tr al Val l ey sits on on e of th e l ar gest k n own oil r eser ves in th e cou n tr y an d in du str y h as been fever ish l y extr actin g th is oil th r ou gh fr ack in g. Th is pr ocess con su m es m assive am ou n ts of water an d pol l u tes ou r air, soil an d dr in k in g water. In th e Cen tr al Val l ey, fr ack in g dispr opor tion atel y im pacts l ow-in com e com m u n ities an d com m u n ities of col or, an d r em ain s a l ar gel y u n r egu l ated pr actice in Cal ifor n ia. Over 90 per cen t of ou r state's toxic fr ack in g wel l s ar e l ocated in l ow-in com e Latin o com m u n ities. CRPE is wor k in g with r esiden ts to ban fr ack in g, wh ich over wh el m in gl y occu r s cl ose to sch ool s ser vin g pr edom in an tl y Latin o stu den ts. As CRPE an d r esiden ts h ope to ph ase fr ack in g ou t, th ey ar e wor k in g to bu il d al ter n ative econ om ic oppor tu n ities for th e Val l ey?s com m u n ities, su ch as com m u n ity gar den s, far m er s m ar k ets, an d food cooper atives. CRPE h as al r eady h el ped r esiden ts establ ish six gar den s. Th ese com m u n ity gar den s ser ve as in cu bator s in wh ich par ticipan ts l ear n bu sin ess sk il l s an d can even tu al l y tr an sition to far m wor k er -own ed cooper atives. CRPE pl an s to devel op l ocal an d r egion al distr ibu tion n etwor k s to in cr ease com m u n ity access to fr esh, h eal th y, l ocal l y gr own food. CRPE?s wor k dem on str ates th e r isin g poten tial of an en tir e r egion to becom e a Gr een Zon e an d h ow th ese cr itical effor ts can pr ovide com m u n ities with a weal th of su ppor t an d r esou r ces to m eet th eir basic n eeds. Rodr igo Rom o wor ks with CRPE m em ber s at the com m unity gar den in Shafter, which is 8 acr es shar ed with 35 fam ilies and m any low-incom e senior s. The gar den is located r ight behind a school and helps teach kids how to eat healthy without pesticides. Rodr igo enjoys how the gar den br ings fam ilies together. Cur r ently he is wor king with other com m unity m em ber s to get the vegetables gr own in the gar den to be used by the school. For Rodr igo, the gar den pr ovides him with a place for r elaxation and r ehabilitation to r ecover fr om a r ecent injur y, and a way to im pr ove his health. Rod r i go Rom o Photo by Brooke Anderson Com m u n i t i es f or a Bet t er Sh af t er Cen t er on Race, Pov er t y & t h e En v i r on m en t wor k s with Latin o an d im m igr an t com m u n ities in th e San Joaqu in Val l ey, in cl u din g u n in cor por ated, r u r al ar eas. CRPE?s str ategies in cl u de in cu batin g com m u n ity or gan ization s, tr ain in g l eader s to iden tify com m u n ity n eeds, an d em power in g th em to ach ieve th eir goal s. pe-ej.or g 19

22 In l an d Val l ey CENTER FOR COM M UNITY A CTION A ND ENVIRONM ENTA L JUSTICE Photo Courtesy of CCAEJ Tr an sf o r m i n g a To x i c Ho t sp o t w i t h Co m m u n i t y -Led So l u t i o n s Th e I n l an d Val l ey r egion of San Ber n ar din o an d River side cou n ties was on ce a m ajor cen ter of agr icu l tu r e, citr u s, dair y, an d win e m ak in g. Today, th e In l an d Val l ey is h om e to som e of th e m ost exten sive r ail an d h igh way system s in th e cou n tr y, in cl u din g th r ee air car go ter m in al s, an d h igh ways an d r ail ways con n ectin g th e Val l ey to th e n ear by por ts of Los An gel es an d Lon g Beach. Th ese two por ts h an dl e on e-qu ar ter of al l im por ts com in g in to th e U.S. 70 per cen t of th is is tr an spor ted th r ou gh th e In l an d Val l ey on diesel tr u ck s. In addition, m an u factu r in g an d in du str ial facil ities, war eh ou ses, an d distr ibu tion cen ter s h ave al l m oved in to th e ar ea over th e past two decades. an y r ail yar d in th e state, an d both ar eas ar e h om e to at l east on e Su per fu n d site. Th e Cen ter for Com m u n ity Action an d En vir on m en tal Ju stice (CCAEJ) is wor k in g to im pl em en t com m u n ity-l ed sol u tion s in th e city of Ju r u pa Val l ey an d on th e W estside of San Ber n ar din o. Over th e past six year s, CCAEJ h as devel oped a m odel task for ce pr ogr am th at br in gs com m u n ity r esiden ts, feder al, state, r egion al, an d l ocal agen cies togeth er to en gage in cr itical pr obl em sol vin g on l an d u se issu es. Based on th e com m u n ity pl atfor m devel oped by th e l ocal r esiden ts, th e var iou s agen cies add th eir r egu l ator y au th or ity, en for cem en t r esou r ces, an d ideas to iden tify an d im pl em en t com pr eh en sive sol u tion s. W ith ou t appr opr iate l an d u se pl an n in g, th e r egion h as been tr an sfor m ed in to an ar ea wh er e pol l u tin g in du str ies ar e sited r igh t n ext to h om es, diesel tr u ck s cr owd r esiden tial str eets, an d n eigh bor s can n ot u se th eir back yar ds becau se of over wh el m in g n oise an d fu m es. San Ber n ar din o is r an k ed as on e of th e cou n ties with th e wor st air pol l u tion in th e U.S. Th e ar ea is n otor iou s for h avin g som e of th e h igh est r ates of asth m a, cor on ar y h ear t disease an d diabetes. Th e M ir a Lom a Vil l age Ar ea in th e city of Ju r u pa Val l ey h as th e h igh est l evel of par ticu l ate pol l u tion in th e n ation, l eadin g to th e weak est l u n g capacity an d sl owest l u n g gr owth of ch il dr en stu died in Sou th er n Cal ifor n ia. Th e W estside of San Ber n ar din o h as th e h igh est can cer r isk of 20 W ar eh ou ses su r r ou n din g a r esiden tial ar ea in th e City of Ju r u pa Val l ey, sh ar in g th e fen ce with r esiden tial h om es.

