Green New Deal is Nothing New for South Bronx Climate Activists
Hunts Point Express
By Lauren Costantino
Though the issues that concerned the panelists differed in the details, their call to action was the same: elected officials should consult with communities before making critical policy decisions.
Environmental leaders demand radical action for low-income communities
South Bronx organizers have been pushing for climate justice and sustainable environmental practices for decades. In the midst of growing public attention to Congress’ Green New Deal and new leadership in the New York State Senate, they are more hopeful than ever that their efforts will bear fruit.
At a May 13th forum at The Point CDC called The Real Deal: Community Solutions to Climate & Waste Inequity in the Bronx, organizers from grassroots organizations united with residents to discuss community-led solutions for ongoing threats to the environment. Topics on the table included a bill in the State Senate to invest in renewable energy sources and divest from fossil fuels, and another in the City Council to regulate private waste hauling companies like Sanitation Salvage, a Hunts Point-based hauler that closed last year after its reckless collection practices were found to be responsible for two pedestrian deaths in the Bronx.
