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Activists, Fighting Environmental Racism, Call for ‘Clean Air Revolution’ in Black Communities - DC seen as microcosm for toxic neighborhoods across the nation By Barrington M. Salmon

Environmental problems

Istock Photo

Sept. 26, 2023

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - If you glance at a map of the District of Columbia from an environmental justice perspective, the gulf between class and race is illustrated by geography and zip code. The wards where Washington, DC’s poor, underserved and marginalized residents live are dotted with highways, landfills, hazardous waste, more concrete and fewer trees than the wealthier and more well-off wards uptown.

Kelly Crawford, a senior advisor for Energy and Environmental Justice at the US Department of Energy (DOE) illustrated this using a detailed slide presentation during a panel discussion at the CBC’s Annual Legislative Weekend showing the significant differences in air and water quality, dangerously high carbon levels, transportation inequities and related issues between communities.

“There are alarming differences between wards,” she said. “Ward 7 exceeded national air safety numbers next to I-295. We found transportation inequity and lack of access to healthcare.”

Crawford said Washington, DC’s extra air pollution burden is caused by racial segregation patterns. A study of asthma and race in Washington, DC also shows that Wards 5, 7 and 8 has the most emergency room visits.

There is 25 times the average of pediatric visits to the emergency room, Crawford said.

“There are deep disparities between children in DC,” she added. “These areas have the highest rates of every disease…Residents living in these wards have higher mortality, stroke, COPD and lung cancer ... Redlining is most evident in DC.”

Maryland State Representative Deni Tavares substantiated Crawford’s findings.

“I am a chemist. I worked at the EPA in enforcement of Super Fund sites. I saw the discrepancies. Prince George’s County has the worst air quality in the state. A landfill sits in Prince George’s County. All landfills sit in communities of color and there is a high degree of dumping in our community.”

Tavares, who represents District 2 in Maryland, said she is or has used legislation to target anti-fracking, eliminating Styrofoam and plastic straws. She said she is working resolutely to bring about transit equity and said environmental justice translates to preserve, protect and empower communities.

Antoine Thompson, executive director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCC), a leading public-private entity that focuses on clean energy, transportation and environmental justice and equity, moderated the panel discussion. He told a Trice Edney News Wire reporter that environmental justice is definitely a human rights issue.

“The fact that we have so much data out there shows that based on zip codes and life expectancy, Black and brown people live shorter lives based on where water and transportation is,” he said. “It depends on the streetscape, the amount of cars and crime versus exercising … this is not by accident. Yes, it’s significant.”

The forum was sponsored by the GWRCC and Clean Fuels Alliance America as the launch of an Environmental Justice Community Forum Series, “a collaboration aimed at raising awareness and fostering dialogue on environmental justice (EJ) and the vital role of biodiesel in underserved or disadvantaged communities,” a statement described.

Thompson said asthma is not hereditary although that’s usually taught in many African-American households. “It’s fixable problem. Transportation is a big part of it. In DC, transportation is a significant driver … (and) zip codes matter …”

Thompson said having these conversations is critical.

“These conversations need to happen and are not,” he said. “There should be conversations about pollution from transportation, energy and the environment … 10,000 people are here (at the CBC Annual Legislative Weekend), there are 100 forums and just two are on environmental justice.”  

Dennis Chestnut, executive director of Groundwork Anacostia River DC, agreed that environmental rights has become human rights. One task facing activists and others is bringing together or at least being aware of all the disparate pieces of the environmental justice ecosystem.

“We have a handle on segments of the problem. It’s kinda like puzzles – one thing connecting to another, opening things up and moving us along,” Chestnut said.

As the conversation progressed, panelists emphasized that despite the often-deleterious effects of environmental injustices, there are numerous ways that individuals, organizations and governments are seeking to implement programs and strategies to address the issue.

Crawford and each of her colleagues on the panel went beyond diagnosing the various ills of environmental injustice and the attendant disparities and talked about programs, initiatives, campaigns, strategies and community collaboration and action.

“We are focused on equity. From that equity will come racial equity and environmental justice … there are new and different initiatives coming that we’ve never had,” Crawford told the audience.

Steve Dodge, director of State Regulatory Affairs at Clean Fuels Alliance America, focused on renewable fuels, including biofuels, diesel liquid fuels and biomass-based diesel fuels. He said 97 percent of heavy-duty vehicles use diesel, while 70 percent of cancer risk comes from diesel. Dodge’s power point presentation listed cancers, asthmas, premature deaths, loss workdays and avoided cost as the human consequences of air and water pollution and exposure to chemicals, toxins and a range of other pollutants.

“There are substantial benefits from using biofuels,” he said citing a health benefits study. “… there’s lots being done in individual states. The feds, not so much. They are woefully behind in reducing carbon.”