23 Bu i l d i n g So l u t i o n s Fr o m t h e Gr o u n d Up W or k in g th r ou gh th e task for ce, CCAEJ an d r esiden ts h ave been abl e to devel op sol u tion s to addr ess th e h eal th im pacts of pol l u tion an d poor devel opm en t in th e In l an d Val l ey. Each com m u n ity h as devel oped a Pl atfor m for Action, ou tl in in g th eir ar eas of con cer n an d pr oposed sol u tion s. Th e focu s of th e Gr een Zon es cam paign in th e Ju r u pa Val l ey h as been th e adoption of an En vir on m en tal Ju stice El em en t in th e city?s Gen er al Pl an. Th e Gen er al Pl an is u pl iftin g th e pr in cipl es of equ ity by iden tifyin g an d im pl em en tin g pr ojects th at can im pr ove u n h eal th y l an d u se pl an n in g in th e ar ea. On e of th e fir st effor ts of th e Gen er al Pl an h as been tack l in g th e h igh r ates of tr u ck tr affic in th e ar ea. Cu r r en tl y th er e ar e m or e th an 800 diesel tr u ck s per h ou r passin g by a r esiden tial ar ea. Th r ou gh r esiden t par ticipation an d discu ssion, th e city is wor k in g to devel op a n ew tr u ck r ou te th at wil l dir ect tr affic away fr om r esiden tial h om es. Th e city is al so wor k in g to fin d sol u tion s th at pr otect peopl e fr om poor air qu al ity, in cl u din g settin g n ew h om es far th er back fr om fr eeways, in stal l in g vegetative bar r ier s, an d h igh per for m an ce air fil tr ation u n its in ever y h om e. In San Ber n ar din o, CCAEJ h as been wor k in g to r edu ce th e m assive pu bl ic h eal th th r eat fr om gian t n atu r al gas con tain er s stor ed in th e m idst of a r esiden tial n eigh bor h ood an d acr oss th e str eet fr om an el em en tar y sch ool. Residen ts won a m ajor victor y in gettin g com m itm en t fr om th e own er s to r el ocate th e poten tial l y expl osive 80,000 gal l on tan k s away fr om th e h om es. Sim u l tan eou sl y, CCAEJ h as been wor k in g to pr ovide r el ief for th e h eal th dispar ities th at San Ber n ar din o r esiden ts str u ggl e with. CCAEJ wor k ed with Lom a Lin da Un iver sity to in ter view m or e th an 900 r esiden ts an d 750 el em en tar y sch ool stu den ts as par t of a com pr eh en sive h eal th stu dy exam in in g th e im pacts of l ivin g n ext to a r ail yar d. As a r esu l t of th e stu dy, W estside San Ber n ar din o n ow h as a fr ee M obil e H eal th Cl in ic for cou n ty r esiden ts an d a Br eath M obil e th at assesses th e l u n g fu n ction of ch il dr en ages 18 an d u n der. Oth er task for ce su ccesses in cl u de in stal l in g h igh per for m an ce air fil tr ation u n its at sch ool s in n ear r ail yar ds, gettin g l ocal bu sin esses to com pl y with th eir per m its, an d in stal l in g tr u ck an ti-idl in g sign s an d con du ctin g tr ain in gs on an ti-idl in g l aws. CCAEJ?s wor k with th e task for ce h as ser ved as a com pr eh en sive m odel for addr essin g en vir on m en tal ju stice issu es an d devel opin g com m u n ity dr iven pu bl ic pol icy, m ovin g th e In l an d Val l ey towar d a th r ivin g Gr een Zon e. Cen t er f or Com m u n i t y Act i on an d En v i r on m en t al Ju st i ce wor k s in th e In l an d Val l ey of Cal ifor n ia, pr im ar il y River side an d San Ber n ar din o Cou n ty ar eas. Th e Cen ter is activel y seek in g oppor tu n ities to br in g togeth er gr ou ps of peopl e wor k in g on a var iety of social, econ om ic an d en vir on m en tal ju stice issu es. W e bel ieve th at by expl or in g th e in ter con n ection s am on g issu es an d seek in g com m on gr ou n d for cooper ative action s, we en h an ce th e abil ity to cr eate fu n dam en tal ch an ge. Ou r m ission is br in gin g peopl e togeth er to im pr ove ou r social an d n atu r al en vir on m en t in or der to cr eate safe, toxic fr ee pl aces to l ive, wor k, l ear n an d pl ay. g Ad a Tr u ji l l o, CCAEJ M em ber Ada Tr ujillo and her husband ar e r esidents of the W est Side of San Ber nar dino, r aising their fam ily of 3 sm all childr en. Ada and her fam ily, like m any other r esidents live acr oss the str eet fr om the r efueling station that fuels the public bus system in San Ber nar dino County. On a daily basis the station is congested by bus tr affic going in and out of the facility. Public tr ansit is im por tant to r educe air pollution but having a r efueling station that houses over 80,0 0 0 gallons of natur al gas tanks in a r esidential ar ea and acr oss the str eet fr om the neighbor hood?s elem entar y school is danger ous. Ada?s childr en go to that elem entar y school. The safety of the W est Side is at stake. Residents, along with Ada and her fam ily, joined for ces and won a com m itm ent fr om the county and the r efueling station's boar d of dir ector s to m ove the tanks away fr om Ada?s neighbor hood. 21

24 Nat i o n al Ci t y ENVIRONM ENTA L HEA LTH COA LITION Photo Courtesy of Environmental Health Coalition Tr an sf o r m i n g a To x i c Ho t sp o t w i t h Co m m u n i t y -Led So l u t i o n s Ol d Tow n N at i on al Ci t y on th e W estside of Nation al City ju st sou th of San Diego, is h om e to pr edom in an tl y Ch ican o an d Latin o fam il ies, som e r ecen t im m igr an ts, an d som e wh o h ave been l ivin g in th e n eigh bor h ood for gen er ation s. Ol d Town Nation al City is a fam il y-or ien ted n eigh bor h ood. Local r esiden ts h ave a str on g sen se of con n ection an d col l ective r espon sibil ity to im pr ove th e qu al ity of l ife in th eir n eigh bor h ood. Un for tu n atel y, for decades, l an d u se pl an n er s h ave tr eated Ol d Town Nation al City as a du m pin g gr ou n d for pol l u tin g in du str ies an d war eh ou ses. W al k in g ar ou n d Nation al City, you pass over 35 au to body an d r epair sh ops in a 70 bl ock ar ea. Com bin ed with oth er in du str ial u ses, appr oxim atel y 32,000 pou n ds of toxic air con tam in an ts ar e r el eased per year. Not su r pr isin gl y, asth m a r ates ar e dispr opor tion atel y h igh in th e n eigh bor h ood. Th er e is a cl ear l ack of gr een space an d affor dabl e h ou sin g. Ol d Town is on e of th e poor est n eigh bor h oods in Nation al City, with a r en ter h ou seh ol d m edian in com e of $18,000, in con tr ast to an ar ea in com e of $63,000. On l y 28 per cen t of r esiden ts own th eir h om es, abou t h al f th e cou n tr y aver age. Th e com m u n ity is a textbook exam pl e of h ow in du str ies an d peopl e don?t m ix. 22 Th r ou gh th e Gr een Zon es cam paign, En vir on m en tal H eal th Coal ition h as been devel opin g an d im pl em en tin g com m u n ity-based l an d u se pl an n in g im pr ovem en ts to addr ess th e u n h eal th y m ix of in du str y an d h om es in Ol d Town. For over 10 year s, EH C h as been wor k in g with l ocal r esiden ts to devel op, pass, an d im pl em en t th eir n eigh bor h ood vision in par tn er sh ip with th e City. Th ey h ave h el ped devel op com m u n ity l eader sh ip, m ak in g th e r esiden ts of Ol d Town Nation al City th e exper ts on l an d u se pl an n in g th r ou gh tool s su ch as n eigh bor h ood assessm en ts, su r veys, an d con du ctin g au dits for in du str ial viol ation s. EH C al so h ol ds m on th l y Com m u n ity Action Team m eetin gs an d en gages in door k n ock in g cam paign s. Th eir Sal u d Am bien tal Leader es Tom an do Accion (SALTA) tr ain in gs edu cate r esiden ts on issu es of l eader sh ip, en er gy, l an d u se, cl im ate ju stice, an d tr an spor tation ju stice. EH C r egu l ar l y or gan izes r esiden ts to sh ow u p at City Cou n cil an d oth er decision -m ak in g ven u es to en su r e th e issu es th ey car e abou t ar e bein g addr essed.

