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www.chej.org | Issue #6| March 2, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

• 2009 FACE Justice Tour
• First Ohio Environmental Justice Town Hall Meeting Held
• Legislator Heard's Intent to Introduce Ohio Environmental Justice Bill
• Publication of the Month

2009 FACE Justice Tour

The state of Florida has begun working to clean-up its environment. The Florida Action for Clean Environment and Justice Tour (FACE Justice Tour) is a CHEJ initiative that will highlight communities affected by contamination, aid in their action to clean-up the area and force the State to pay attention to the needs of its citizens. The Tour will consist of communities in South Florida and Central Florida, moving throughout the state the remainder of the year. It will end with a multi-day summit in the state capitol of Tallahassee where all concerned Floridians will be invited to discuss the information learned along the way and devise a comprehensive plan or policy to help Florida become a safer environment for all of its citizens.

Currently work is being done in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, including the Wingate Superfund site. Organizations such as the Miami Workers Center and Power U, as well as grassroots neighborhood groups have teamed up to develop strategic plans to not only help their communities but also to help each other. From air quality to the creation of green jobs, to cleaning up Superfund sites, these Floridians and CHEJ will use 2009 to create change in their State.

First Ohio Environmental Justice Town Hall Meeting Held

How do you get grassroots people plagued by consistent and persistent toxic pollution to talk about the problem in public? You get them to tell their story in their own words to people who either have a similar story or someone they feel to be an ally. On Jan. 31, 2009, the first in a series of four Town Hall meetings were held at the Marion Franklin Civic Center, where about 30 citizens attended.  Four people gave testimonies captured on tape. It will be presented to state legislators once an Environmental Justice bill is introduced. The State Representative introducing the bill was present and commented about how powerful the testimonies were, and about her plans to introduce the bill. Participants also signed letters to be sent to their state legislators pressing the need for Environmental Justice legislation. The next Town Hall meeting will be held Mar. 7, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Legislator Heard's Intent to Introduce Ohio Environmental Justice Bill

During the first Ohio Environmental Justice Town Hall meeting, State Representative Tracy Heard told participants that she plans to introduce the Ohio Environmental Justice Act of 2009. She presented some sobering realities regarding the Ohio General Assembly Legislative economic priorities. Heard heard her constituency call environmental justice a priority in their testimonies at the Town Hall meeting. She subsequently asked local leaders to replicate a part of the Town Hall presentation at a meeting of the staff from the governor's office and some of the legislative leaders.     

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