Upload
national-environmental-justice-conference-and-training-program
View
220
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
1/31
COMMON GROUND
FINDING
The Power & Value of Capacity Building in anEnvironmental Justice Community
RON RIENASPeace Bridge Authority
JOSEPH GOLOMBEK, JR.City of Buffalo Common Council
KATHY MECCA
Columbus Park Neighborhood Association
TERRY ROBINSON
Preservation Buffalo Niagara
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
2/31
After NEJC 2013, Buffalos West Side community implemented a newaction strategy using the principles of capacity building.
We invited major players to the table, identified common goals, andaccepted the fact that we all occupy common ground.
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
3/31
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
4/31
Niagara Falls
Buffalo, NY
Peace Bridge
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
5/31
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
6/31
15,800 Total Population
69% Minority Population
45% Poverty Rate
72% Families Receive Public Assistance
33% Under Age 18
82% Adults w/o College Degree
30% Adults w/o High School Diploma
32% Unemployment Rate
2010 & 2013 Census Data, U.S. Census Bureau
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
7/31
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
8/31
PUBLIC HEALTH
EPIDEMIC
The West Side asthma rate is 4times the national average.
The West Side asthmahospitalization rate for children is5 times the state average.
It costs $110 million annually totreat West Side asthma patients(hospitalization, doctor visits,medication, etc.).
One-in-three West Side children hasasthma.
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
9/31
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
10/31
ROLE
FULFILLING OUR
The Peace Bridge is a major transportation and trade conduit benefittingCanada and the U.S.
It is the 3rd
busiest commercial crossing, carrying approximately $40billion in trade annually.
Each year, 5 million cars and 1.3 million trucks cross the Peace Bridge.
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
11/31
IMPACT
RECOGNIZING OUR
The West Side bears adisproportionate share of the burden.
Traffic
Emissions
Noise
Light
Quality of life issues
Uncertainty created by capacityexpansion and lengthy 11-yearlong EIS process.
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
12/31
GOVERNMENT
ROLE OF THE
Canadian and U.S. border agenciesdetermine border operation and speedthroughput.
Commitment to border operations
Adequate staffing of inspection booths
Processing reforms:
E-manifest for empties
Eliminate cash collection
Update radiation detectortechnology
Pre-Inspection
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
13/31
THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGING WITH
Public outreach has greatly improved our relationship with thecommunity.
Better communications
Community speaking as one voice
Active participant with neighborhood Be a good neighbor
Invest in the community
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
14/31
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
15/31
PAST
PAVING OUR
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
16/31
FUTURE
SELLING OUR
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
17/31
MATTERED
THIS PLACE
What was once a 19th Century place ofworship is now a parking lot.
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
18/31
CHOPPING BLOCK
ON THE
A 110 year-old landmark, purchased by New York State for the futureexpansion of the Peace Bridge plaza and construction of a new DutyFree Store.
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
19/31
BEEN
WHAT COULD HAVE
A local developer expressedinterest in transforming theabandoned Episcopal
Church Home site into LaToscana, a beautiful mixed-use campus.
A local college also wanted todevelop the property.
New York State rejected bothproposals so that it could hold ontothe land for future expansion of the
Peace Bridge plaza.
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
20/31
HERITAGE?
CLEANSING OUR
Is Buffalos historic West Side no less deserving of preservation thanother (wealthier and less diverse) communities, simply because itsresidents cant afford to save it themselves?
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
21/31
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
22/31
THE LAW
UPHOLDING
We expect government to upholdthe law and to serve in the bestinterest of the public.
When government fails to upholdthe law, society has an obligationto pursue corrective action.
The environmental injustice thatis harming West Side residentscan be traced back to the abuseof power on the part ofgovernment officials.
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
23/31
ACTION
CALLING FOR
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
24/31
ANSWERS
DEMANDING
When a media probe revealed questionable practices on the part of thefederal government, we demanded answers.
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
25/31
WITHOUT A VOICE
DEFENDING THOSE
The low-income, minorityresidents of the West Sidedeserve the same quality of
life afforded in otherwealthier and less diverseareas of Buffalo.
The West Sides public
health crisis is a product ofpolitics and the abuse ofpower.
We need your help to get theword out to a national
audience.
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
26/31
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
27/31
AND BREATHWest Side residentssuffer from chronicand sometimes fatal
illnesses, whichleading researchershave tied to dieselexhaust from PeaceBridge truck traffic.
The West Side asthmarate is four times thenational average.
A MATTER OF LIFE
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
28/31
THE SOLUTION
TO POLLUTIONIS CONFUSION
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
29/31
TRUCKING?
KEEP ON
The Peace Bridge is the wrongbridge for international truck trafficin Western New York.
The Lewiston-Queenston Bridgeis the right bridge, just 21 milesnorth.
Making the switch means
merging the bridgeauthorities and improvingroadway infrastructure, buttheres a lack of political willfor both.
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
30/31
Online: MoveThePlaza.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Homes near the Peace Bridge
Twitter: @MoveThePlaza
8/12/2019 Finding Common Ground: The Power & Value of Capacity Building in an Environmental Justice Community
31/31