25 Bu i l d i n g So l u t i o n s Fr o m t h e Gr o u n d Up Th r ou gh th is peopl e-l ed pl an n in g, EH C an d th e Ol d Town com m u n ity devel oped a l an d u se pl an th at r efl ects r esiden ts?aspir ation s for a h eal th y com m u n ity. Th e?w estside Specific Pl an,? adopted in 2010, in cl u des pol icies to pr otect th e r esiden tial ch ar acter of th e n eigh bor h ood, im pr ove en vir on m en tal h eal th con dition s for r esiden ts, in stal l pedestr ian safety en h an cem en t, an d pr otect of th e l ocal Par adise Cr eek water way. Th e W estside Specific Pl an for Ol d Town Nation al City wil l h el p en su r e a vibr an t h eal th y com m u n ity with affor dabl e h ou sin g, wel l ser viced pu bl ic tr an spor tation, safe pedestr ian wal k ways, com patibl e l an d u ses, an d in cr eased u se of cl ean en er gy. A cor n er ston e of th e pl an is r ezon in g in th e ar ea an d th e ph ase-ou t of u n h eal th y l an d u ses su ch as au to body sh ops, wh ich is bein g facil itated th r ou gh an am or tization or din an ce adopted in H owever, EH C is wor k in g to en su r e th at Ol d Town an d l ocal r esiden ts do n ot l ose th e vital econ om ic base th at th ese sm al l bu sin esses pr ovide. EH C h as been wor k in g to devel op a Gr een In du str ial Au to Par k away fr om th e r esiden tial ar ea, wh ich wou l d ser ve as an in n ovative, en vir on m en tal l y sou n d an d econ om ical l y viabl e destin ation for au to r epair bu sin esses ph asin g ou t of Ol d Town. It wou l d al so be a h u b for th e pain t an d au to body in du str y an d wou l d al l ow th em to m ain tain th eir bu sin esses in Nation al City wh il e pr otectin g r esiden t h eal th in Ol d Town. Th e W estside Specific Pl an al so in cl u ded a n u m ber of vision ar y pr ojects th at ar e in differ en t ph ases of im pl em en tation. In 2015, th e Par adise Cr eek Affor dabl e H ou sin g Pr oject r eceived $9.2 m il l ion in state fu n din g for th e con str u ction of 201 u n its. Th e devel opm en t, or igin al l y con ceived as par t of th e pl an, cl ean s u p vacan t l an d n ext to pu bl ic tr an sit, cr eates a pu bl ic par k an d a cr eek r estor ation pr oject, an d bu il ds bik in g an d wal k in g path s. Th e W estside Specific Pl an h as al so been a spr in gboar d for city-wide l an d u se pl an n in g effor ts. In 2011, Nation al City adopted a fu l l En vir on m en tal Ju stice el em en t in its Gen er al Pl an, th e fir st city in Cal ifor n ia to do so. Th e el em en t ou tl in es a r an ge of sol u tion s to u n h eal th y l an d u se patter n s th at addr ess r espir ator y h eal th an d air qu al ity. EH C con tin u es to advan ce com m u n ity-l ed l an d u se pl an n in g in Nation al City, as wel l as th e Bar r io Logan, City H eigh ts, an d Sh er m an / Logan H eigh ts n eigh bor h oods in San Diego. Th ese effor ts en su r e com m u n ity m em ber s can deter m in e th eir vision an d val u es for bu il din g h eal th y n eigh bor h oods. L or en a Ch av ez, EH C M em ber Lor ena Chavez has been involved with EH C since , m ostly because she lives in Old Town N ational City, wher e industr y is m ixed with r esidential land uses. This m ixed zoning affects the health of the fam ilies living in Lor ena?s neighbor hood since m ost of the industr y ther e consists of auto body and paint shops. For Lor ena, pr otecting the health of her thr ee childr en is m ost im por tant. She par ticipated in the im plem entation of the Old Town Specific Plan which changed the land use for this ar ea. The plan, appr oved in by the N ational City City Council, will no longer allow polluting industr ies into the com m unity. Lor ena has also par ticipated in the H ealthy H om es pr ogr am, showing fam ilies how to m ake their hom es toxic-fr ee and ener gy efficient. She has been an active N ational City Com m unity Action Team m em ber and wants to continue being involved in m aking positive changes in her com m unity. En v i r on m en t al H eal t h Coal i t i on wor k s to im pr ove th e wel l -bein g of fam il ies an d ch il dr en in l ow-in com e com m u n ities of col or in th e San Diego/ Tiju an a r egion. EH C?s in tegr ated appr oach en gages r esiden ts in m ean in gfu l civic par ticipation. Th r ou gh or gan izin g, advocacy an d l eader sh ip tr ain in g, r esiden ts ar e em power ed to deter m in e th eir vision s for th eir n eigh bor h oods an d ach ieve pu bl ic pol icies th at r efl ect th eir desir ed ch an ges. onm entalhealth.or g 23

26 Co m m er ce EA ST YA RD COM M UNITIES FOR ENVIRONM ENTA L JUSTICE Photo courtesy of EYCEJ Tr an sf o r m i n g a To x i c Ho t sp o t w i t h Co m m u n i t y -Led So l u t i o n s Th e Ci t y of Com m er ce is on e of th e m ost con cen tr ated sites of fr eigh t-r el ated diesel pol l u tion in th e cou n tr y, with fou r r ail yar ds in th e ar ea. Ever y day appr oxim atel y 47,000 diesel tr u ck s dr ive on th e I-710 fr eeway th r ou gh th e ar ea in Sou th east Los An gel es. Th e exposu r e fr om both m obil e an d station ar y sou r ces l eaves th e com m u n ities of Com m er ce vu l n er abl e to l ar ge am ou n ts of diesel exh au st, wh ich in cr eases th e r ate of can cer, asth m a, an d oth er r espir ator y il l n esses for m an y l ocal r esiden ts, in cl u din g el der s an d you n g ch il dr en. Th e h eal th issu es fr om diesel tr affic dispr opor tion atel y im pact peopl e of col or. Com m er ce is com pr ised of 96.9 per cen t peopl e of col or, pr im ar il y Latin a/ o, with 17.9 per cen t bel ow th e pover ty l evel, wh ich is h igh er th an th e Cal ifor n ia state aver age. Th e city is al so in th e top 10 per cen t m ost im pacted com m u n ities accor din g to th e Cal ifor n ia En vir on m en tal Pr otection Agen cy?s cu m u l ative im pact scr een in g tool, Cal En vir oscr een 2.0. Despite th ese im pacts, th e com m u n ity is cl ose-k n it, with exten sive fam il y n etwor k s th at span sever al gen er ation s. 24 Sin ce 2012, th e Gr een Zon es cam paign in Com m er ce h as been l ed by East Yar d Com m u n ities for En vir on m en tal Ju stice (EYCEJ), a com m u n ity-based or gan ization. EYCEJ h el ped pu sh th e City of Com m er ce to star t a Gr een Zon es Pol icy W or k in g Gr ou p. Th e Pol icy W or k in g Gr ou p in cl u des l ocal r esiden ts, academ ic par tn er s, bu sin esses an d l abor r epr esen tatives. It cam e togeth er to devel op a set of r ecom m en dation s for str ategies to pr even t toxic exposu r e, r edu ce th e l evel of existin g im pacts, r evital ize l ocal econ om ic oppor tu n ities an d gen er ate jobs, an d r ein vest in in fr astr u ctu r e th at su ppor ts com m u n ity h eal th an d a better qu al ity of l ife. Th e W or k in g Gr ou p h as focu sed on iden tifyin g addition al l an d u se l im its an d in itial per for m an ce stan dar ds to r edu ce an d pr even t pol l u tion, an d pr om ote r evital ization.