Crawford said a clean air revolution is manifesting before our eyes in large and small ways. An example is the $62 billion allocated from the Inflation Relief Act and more money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which “invests $7.5 billion in EV charging, $10 billion in clean transportation, and over $7 billion in EV battery components, critical minerals, and materials ....”  

Thompson, a nationally recognized leader for environmental justice, green business, housing, diversity and urban policy, shared a solution that took place in Buffalo while he was a state senator.

For decades, it was customary for politicians, policymakers and city planners to build highways in the midst of African-American communities, disrupting and destroying vibrant, energetic living spaces for racist reasons under the guise of progress.

In East Buffalo, NY, Thompson said that in 2003, he was able to secure between $5 million to $10 million in funding to reconfigure and/or remove parts of Express 33 which ran through the Black community. The highway displaced residents, led to businesses closing and produced pollution and other damaging health problems while causing cancer, lupus and an assortment of health problems for residents.

“I was a lone person on this effort. But 20 years later, the governor and U.S. senators support it now. There’s about $1 billion for the project,” said Thompson. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021 has funding to reconnect communities by removing some of the highways which ran through Black communities.”

Thompson said, “The federal government has put [in] money but there’s nothing stopping the states from doing the same,” he said. “This requires leadership, community advocates and vision. It can be done …”

Tavares, who said she’s been trying to get mechanics to change combustibles to diesel and encouraging more fleet management conversions, said environmental justice activists and advocates have to “meet people where they are.”

Dodge said there are no simple solutions but said he was bullish on significant improvements in air and water quality, reducing carbon emissions and sees greater collaboration by the corporate sector, industries, businesses and communities.

“Technological know-how is changing every day. It’s all part of the puzzle,” said Chestnut. “We will have other challenges but we must increase capacity, be ready, make a plan and focus on any disruptions, natural or otherwise.”    

President Biden, Black Lawmakers Conclude CBC Weekend Reinvigorating Fight for Freedom, Justice and Equality by Hamil R. Harris

 

Biden at CBC

President Joe Biden addressing the audience at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards PHOTO: Kea Taylor/Imagine Photography) 

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - After years of enduring Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill working to dismantle Civil Rights laws the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) concluded their annual conference last week, fired up and ready for a new season of political battles with a new generation of foot soldiers enlisted in the fight.

“Why are they trying to prevent economic prosperity and wealth-building in communities of color?” asked CBC Chairman Stephen Hosford (D-Nev.) during a forum. Flanked by Isabella Casillas Guzman, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), they vowed to fight conservative attempts to turn back the clock on Black economic and political progress.

The  SBA has temporarily suspended new applications to its 8(a) programs after the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in July ruled against people using the “socially disadvantaged” category as a status to gain entry to the program.

But Hosford said “The Congressional Black Caucus will fight, defend, and (hold) the line” when it comes to these programs.

“It is very important that we create wealth and my question to these individuals who are standing in the way and filing these lawsuits is what are they afraid of? It is important for all of America to know who is bringing these lawsuits and why they are doing it.  They are attempting to take us back at a time when we are making so much progress.”

Whether voting right, economic or criminal justice, dozens of topics were covered during the conference mixed with parties and issues forums.

Trial lawyer Ben Crump held a forum at the convention center with the families of those killed by police brutality. “When you talk about equality, equity, and access,” whether it is through housing, education, employment, or healthcare we realize the power of our dollars,” he said.

The group discussed a path forward for police reform since the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act has still not been passed in Congress. Families will discuss what reforms have been successful on the local level with lawmakers.

“I gotta believe a greater good has to result from my son being killed,” said RowVaughn Wells, the mother of Tyre Nichols, who died after he was beaten by Memphis police officers Jan. 7.

Other participants included:

Mona Harden, mother of Ronald Greene; Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner; Tiffany Crutcher, sister of Terence Crutcher; Allisa Findley, sister of Botham Jean. The lawmakers present included: Rep. Lucy McBath; Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. Steven Horsford, and Sen. Cory Booker.

On Saturday morning, Karen Clarke Sheard and Reverend Dr. Gina Stewart were the special guests at the CBC Day of Healing, formerly the CBC prayer breakfast, at the Convention Center.

The Day of Healing was a new feature of the ALC, that offered moments of reflection and rejuvenation for various communities.

 Nicole Austin-Hillery, President and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, said, “In the spirit of this year’s conference theme, Securing Our Democracy, Protecting Our Freedoms, Uplifting Our Culture, the Day of Healing grounds us in our purpose and fortifies our will to remain steadfast in our commitment to community empowerment.”

On Saturday night Vice President Kamala Harris introduced President Biden during the CBC’s annual Phoenix Awards, A Black Tie event that is the highlight of the ALC.

“The CBC has always been a conscience of our country, a truthteller.  Truths about where we have been and where we must go,” Harris told the audience Saturday night. 

