There are many things to share. Please make a note to join us, and if you live in the Impact Area, to bring a neighbor or 4, for the next gathering Wednesday August 7, 6 – 8 pm. We’ll meet again in the Cooper Room at WCCC East.
Eastside Resident Environmental Health Working Group
Mapping and Strategy Session
Wednesday, August 7, 6-8 pm
Wayne County Community College – East Campus
5901 Conner St, Detroit, MI 48213
Cooper Room, Free and Secure Parking
Thank you!
- First, we want to thank you for joining us at WCCC East on the 17th. We thought it was an informative meeting and we had a great matching of residents from the neighborhoods around FCA and community experts from 48217 and Southwest Detroit.
- We want to thank Kathryn Savoie from the Ecology Center https://www.ecocenter.org for leading a super informative discussion on Environmental Health, Air Quality and Environmental Racism. (All the notes and some resources are below)
- We want to thank Michelle Martinez of the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition https://michiganenvironmentaljusticecoalition.wordpress.com for her support of the discussion, for their printing of our flyers and setting us up with the amazing food from Mama Nezza’s Paradise Foods. https://paradisedetroit.com
- We want to thank Theresa Landrum from 48217 and other resident activist from Southwest Detroit who shared some of their stories and history. Their decades of work directly influenced where we are at here on the Eastside with FCA. We’re also grateful that many of them have agreed to return and support the August 7th meeting.
- We want to thank EMEAC youth and EJAM fellows for helping us get the word out about the meeting on both sides of FCA through calls and canvassing.
FCA Resident Update
This week the news has been writing that public investment in the FCA expansion could now be up to $400 million. The NAC negotiated based on $160 million in public investment. Check the links. This will be an agenda item August 7th.
“Of the $92.8 million in taxes to be captured, an estimated $34 million would otherwise have gone toward school funding, according to briefing documents. Local taxes will comprise 63% of the captured taxes; state taxes about 37%”
We’ve heard that the city and FCA have reconvened the Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) in a meeting that included an update on the environmental planning to meet the EGLE permit requirements. We will include this development in the August 7th agenda as well.
FCA Environmental Media Coverage
On Monday, WDET broadcast a story about the FCA expansion and concerns over Air Quality. Michelle Martinez, Gregg Newsom and other FCA area residents are featured. Please consider sharing through social media to raise awareness.
https://wdet.org/posts/2019/07/22/88427-detroits-east-side-is-already-polluted-will-fiat-chrysler-make-it-worse/?fbclid=IwAR2wZWNq1pYl2ZzHRl8hBTe9WG1wfbpVHK3tmvl67mAspwuj0W5t9V7bZM0
Environmental Health Learning Circle Notes
We’ve put up all the notes on the webpage so that we can all easily share with neighbors. http://www.eastsideenvironmental.org
The Democratic Presidential Debate is Next Week!
We’ve been participating in a coalition of local groups working to bring issues that impact Detroiters and other frontline communities to the forefront of the discussion at the Presidential Candidate debate at the Fox Theater on July 30 and 31. There will be a rally and march Tuesday July 30th.
More Media – Detroit Is the Engine of the Green New Deal Video
Sanaa is featured in a new video that is getting a great deal of attention.
“Many of the candidates are supporting a major environmental and jobs programs This could be a great thing, but only if it prioritizes the leadership, issues and needs of Detroiters. That’s why our message is MAKE DETROIT THE ENGINE OF THE GREEN NEW DEAL.”
“We’ll be raising up issues including water shutoffs, air pollution, environmental racism, emergency management and tax giveaways to corporations and billionaires, the need for good union jobs and worker power for Detroiters, and the work that’s beginning to establish a healthy and regenerative economy here in Detroit.” Share on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/459306721523008/
ART!
Detroit Frontline Coalition invites friends to join us at the Cass Commons, Sat, Sun and Mon 3-8pm making banners and signs for Tuesday’s big rally and march, “Make Detroit the Engine of the Green New Deal”, to welcome the Democratic presidential candidates to Detroit.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1188146101372762/?event_time_id=1188146104706095&ti=as