27 Bu i l d i n g So l u t i o n s Fr o m t h e Gr o u n d Up In Novem ber 2013, with over wh el m in g su ppor t fr om l ocal r esiden ts, Com m er ce City Cou n cil voted u n an im ou sl y in favor of a Gr een Zon es Pol icy th at in cl u ded th e com m u n ity sol u tion s for r edu ction, r ein vestm en t, an d r evital ization. EYCEJ is stil l pr essin g for th e adoption of th e?pr even tion? com pon en t an d is pu sh in g for th e Cou n cil to con sider an or din an ce to ch an ge l ocal zon in g to be m or e pr otective of pu bl ic h eal th. Th e passage of th e City Cou n cil r esol u tion m ak es Com m er ce on e of th e fir st com m u n ities in th e n ation to h ave a Gr een Zon es pol icy. EYCEJ?s vision for a Gr een Zon e in th e City of Com m er ce in cl u des su ppor tin g l ocal bu sin esses an d devel opin g good, gr een jobs. Towar ds th is goal, EYCEJ r ecen tl y r el eased a com pr eh en sive dir ector y of l ocal, r egion al, state, an d feder al pr ogr am s avail abl e to h el p sm al l an d m ediu m sized bu sin esses save m on ey by goin g gr een. It establ ish es a vol u n tar y fin an cial an d tech n ical assistan ce pr ogr am cal l ed th e?gr een Zon e Ban n er Pr ogr am,? wh ich in cl u des fin an cin g, tr ain in g, au dits, an d cover in g bu sin ess star t-u p costs. Th e goal of th is pr ogr am is to im pr ove th e fin an cial stabil ity of existin g bu sin esses, im pr ove wor k er h eal th, in cr ease per for m an ce an d pr odu ctivity, an d pr ovide fin an cial assistan ce to r edu ce pol l u tion an d cost, an d in cr ease pr ofit. Given th e h igh l evel of h ar m fu l em ission s th at com e fr om diesel tr u ck s in th e City of Com m er ce, EYCEJ or gan ized m em ber s to en gage in gr assr oots com m u n ity r esear ch to devel op a tr u ck idl in g h ot spot m ap. Th e Tr u ck Tr u th in g pr oject en gaged 15 you th m em ber s to con du ct fiel d su r veys, wh er e th ey iden tified tr u ck idl in g h ot spots an d m easu r ed th e fr equ en cy an d du r ation of idl in g. Th e Tr u ck Tr u th in g pr oject dir ectl y in for m ed th e pl acem en t of br an d n ew?no Idl in g Sign s? to en for ce r u l es th at r edu ce th e fr equ en cy of par k ed diesel tr u ck s on bu sy str eets th r ou gh ou t Com m er ce. EYCEJ m em ber s an d staff pr esen ted th e fin din gs to th e City of Com m er ce. Now, with th e su ppor t of th e Cal ifor n ia Air Resou r ces Boar d, No Idl in g Sign s ar e bein g pu t u p at th e r ecom m en ded h ot spots. Th e pr oject is a par tn er sh ip with th e City of Com m er ce, th e Cal ifor n ia Air Resou r ces Boar d, an d th e Depar tm en t of Toxic Su bstan ce Con tr ol. EYCEJ is con tin u in g to col l abor ate with th e City of Com m er ce to edu cate tr u ck dr iver s on th e No Idl in g l aws with h an dou ts an d door h an ger s ar ou n d th e h otspots wh er e th e n ew?no Tr u ck Idl in g? sign s ar e l ocated. Redu cin g idl in g wil l l ead to cl ean er air an d h eal th ben efits for l ocal r esiden ts. Th e Gr een Zon e pol icies advan ced by EYCEJ pave th e way for oth er vision ar y com m u n ity-l ed par tn er sh ips to im pl em en t vibr an t an d h eal th y com m u n ities. Photo courtesy of EYCEJ East Yar d Com m u n i t i es f or En v i r on m en t al Ju st i ce is an en vir on m en tal h eal th an d ju stice n on -pr ofit or gan ization wor k in g towar ds a safe an d h eal th y en vir on m en t for com m u n ities th at ar e dispr opor tion atel y su ffer in g th e n egative im pacts of in du str ial pol l u tion. EYCEJ pr om otes dir ect dem ocr atic decision -m ak in g an d tak in g col l ective action for safe an d h eal th y com m u n ities wer e we l ive, wor k, l ear n an d pl ay. g 25

28 Lo s A n g el es CLEA N UP GREEN UP Photo Courtesy of LA Collaborative for Environmental Health and Justice Tr an sf o r m i n g a To x i c Ho t sp o t w i t h Co m m u n i t y -Led So l u t i o n s Th e Ci t y of L os An gel es str u ggl es with poor air qu al ity, bu t som e com m u n ities get a dou bl e dose. Th ese n eigh bor h oods ar e toxic h otspots, with an in ten se con cen tr ation of pol l u tion sou r ces adjacen t to r esiden tial an d sen sitive ar eas su ch as sch ool s, pl aygr ou n ds, an d el der car e cen ter s. Th e r isk of pol l u tion -r el ated il l n ess? asth m a attack s, h ear t disease, r espir ator y distr ess, can cer, an d pr em atu r e death? is h igh er in th ese ar eas com par ed to m an y oth er ar eas of L.A. Un for tu n atel y, cu r r en t l an d u ses in Los An gel es al l ow fam il ies to l ive ju st over th e fen ce fr om diesel tr u ck depots, war eh ou ses, r ail yar ds an d r efin er ies. Th ese l an d u se patter n s pu t pol l u tion sou r ces r igh t in th e back yar d of r esiden ts. Th r ee h eavil y pol l u ted Los An gel es n eigh bor h oods? Boyl e H eigh ts, Pacoim a an d W il m in gton? ar e wor k in g to tr an sfor m th eir n eigh bor h oods in to safer, m or e vibr an t com m u n ities by r edu cin g an d pr even tin g fu r th er pol l u tion. Gr assr oots gr ou ps fr om th ese toxic h otspots join ed togeth er in 2006 to for m th e L.A. Col l abor ative for En vir on m en tal H eal th an d Ju stice, wh ich in cl u des Com m u n ities for a Better En vir on m en t, Coal ition for a Safe En vir on m en t, Pacoim a Beau tifu l, an d Un ión de Vecin os. Togeth er, m em ber s of th e col l abor ative h ave devel oped th e Cl ean Up Gr een Up (CUGU) In itiative. Th e goal of CUGU is to pr even t th e fu r th er con cen tr ation of en vir on m en tal h azar ds in over bu r den ed n eigh bor h oods, r edu ce pol l u tion, an d h el p bu sin esses cl ean u p an d gr een u p th eir oper ation s, wh il e r etain in g an d cr eatin g m or e jobs in th e n eigh bor h ood. 26 Photo Courtesy of Clean Up Green Up Cl ean Up Gr een Up is com pr ised of th r ee h eavil y-pol l u ted n eigh bor h oods: Pacoim a, Boyl e H eigh ts, an d W il m in gton.

29 CUGU is a pu bl ic h eal th m easu r e th at wou l d decl ar e h igh l y pol l u ted toxic h otspot n eigh bor h oods as en vir on m en tal ju stice pr otection zon es??gr een Zon es.? On ce design ated as Gr een Zon es, th e City of Los An gel es wil l wor k to r edu ce pol l u tion im pacts th r ou gh en h an ced en for cem en t, coor din ated in spection s, m or e h eal th -pr otective stan dar ds for n ew an d expan ded bu sin esses, an d str on ger pu bl ic par ticipation fr om l ocal r esiden ts. A h eal th ier com m u n ity equ al s a h eal th ier l ocal bu sin ess cl im ate. A k ey el em en t of CUGU is th e cr eation of an Om bu dsper son in th e City of Los An gel es, wh o wil l assist l ocal bu sin esses in Gr een Zon es com pl y with r egu l ation s an d n avigate th e per m ittin g system. CUGU al so focu ses on r evital izin g n eigh bor h oods by h el pin g bu sin esses access fin an cial su ppor t an d tech n ical in cen tives, su ch as su ch as l ow-in ter est l oan s, en er gy au dits an d u pgr ades to h el p save on en er gy an d water costs. CUGU dem on str ates th at l ocal pl an n in g an d l an d u se pol icies can addr ess com m u n ity h eal th an d su stain abil ity. It is a pil ot or din an ce th at cou l d be appl ied in oth er h eavil y-pol l u ted Los An gel es com m u n ities. CUGU was devel oped th r ou gh a com m u n ity-based r esear ch an d en gagem en t pr ocess. Residen ts in each of th e tar get com m u n ities docu m en ted th e h igh l evel s of pol l u tion an d r an ge of sou r ces in th e ar ea. Th r ou gh th is?gr ou n d-tr u th in g? pr ocess, r esiden ts l ook ed n ot on l y at in dividu al cau ses of pol l u tion, bu t docu m en ted th e con cen tr ation of m an y sou r ces, l ar ge an d sm al l, th at add u p to cr eate a cu m u l ative h eal th bu r den. In ear l y 2011, L.A. City Cou n cil dir ected th e Depar tm en t of City Pl an n in g to devel op a dr aft Gr een Zon es or din an ce. Photo Courtesy of LA Collaborative for Environmental Health and Justice CBE M em ber sh owin g th eir l ove for a cl ean gr een W il m in gton. Th e L.A. Col l abor ative h as been wor k in g with th e City Cou n cil, Pl an n in g Depar tm en t an d oth er agen cies to m ove th e m easu r e for war d. In M ay of 2015, th e Depar tm en t of City Pl an n in g r el eased a Dr aft Or din an ce. It in cl u des m easu r es to en su r e th at n ew an d expan ded bu sin esses l ocated with in Gr een Zon es u se sign age to deter diesel tr u ck idl in g, im pl em en t n ew stan dar ds th at wil l cover n oise, an d pr ovide en cl osu r es for air em ission s to r edu ce sm ok e, du st, an d fu m es. Th e dr aft or din an ce al so in cl u des citywide pr ovision s to offer m or e pr otection for r esiden ts l ivin g n ear oil r efin er ies, an d su ppor ts a par al l el r egu l ator y m easu r e in r equ ir in g m an dator y air fil ter s th at m in im ize in h al ation of car cin ogen s n ear fr eeways. Th e L.A. Col l abor ative h as wor k ed to en su r e th at r esiden ts fr om pr oposed Gr een Zon es ar e tr u l y l eadin g th e effor t. Th ey h ave en gaged r esiden ts an d l ocal bu sin esses to r eview an d com m en t on r ecom m en dation s th r ou gh pu bl ic h ear in gs an d stak eh ol der m eetin gs. Com m u n ity l eader s ar e th e spok espeopl e for th e cam paign. Or gan ization s h ave al so focu sed on ou tr each to bu sin esses, cr eatin g oppor tu n ities for feedback an d in pu t fr om a bu sin ess per spective, wh il e devel opin g su ppor t for th e m easu r e. Photo Courtesy of Clean Up Green Up Pacoim a r esiden ts at a Cl ean Up Gr een Up wor k sh op en vision in g a cl ean er an d h eal th ier n eigh bor h ood. 27