“Tonight, let us continue to speak truth.  Across America there is a full-on attack on many of the hard-fought, hard-won freedoms that the CBC has achieved: the freedom to vote; to teach America's full history; to address inequity and diversity; to love who you love; to access education, healthcare, and economic opportunity; and the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body,” she said to applause.

During his speech President Biden singled out a number of CBC members.

He described House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries “a leader with integrity and courage.  Courage.  Courage.”

He also pointed out Justin Jones, 28, member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, calling him "a new voice who gives us hope for the future.”

The audience chuckled as Biden pointed out Hip Hop artists LL Cool J and MC Lyte in the Ballroom: “LL J…Cool J…uhh…(laughter)…By the way, that boy has got, he’s got, I think that man has got biceps bigger than my thighs…and MC Lyte.”

 But Biden concluded on a serious note by reminding those present that the CBC has come a long away after six decades.

“In February of 1971, the year before I got to the United States Senate, 200 years ago,” he said to laughter. “13 Black members of Congress, determined to create a better future and leverage their collective strength, formed the Congressional Black Caucus, the conscience of Congress, calling us to follow our nation’s North Star;  A light for the dreams and the pains of centuries of enslaved people in America.”

He said the CBC was created to fight for “The idea - once the most simple and the most powerful idea in the history of the world - that we’re all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our entire lives.  We’ve never lived up to that fully, but we’ve never walked away from it either.”

Byron Allen Makes a Bid for ABC Television

Sept. 20, 2023

ByronAllen

Byron Allen

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from BlackManStreet.Today

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Media mogul Byron Allen, founder and CEO Allen Media Group and Entertainment Studios, has bid $10 billion to buy Walt Disney's ABC television network, a spokesperson for Allen said on Friday, according to various media reports.

A Disney spokesperson said that the company was "open to considering strategic options for its linear business." The company has not decided yet on selling ABC or any other property.

The discussions come after Disney CEO Bob Iger said in July that the company could sell some of its traditional TV assets, which struggled for years because of the rise of streaming services.

ABC comprises a national TV network and eight regional stations. It has affiliation agreements with about 240 local television stations reaching almost all U.S. television households.

In 1993, Allen founded the Los Angeles, California-based Entertainment Studios, a division of the Allen Media Group, a global media company. Allen’s enterprise has grown over the years, expanding to encompass offices in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Raleigh. The company also owns the Weather Channel.

People, Purpose and Parties at the CBCF-ALC This Week By Hamil R. Harris

Sept. 19, 2023

Nicole Austin Hillery

Nicole Austin-Hillary, President/CEO, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

Steven Horsford

Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Chair, Congressional Black Caucus

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Africa-American leaders from across the spectrum of politics,  business and faith will gather in Washington DC this week for the 52nd Annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Weekend that runs from September 20-24th.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is the sponsor of the political confab accented by parties nightly and issues forums daily at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and surrounding hotels.

The conference theme  “Securing Our Democracy. Protecting Our Freedoms. Uplifting Our Culture,” will bring together visionaries, educators, civil rights activists and business leaders focused on the future of African Americans on the eve of the 2024 elections.

Based on this year’s theme, #ALC52,  will draw upon the more than 100 panel discussions and other events with activists, academics, and political leaders to spark a call to action that results in progress toward positive change.

Among the highlights, on Thursday morning, the CBC will host a National Town  Hall  Meeting entitled, Securing Our Democracy, Protecting Our Freedoms, and Uplifting Our Culture. 

The Town Hall will be hosted  by U. S. Representatives Stacey Plaskett and Steven Horsford,  chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

 The guests include: Damon T. Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Nicole Austin-Hillery; president/CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF); Dr. Jonathan M. Cox, sociologist and  Vice President, Center for Policy Analysis and Research of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, distinguished professor, orator, minister and prominent media personality. 

The exhibit hall will be  another popular venue at the CBC. It will feature entrepreneur business networking opportunities, empowerment sessions; golf lessons; career coaching, booths to promote business and career through social media and franchise opportunities.

In addition to  workshops and sessions the convention will include additional  signature events the Prayer Breakfast and the Phoenix Awards Dinner Saturday night.

Karen Clarke Sheard and Reverend Dr. Gina Stewart will be the special guests at the upcoming Day of Healing, which was called the annual Prayer Breakfast. Rep. Terri A. Sewell, Board Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, said, “Karen Clarke Sheard and Reverend Dr. Gina Stewart bring their unique perspectives, experiences, and talents to this event, making it an opportunity for reflection, growth, and unity.”

For a complete list of events, see Annual Legislative Conference » Congressional Black Caucus Foundation » Advancing the Global Black Community by Developing Leaders Informing Policy and Educating the Public (cbcfinc.org)

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