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highlights of struggles and victories ... for our liberation
As a part of the Romic campaign, HL has conducted a community-wide health
survey to get information about health conditions in our community. Nothing
like this has ever been done and we hope to use this information to show
how traffic and toxic environmental sites are affecting our community.
HL youth conduct pilot health survey of 275 youth in East Palo Alto, finding
asthma rates 3 times higher than that of neighboring communities.
HL Health Survey team completes survey of over 700 residents in East Palo
Alto to determine health conditions and links to toxics in the community.
Results from the Community Health Survey, such as high incidents of asthma
and cancer, are used to write an argument to support a 10% tax on hazardous
waste facilities in East Palo Alto.
Romic, a facility that recycles hazardous waste, has been operating in
East Palo Alto on an expired permit for over 13 years. YUCA, Ujima Security
Council, and other community members have been working to get the Department
of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC), Bay Area Air Quality Management District,
and other regulatory agencies to hold Romic accountable to the community
through more stringent regulations and enforcement.
HL youth (along with Ujima Security Council) launch a campaign to stop
two cement plants threatening to bring toxics into East Palo Alto. The
two year struggle succeeds in keeping out one of the concrete batch plants!
As a result of community pressure organized by HL youth, government agencies
issue Romic with violations and fines following two toxic fires at their
facility.
HL youth win monthly accountability sessions with DTSC to ensure that
the agency regulates Romic.
HL youth convince DTSC to levy maximum penalties on Romic for any further
delay of EIR/Permitting Process. DTSC warns Romic that any further delays
will result in
the permit denial process for Romic.
HL youth in solidarity and collaboration with the Gila River Alliance
for a Clean Environment (GRACE) hold a joint protest at Romic demanding
accountability in both communities. The Romic site has never had a permit
in over 20 years of operations in the Gila River Indian Community near
Phoenix, Arizona.
YUCA members and staff successfully block Romic's attempts to prevent
community members from writing arguments for Measure R in court.
HL youth successfully wage the "Reparations for Our Respiration"
campaign to pass Measure R in East Palo Alto, levying a 10% tax on hazardous
waste facilities, including Romic. The ballot measure passes by a huge
margin (75%) pointing to community concerns over health impacts of hazardous
waste facilities.
HL youth successfully campaign for an extended public comment period on
Romic's Draft Environmental Impact Report and Permit. Instead of the usual
30 days the public receives to review and submit comments, DTSC agrees to
extend the period to 90 days.
HL has been working to educate and organize the community to speak out
about
redevelopment projects that are taking advantage of East Palo Alto, displacing
people, and making misleading promises to the community. Through our efforts
of
petition gathering, outreaching, protesting, and mobilizing community
members to
speak out, we’ve made progress but the struggle continues…
HL youth mobilize community support against an Ikea that was trying to
locate
into EPA. Though Ikea outspent its opposition (nearly 15 to 1) and won
the final
vote, community pressure forced City Council and Ikea to make concessions
such
as funds to go to children’s organizations, paved roads, and regulated
traffic.
HL youth help delay the University Palms development project, meanwhile
gaining
more concessions through community pressure.
HL youth mobilize and help extend the moratorium on condominium conversions
in East Palo Alto. Condo conversions would have huge impacts on rents
and affordable housing in East Palo Alto. HL youth continue to work on
an ordinance that will protect and develop more affordable housing options.
HL youth mobilize with community allies to help maintain vacancy rate
threshold criteria in Condo Conversion Ordinance, protecting East Palo
Alto's low-income tenants from Condo Conversions in the very tight housing
market in the city. No conversions will be permitted until the vacancy
rate exceeds 4.15% in the city. The current rate is around 1.7%
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