30 Photo Courtesy of LA Collaborative for Environmental Health and Justice CUGU m em ber s pack th e LA City Cou n cil h ear in g. Photo by Martha Matsuwoka Un ión de Vecin os m em ber s with a LA City Cou n cil m em ber. As a r esu l t of th is or gan izin g, CUGU h as gain ed m ajor su ppor t as a cu ttin g edge en vir on m en tal ju stice pol icy. It is cu r r en tl y in cl u ded in th e City of Los An gel es?h eal th an d W el l n ess El em en t of th e Gen er al Pl an an d M ayor Gar cetti?s Su stain abil ity Pl an. M or e th an 180 pu bl ic h eal th, en vir on m en tal, faith -based, l ocal bu sin ess an d com m u n ity gr ou ps h ave en dor sed th e m easu r e. In Ju n e of 2015, an over wh el m in g m ajor ity of al m ost 200 r esiden ts in th e Pacoim a, W il m in gton an d Boyl e H eigh ts expr essed th eir su ppor t for th e pol icy at l ocal h ear in gs. Th e Dr aft Or din an ce is m ak in g its way th r ou gh th e city pr ocess, bu t on ce appr oved, it wil l becom e par t of th e City?s M u n icipal Pl an n in g an d Zon in g Code. CUGU is a n ew m odel to r edu ce pol l u tion in toxic h otspot com m u n ities. It is dem on str atin g th at th e m ovem en t for en vir on m en tal ju stice is figh tin g l ocal pol l u tion, fin din g gr een er ways to im pr ove bu sin esses, an d bu il din g a m or e cl ean, safe, an d h eal th y en vir on m en t. Photo Courtesy of Warren Hill Stu dyin g u n h eal th y l an d u se patter n s in Pacoim a. Cl ean Up Gr een Up is a cu ttin g-edge pol icy th at addr esses both pu bl ic h eal th an d econ om ic wel l -bein g in Los An gel es com m u n ities th at h ave l on g str u ggl ed to go gr een. eenup.wor dpr ess.com 28

31 Cl ean Up Gr een Up Pr o p o sed Zo n es Cl ean Up Gr een Up Pr o p o sed Zo n es Bo y l e Hei g h t s UNION DE VECINOS Photo Courtesy of LA Collaborative for Environmental Health and Justice Boy l e H ei gh t s, l ocated East of Down town L,A., acr oss fr om th e Los An gel es River, is a com m u n ity with r ich h istor y an d cu l tu r e. H istor ical l y, th e ar ea was on e of th e few n eigh bor h oods wh er e im m igr an t wor k in g cl ass fam il ies cou l d l ive in decen t h ou sin g for affor dabl e pr ices. Th e Boyl e H eigh ts com m u n ity is 94 per cen t Latin o an d 77 per cen t r en ter s, wh ich is on e of th e h igh est popu l ation den sities in th e cou n tr y. Boyl e H eigh ts is bor der ed by m u l tipl e in ter state h igh ways, r ail yar ds, au to sh ops, an d factor ies. Th e ar ea was on ce a str on gh ol d of L.A.?s m an u factu r in g econ om y. W h il e m an u factu r in g h as decl in ed in th e past decades, l eavin g both con tam in ated sites an d a l oss in jobs, th e ar ea r em ain s ch ar acter ized by a m ix of in du str ial an d r esiden tial l an d u ses. Th e East Los An gel es In ter ch an ge, wh ich con n ects fou r m ajor fr eeways an d is l ocated in Boyl e H eigh ts, is on e of th e bu siest an d m ost con gested fr eeways in th e U.S., car r yin g over 500,000 car s each day. Th e con cen tr ation of pol l u tion sou r ces fr om th ese in du str ial facil ities h as cr eated sever e h eal th r isk s for r esiden ts, su ch as asth m a an d can cer. Th er e is a h igh pr eval en ce of car diovascu l ar an d r espir ator y disease, h igh obesity r ates, an d h igh r ates of tr affic-r el ated in ju r ies or death s to pedestr ian s an d cycl ists. Gen tr ification h as al so h it Boyl e H eigh ts h ar d. Th e ar ea is ju st a few m il es fr om Down town L.A., an d with th e "W e want the suppor t of our gover nm ental leader s to take action and encour age business owner s to pr event and r educe pollution, and r evitalize and invest in our com m unities to be healthier with gr een com panies and spaces." Al m a Sal ci d o UV Or gan i zer w i t h L A Ci t y Cou n ci l m em ber Jose H u i zar open in g of a n ew m etr o stop in th e ar ea, it h as becom e attr active to you n g pr ofession al s. Th is h as l ed to in cr eased pr essu r es on over al l h ou sin g pr ices, pu ttin g l on g-tim e r esiden ts at r isk of displ acem en t. Th e Cl ean Up Gr een Up cam paign is a ch an ce to h el p existin g bu sin esses in th e ar ea becom e m or e en vir on m en tal l y fr ien dl y an d wor k with r esiden ts to r edu ce air qu al ity im pacts. L a Un i ón d e Veci n os is a n etwor k of n eigh bor h ood an d bu il din g com m u n ities wh er e wor k in g fam il ies get togeth er to SEE th e con dition s of th eir n eigh bor h ood, REFLECT on th e r oot cau ses for th ese con dition s an d ACT to br in g abou t r eal, con cr ete ch an ge. 29

32 Cl ean Up Gr een Up Pr o p o sed Zo n es Cl ean Up Gr een Up Pr o p o sed Zo n es Wilm ing t on COM M UNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONM ENT COA LITION FOR A SA FE ENVIRONM ENT Photo by Jesse Marquez W i l m i n gt on is a toxic h otspot in Los An gel es. W il m in gton an d th e su r r ou n din g ar eas ar e h ost to th e h igh est con cen tr ation of oil r efin er ies in Cal ifor n ia. Th e com m u n ity is al so l ocated n ext to th e San Pedr o Bay Por t Com pl ex, th e l ar gest an d m ost pol l u tin g por t com pl ex in th e cou n tr y. Lar ge qu an tities of goods m ovin g in an d ou t of th e Lon g Beach an d Los An gel es por ts r equ ir e a m assive in fr astr u ctu r e of h igh ways, bu sy r oadways an d r ail. Often th ese tr an spor t cor r idor s r u n th r ou gh or adjacen t too r esiden tial ar eas in W il m in gton. In addition to th e im pacts of th e por ts, r efin er ies, an d oth er in du str ial oper ation s, th er e ar e m an y oth er en vir on m en tal h azar ds, su ch as oil dr il l in g an d con tam in ated l an d, th at im pact th e h eal th of com m u n ity. A qu ar ter of r esiden ts in W il m in gton l ive bel ow th e pover ty l in e, an d 90 per cen t of r esiden ts iden tify as H ispan ic or Latin o. Despite an en or m ou s pol l u tion bu r den an d m an y oth er social ch al l en ges, W il m in gton is h om e to a r ich cu l tu r e an d a vibr an t com m u n ity. Residen ts h ave fou gh t for an d won n ation al l y pr eceden t-settin g r egu l ation s an d h ave pu sh ed for cl ean er oper ation s by por ts, r efin er ies an d oth er in du str ies. Th e Cl ean Up Gr een Up In itiative is a u n iqu e oppor tu n ity to offer a m u ch n eeded, addition al l ayer of pr otection to th e com m u n ity in W il m in gton. Cl ean Up Gr een Up str ives to establ ish win -win par tn er sh ips am on g r esiden ts, bu sin esses, an d gover n m en t agen cies, an d cr eate m or e su stain abl e econ om ic gr owth for a m or e r esil ien t W il m in gton. Com m u n i t i es f or a Bet t er En v i r on m en t wor k s in wor k in g cl ass Latin o an d Afr ican Am er ican com m u n ities of Oak l an d, Rich m on d, W il m in gton, an d cities of Sou th east Los An gel es Cou n ty. CBE com bin es com m u n ity gr assr oots or gan izin g, scien ce-based advocacy an d l egal in ter ven tion in to a u n iqu el y effective str ategy to su ccessfu l l y im pact ch an ge an d im pr ove th e qu al ity of l ives for th e r esiden ts. g Coal i t i on For A Saf e En v i r on m en t (CFASE) is a n on pr ofit com m u n ity-based or gan ization based in W il m in gton, CA th at seek s to im pr ove en vir on m en tal h eal th an d ju stice in th e H ar bor com m u n ities n ear th e Por ts of Los An gel es an d Lon g Beach. CFASE is in vol ved in pol icy issu es at al l l evel s of gover n m en t. "I always wanted to do som ething to im pr ove the quality of the air in m y com m unity, and now I have the chance to do it. As a volunteer with Com m unities for a Better Envir onm ent, we?r e wor king with the Clean Up Gr een Up Cam paign, which is helping us to r educe pollution. W e?r e pr eventing and r educing pollution in our com m unity and other com m unities, to help m ake W ilm ington becom e cleaner and gr eener." An a Can o 30 CBE M em ber

33 Cl ean Up Gr een Up Pr o p o sed Zo n es Cl ean Up Gr een Up Pr o p o sed Zo n es Paco i m a PA COIM A BEA UTIFUL Photo Courtesy of Pacoima Beautiful In th e com m u n ity of Pacoi m a, in th e San Fer n an do Val l ey, th er e is a pl ace k n own as?dism an tl er Row.? It is l in ed with m etal r ecycl er s, tr u ck in g yar ds, r ock cu tter s, sal vage yar ds, an d au to body sh ops. Th e en tir e ar ea of Pacoim a h as l on g been dom in ated by in du str y. Th e ar ea is bor der ed by th r ee fr eeways, a pr ivate air por t th at h osts diesel pl an es an d h el icopter s, 7 active l an dfil l s, an d m u l tipl e factor ies. Th er e is al so a r ail r oad th at h as fr equ en t tr affic, br in gin g addition al diesel em ission s. Th e cu m u l ative im pact of th ese pol l u tion sou r ces m ak es Pacoim a on e of th e m ost h eavil y im pacted com m u n ities in th e state, accor din g to th e Cal ifor n ia En vir on m en tal Pr otection Agen cy?s cu m u l ative im pact scr een in g tool Cal En vir oscr een 2.0. Residen ts su ffer fr om h igh r ates of asth m a an d a sign ifican t l ack of open space an d par k s. I saac Luna?s business has oper ated in Pacoim a for 43 year s. H e lear ned about Clean Up Gr een Up when or ganizer s fr om Pacoim a Beautiful invited local business owner s to a wor kshop wher e I ssac and other entr epr eneur s connected with state and local H owever, Pacoim a is al so a you n g, cu l tu r al l y vibr an t com m u n ity th at is h om e to a r ich h istor y of in digen ou s an d im m igr an t popu l ation s. It is 85 per cen t Latin o an d m ostl y wor k in g cl ass. Recen tl y, it h as al so becom e th e cen ter of an excitin g pu bl ic ar t m ovem en t th at h as r esu l ted in col or fu l m u r al s acr oss th e n eigh bor h ood. It is adjacen t to th e An gel es Nation al For est, pr ovidin g a back dr op of m ou n tain s u n l ik e an y oth er in th e City of Los An gel es. W h il e th e bu r den of th e pol l u tion can often bl u r th e beau ty, Pacoim a Beau tifu l an d l ocal r esiden ts ar e wor k in g togeth er to cr eate positive ch an ge th r ou gh effor ts su ch as th e Cl ean Up Gr een Up cam paign. agencies who answer ed questions and pr ovided r esour ces to r un cleaner, gr eener and m or e efficient oper ations. Pacoi m a Beau t i f u l wor k s to em power th e Pacoim a com m u n ity th r ou gh pr ogr am s th at pr ovide en vir on m en tal edu cation, advocacy, an d l ocal l eader sh ip in or der to foster a h eal th y an d safe en vir on m en t. abeautiful.or g I saac L u n a Pacoi m a Com m u n i t y M em ber 31

34 Lesso n s Lear n ed INSIGHTS INTO SUCCESSFUL LOCA L GREEN ZONE CA M PA IGNS Valuable advice fr om leader s who ar e developing and im plem enting the Gr een Zones fr am ewor k: Daniela Sim unovic, Envir onm ental H ealth and Justice Pr ogr am M anager, Liber ty H ill Foundation and a coor dinator for the Clean Up Gr een Up cam paign, and Car olina M ar tinez, Policy Advocate, and Geor gette Góm ez, Associate Dir ector, at Envir onm ental H ealth Coalition. Co y En en rt ei spr Essen Com mm muonni tro o tgsag anem d Co i n ci pt ilal es Clean Up Gr een Up: Com m u n ity par ticipation is a cor e aspect of th e Los An gel es Col l abor ative for En vir on m en tal H eal th an d Ju stice?s vision for Gr een Zon es. Ou r Cl ean Up Gr een Up pol icy is r ooted in th e exper ien ces, r esear ch, an d in pu t of th e diver se gr assr oots l eader s of ou r m em ber or gan ization s. Com m u n ity l eader s h ave dr iven th is pr ocess an d ar e th e h ear t of th e in itiative. Pr ovidin g l eader s th e space to r efl ect on wh at Gr een Zon es m ean to th em an d to sh ar e th eir com m on exper ien ces, h as given th em th e sen se th at th is pol icy is n ot ju st abou t th eir n eigh bor h ood, bu t abou t cr eatin g a l ar ger m ovem en t th at wil l ben efit th e en tir e city. N ational City: Com m u n ity en gagem en t h as been k ey to Gr een Zon es. Residen t en gagem en t in th e pl an n in g pr ocess devel oped a vision for a m u ch -n eeded h eal th y n eigh bor h ood, an d is n ow wor k in g to im pl em en t th e com m u n ity's pr ior ities. If you don?t h ave th e r esiden ts en gaged, you?r e m issin g a k ey in gr edien t in th e r ecipe. Gr een Zon es m u st be r esiden t dr iven to be au th en tic. Co m m u n i t y -Based an d A cad em i c Resear ch Lay a St r o n g Fo u n d at i o n Clean Up Gr een Up: W e con du cted a com m u n ity-based par ticipator y r esear ch pr oject th at iden tified en vir on m en tal h azar ds in th e com m u n ity an d th eir pr oxim ity to sen sitive l an d u ses su ch as h om es, sch ool s, an d daycar e facil ities. Th ese fin din gs for m ed th e basis of ou r Gr een Zon es pol icy. W or k in g with l eadin g r esear ch er s an d pol icy con su l tan ts with exper tise in u r ban pl an n in g an d facil itation str en gth en ed ou r capacity to tr an sl ate ou r vision in to a con cr ete pol icy. N ational City: After ou r SALTA l eader sh ip tr ain in g r esiden ts con du cted a com m u n ity su r vey. Residen ts in ter viewed th eir n eigh bor s an d iden tified th e n eed for affor dabl e h ou sin g, m ove in du str ial u ses away fr om r esiden tial ar eas, an d pr eser ve n eigh bor h ood ch ar acter. Th ese pr ior ities h el ped ou tl in e EH C's wor k for th e n ext 10 year s. Tool s l ik e Cal En vir oscr een al so al l ow u s to im pl em en t th at vision sin ce it m ak es a cl ear case for wh er e r esou r ces sh ou l d be in vested. Co m n iro d vco e Pr i n ci Par t nm erosh p s owt si t an h Di er rse St ak ehpol es l d er s ar e St r at eg i c Clean Up Gr een Up: It is im por tan t to devel op str on g wor k in g r el ation sh ips with par tn er or gan ization s, as wel l as with a diver se set of stak eh ol der s. W e in vested sign ifican t tim e at th e begin n in g to bu il d con sen su s am on gst ou r col l abor ative an d devel op a str ategy th at al l ou r gr ou ps cou l d agr ee on. Lever agin g th e str en gth s th at each or gan ization br in gs to th e tabl e is im por tan t to en su r in g you h ave th e capacity th at you n eed to advan ce pol icy ch an ge. Non -tr adition al par tn er sh ips ar e al so k ey. For in stan ce, sm al l l ocal bu sin esses own er s wer e k ey stak eh ol der s in ou r pr ocess. Econ om ic 32 r evital ization an d pr ovidin g su ppor t to th e sm al l bu sin esses in th e com m u n ity to clean up and gr een up th eir oper ation s is a cen tr al piece of ou r pol icy. N ational City: It is k ey to en gage a diver se gr ou p of stak eh ol der s, in cl u sive of par tn er or gan ization s, l ocal gr ou ps, faith gr ou ps, an d l ocal sch ool s. Th eir su ppor t is essen tial in or der to m ove pol icy for war d. It?s im por tan t to focu s on th e ar eas th at you?r e abl e to br idge an d th in k abou t abou t th e th in gs th at con n ect you to th eir wor k an d bu il d fr om th er e.

35 Gr een Zo n es Hav e M u l t i p l e Ben ef i t s Clean Up Gr een Up: Design atin g th ese l on gstan din g en vir on m en tal ju stice com m u n ities as Gr een Zon es u pl ifts th em an d r e-fr am es th e ch al l en ges th ey face in a positive l igh t. Ou r wor k to im pl em en t Gr een Zon es em power s com m u n ities to be active par ticipan ts in cr aftin g th e fu tu r e of th eir com m u n ities. W e ar e fin din g th at th e Gr een Zon e l abel m ak es th ese com m u n ities m or e attr active for n ew pu bl ic an d pr ivate in vestm en ts an d par tn er sh ips to h el p th em tr an sfor m th eir com m u n ities. For in stan ce, as a r esu l t of ou r effor ts, Cal EPA?s En vir on m en tal Ju stice Com pl ian ce an d En for cem en t W or k in g Gr ou p is pl an n in g on focu sin g th eir n ext in itiative in Boyl e H eigh ts an d Pacoim a. W h il e Cl ean Up Gr een Up is focu sed on th r ee pil ot com m u n ities, we ar e excited to see th at th e City h as decided to expan d k ey pr ovision s of ou r pol icy r ecom m en dation s acr oss Los An gel es. W e ar e par ticu l ar l y excited th at n ew an d expan din g r esiden tial, com m er cial an d in du str ial devel opm en ts with in 1,000 feet of th e fr eeway wil l be r equ ir ed to in stal l h igh gr ade air fil ter s th at wil l pr otect th e h eal th of r esiden ts an d wor k er s acr oss LA. Th ese k ey win s il l u str ate th at Gr een Zon e pol icies can be a win for ever ybody. W e h ave been abl e to h ar n ess ou r col l ective str en gth s an d cr eate a pol icy th at stan ds to im pr ove th e h eal th of r esiden ts beyon d ou r Gr een Zon es. "W e?ve lear ned that once you initiate the pr ocess, it opens door s to expand and im plem ent differ ent ways of cr eating a healthy com m unity. The N ational City wor k has uplifted the need to wor k on tr anspor tation access, and voter tur nout." -Car ol i n a M ar t i n ez En v i r on m en t al H eal t h Coal i t i on Ch al l en g es t o Im p l em en t i n g Gr een Zo n es Clean Up Gr een Up: On e of ou r biggest ch al l en ges h as been th e l en gth of tim e it tak es to pass a pol icy of th is m agn itu de in th e City of Los An gel es. W e?ve l ear n ed th at pu sh in g for th is k in d of tr an sfor m ation al pol icy r equ ir es a su stain ed com m itm en t on th e par t of ever y par tn er at th e tabl e, as wel l as extr a capacity an d fu n din g. Or gan ization s goin g in to th is wor k n eed to be r eady for th e l on g h au l. It is im por tan t to stay steadfast an d str on g in you r vision. N ational City: Th e gr eatest ch al l en ges ar e r esou r ces. Residen ts ar e in vested in m ak in g th eir n eigh bor h ood a h eal th ier pl ace to l ive. Th ey ar e con stan tl y par ticipatin g an d en vision in g sol u tion s. H owever, th e vision in g pr ocess al so n eeds to be l in k ed to im pl em en tation. In th e case of th e affor dabl e h ou sin g pr oject in Nation al City, it h as tak en abou t 10 year s du e fin an cin g gaps. Secu Su p orret ipr s Key Co m rmi nognpo Rol iot itcal s an d pco i n ci p l es "Take the tim e at the onset of your cam paign to r esear ch and identify the var ious policy m echanism s available to im plem ent your vision, such as Com m unity Plans, or as in CUGU's case, establishing a Supplem ental Use Distr ict, and find the policy r oute that is best suited for the com m unity to r each its goals." -Dan i el a Si m u n ov i c L i ber t y H i l l Fou n d at i on Clean Up Gr een Up: H avin g th e su ppor t of you r city cou n cil r epr esen tative is cr itical if you wan t to advan ce l an d u se pol icy at a city l evel. W e?ve h ad a l ot of positive exper ien ces wor k in g with ou r City Cou n cil Ch am pion s an d th eir staff; th eir su ppor t h as been cr itical to ou r su ccess. A k ey to ou r su ccess h as been th e str on g wor k in g r el ation sh ip we wer e abl e to establ ish with th e staff of th e City of LA?s Pl an n in g Depar tm en t. Ou r wor k h as m ade ou r city?s Pl an n in g Depar tm en t m or e open to in cor por atin g pol icies to addr ess en vir on m en tal ju stice issu es th r ou gh th e pl an n in g pr ocess, wh ich r epr esen ts a sign ifican t par adigm sh ift. N ational City: Bu il d str on g r el ation sh ips with el ected official s, wh il e cr eatin g visibil ity by con stan tl y par ticipatin g in m eetin gs with el ected official s. It?s r eal l y im por tan t to k eep th e pr essu r e on decision m ak er s by activatin g an d su ppor tin g ou r r esiden ts to sh ar e th eir stor ies. 33

36 Co n cl u si o n A DVA NCING GREEN ZONES STA TEW IDE For th e Cal ifor n ia En vir on m en tal Ju stice Al l ian ce, a statewide coal ition th at wor k s in par tn er sh ip with m an y or gan ization s, Gr een Zon es is abou t devel opin g pol icies gu ided by com m u n ity pr ior ities. W e str ive to advan ce vision ar y statewide pol icies th at m ove u s away fr om en vir on m en tal sil os an d towar ds th e tr an sfor m ation of toxic h otspots. W e see th r ee cr itical ar eas of wor k to h el p advan ce th e over al l m ovem en t for Gr een Zon es. 1. Li f t u p t h e su ccess o f l o cal Gr een Zo n es acr o ss t h e st at e. Th is r epor t is an effor t to h igh l igh t th e in spir in g wor k of m em ber s, par tn er s, an d al l ies acr oss Cal ifor n ia an d dem on str ate ju st h ow effective th e Gr een Zon es m odel can be. W e h on or th e h ar d wor k of com m u n ity-based or gan ization s, th e r esiden ts th ey wor k with, an d bel ieve th e sol u tion s bein g devel oped on -th e-gr ou n d m u st be el evated to a statewide l evel. 2. A d v an ce st at ew i d e ef f o r t s t o i d en t i f y o v er b u r d en ed co m m u n i t i es. A com m on r oot to al l Gr een Zon es is th e devastatin g r eal ity of en vir on m en tal in ju stice. Cu m u l ative im pact scr een in g m eth odol ogies l ik e Cal En vir oscr een 2.0 can be cr itical tool s to l in k over bu r den ed com m u n ities to statewide r esou r ces, pol icies an d ben efits th at su ppor t Gr een Zon e sol u tion s. Th e u se of Cal En vir oscr een 2.0 to sh ape th e distr ibu tion of h u n dr eds of m il l ion s of dol l ar s in cl im ate in vestm en ts fr om th e Gr een h ou se Gas Redu ction Fu n d is ju st on e exam pl e of h ow th e tool can be u sed. In th e fu tu r e, Cal En vir oscr een 2.0 can al so be u sed for l ocal, r egion al, an d statewide en vir on m en tal en for cem en t, per m ittin g, an d oth er r egu l ator y decision s th at h el p r edu ce toxic bu r den s in Gr een Zon es. 3. W i n v i si o n ar y p o l i ci es t h at su p p o r t al l Gr een Zo n es. Gr ou n ded in th e l ocal or gan izin g of Gr een Zon es acr oss th e state, CEJA seek s to advan ce statewide pol icies th at addr ess th e com m on r oots an d l ift u p th e cor e pr in cipl es of al l Gr een Zon es. On e exam pl e of CEJA?s statewide Gr een Zon es pol icy wor k is ou r effor t to in cr ease pu bl ic in vestm en ts in Gr een Zon e com m u n ities. No m atter wh at th e str ategies or specific pr ojects in a Gr een Zon e com m u n ity, th ey al l n eed r esou r ces to becom e a r eal ity. Com m u n ities n eed in cr eased power to gu ide devel opm en t an d in vestm en ts in th eir n eigh bor h oods. State an d l ocal agen cies sh ou l d distr ibu te pu bl ic fu n din g in a way th at is r espon sive, an d accou n tabl e, to com m u n ity vision s. By better focu sin g existin g pu bl ic r esou r ces, we can dem on str ate th e effectiven ess of deep, sol u tion -or ien ted in vestm en ts in com m u n ities th at n eed it th e m ost. 34

37 CEJA is advan cin g a r an ge of pol icy m easu r es to accom pl ish th ese goal s: - Lin k in g gr een devel opm en t in itiatives, su ch as statewide pol icies to fu n d sm al l -scal e r en ewabl e en er gy, dir ectl y to Gr een Zon e com m u n ities. - In cr easin g pu bl ic fu n din g for com m u n ity-based or gan ization s wor k in g on en vir on m en tal ju stice issu es by expan din g th e state-fu n ded En vir on m en tal Ju stice Sm al l Gr an t pr ogr am. - Cr eatin g?com m u n ity ben efit fu n ds? fr om pol l u ter fin es th at can be dir ected back in to com m u n ities im pacted by pol l u tion an d en vir on m en tal viol ation s. W e bel ieve th at tar geted, m or e cl osel y coor din ated an d l ever aged pu bl ic spen din g in Gr een Zon es on a l ocal, state, an d feder al l evel can stim u l ate pr ivate an d ph il an th r opic in vestm en t an d for m n ew pu bl ic-pr ivate par tn er sh ips. As we devel op in n ovative ways to r esou r ce Gr een Zon es, it is im per ative th at we pr oactivel y in cl u de pr otection s to pr even t th e displ acem en t of l on g-tim e r esiden ts. Acr oss Cal ifor n ia, Gr een Zon e com m u n ities an d CEJA ar e str ategical l y con n ectin g sol u tion s iden tified by r esiden ts to n ew r esou r ces an d pol icies. Th e com m u n ities h igh l igh ted in th is r epor t ar e dem on str atin g th e effectiven ess of a pl ace-based m odel of col l abor ative, en vir on m en tal ju stice pol icy-m ak in g th at can in cr ease com m u n ity capacity an d power. CEJA, ou r m em ber s, par tn er s, th e Los An gel es Col l abor ative for En vir on m en tal H eal th an d Ju stice, an d East Yar d Com m u n ities for En vir on m en tal Ju stice, an d h opefu l l y m or e or gan ization s an d com m u n ities in th e fu tu r e, wil l con tin u e to advan ce th e tr an sfor m ative Gr een Zon es m odel both on th e gr ou n d an d statewide. Th r ou gh th is m u l tifaceted, coor din ated appr oach we wil l str en gth en th e statewide m ovem en t to tr an sfor m toxic h otspots in to h eal th y, th r ivin g Gr een Zon es. 35

38 Ref er en ces Cl ean Up Gr een Up Pr o p o sed Zo n es Am er ican Lu n g Association State of th e Air Repor t Avail abl e at: h ttp:/ / u n g.or g/ abou t-u s/ ou r -im pact/ top-stor ies/ SOTA-2015.h tm l AQM D M u l tipl e Air Toxics Exposu r e Stu dy II Stu dy M ar ch 2000 AQM D M u l tipl e Air Toxics Exposu r e Stu dy in th e Sou th Coast Air Basin IV Stu dy 2015 Association Between Air Pollution and Lung Function Gr owth in Souther n Califor nia Childr en, USC Ch il dr en?s H eal th Stu dy, Am er ican Jou r n al of Respir ator y an d Cr itical Car e M edicin e; Gau der m an, W. Jam es. Cal ifor n ia Air Resou r ce Boar d H eal th Risk Assessm en t on 18 m ajor Cal ifor n ia r ail yar ds, Em ission s data obtain ed fr om th e San Diego Air Pol l u tion Con tr ol Distr ict. En vir on m en tal Law & Ju stice Cl in ic at Gol den Gate Un iver sity, Pr in cipal r esear ch er was Ken n eth Kl ok. M ccon n el l, Rob; et al, Depar tm en t of Pr even tive M edicin e, Un iver sity of Sou th er n Cal ifor n ia Sch ool of M edicin e, Los An gel es. SF in dicator s Pr oject SF Pl an n in g Depar tm en t, Distr ict 11 Neigh bor h ood Pr ofil e. US EPA Region 9 List of Su per fu n d Sites. W hat Kind of N eighbor hood do we W ant? Or ganizing for a H ealthy Futur e for our Childr en & Fam ilies. Excel sior Distr ict, San Fr an cisco. A d d i t i o n al Gr een Zo n e Reso u r ces Cl ean Up Gr een Up Pr o p o sed Zo n es Cr eat i n g H eal t h y N ei gh bor h ood s: Com m u n i t y Pl an n i n g t o Ov er com e I n ju st i ce video l ear n in g tool. En vir on m en tal H eal th Coal ition. Avail abl e at: h ttp:/ / vir on m en tal h eal th.or g Gr een Zon es Ci t y of Com m er ce: Cr eat e H eal t h y Com m u n i t i es an d Job Op p or t u n i t i es. East Yar d Com m u n ities for En vir on m en tal Ju stice. Avail abl e at: h ttp:/ / eycej.or g/ cam paign s/ gr een -zon es-in -com m er ce-ca/ H i d d en H azar d s: A Cal l t o Act i on f or H eal t h y, L i v abl e Com m u n i t i es. Los An gel es Col l abor ative for En vir on m en tal H eal th an d Ju stice. Avail abl e at: h ttps:/ / cl ean u pgr een u p.wor dpr ess.com / abou t/ back gr ou n d-in for m ation / 36

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