OCR Text |
Show ——In Your Opinion Cont. Spring/Summer 2002 The West View page 9 ———— 900 South Rail Reactivation- A Case of Environmental Racism By J. Michael Clara community is already burdened with a The Tribune ran an article entitled "Union Pacific (U.P.) Wins: Trains Rumble Through Neighborhoods" on Saturday, March 9, 2002. The Deseret News ran an article titled "U.P. Wins Court Nod on 900 South Runs" on Wednesday, March 13, 2002. And, on March 15, 2002 both newspapers blame the community for the situation that they are in. There is more to this story, but for whatever reason,: the mainstream media has chosen to ignore it. Another chapter in this saga started in January of when the 2002 | Multi — Ethnic Ad Vi1S.0 1 y disproportionate share of environmen- There is another aspect to this story that is even more insidious and sinister tal risks. We share our neighborhood than ignoring with Utah Power & Light and Questar Gas. Our neighborhood already suf- The Salt Lake environmental City Gateway laws. Area Railroad ~ Consolidation/ ’ Implementation Plan - Final Report, fers from severe environmental blight dated, December 30, 1996 and The caused by Superfund sites and the top Creating an Urban Neighborhood EPA violators in the State of Utah. We Gateway District Land Use & are also bordered by I-15, I-80 and IDevelopment Master Plan, dated 215. August 11, 1998, both make it Moreover, Federal statute clearly requires an Environmental Impact unequivocally clear that the removal of the 900 South line was always a part and/or Environmental Statement of the Gateway Master Plan. Now that Assessment under the current circumthe mall is built and the Federal money stances. U.P. has indeed created new construction of connecting track with- -is spent, the developers and UP feel in its existing. free to rid themselves of freight trains by diverting them through our comrights-of| rail munity, contrary to the original plan way, an increthat attracted all the federal dollars. mental increase. Committee — for in noise levels of District 2 decided that a coalition should be formed three decibels or more, impacts on public health and safety, transportation of hazardous -| that would unite the various neighborhood organizations that were not going to stand for being the victims of U.P.'s economic. extortion. ‘The Glendale and Poplar Grove communi- ty councils acted as anchors to this newly formed coalition, which adopted the name "Communities United for Responsible Rail". One of the members of that coalition is The League of United Latin American Citizens materials and the operational changes that call for 'an increase of at least eight trains a day on any segment of rail line.’ Moreover, this reactivation effects a 'class I non-attainment area’ under the Clean Air Act. This Act, alone, should trigger an environmental report, because it calls for 'an increase of at least three trains a day on any segment of rail line.’ (see 49 CFR 1105.6 & 1105.7) UP is in a violation trust that the irony of Federal dollars "revitalizing" our community is not being lost on our elected federal officials. In other words, it is okay to divert trains through the heart of our barrio, all in the name of "revitalization." | As a community, we were supportive of revitalizing this industrial zone, until we realized that we were in the "sacrifice zone". We also realized that we were the victims of social inequity because institutional racism has influ- enced the placement of freight trains and has allowed our community to become the "sacrifice zone." We realize that environmental decisions often mirror the power arrangements of industry and reflect the still-existing racial bias in the United States. Environmental injustices are political in nature, impacting public health, local economies, and opportunities for nation's history. We are experiencing the same treaty violations that the first. individual and community growth and development. Our community spirit people of this nation endured. Their and self-esteem are also affected by treaties were good until gold was disthis decision: living in an area that is covered on their reservation. In much Sadly, this situation is reminiscent of another "controversy" in our the same way, UP made agreements to remove the rails that ran along 900 sited as a dumping ground so that oth- So., instead, we became the victims of a bait and switch, not unlike our indigenous predecessors. Perhaps it was always the plan of the Boyer Company and Union Pacific to divert trains through our community. To of worthlessness. ers may "revitalize", creates feelings Perhaps, in other communities across the nation it is . acceptable to turn a blind eye to the patterns of environmental racism that are sustained by economic extortion a process of convincing depressed deceive and use our community as a communities of color, that they should (LULAC), which is this nation's oldest of 49 CFR 1105 in not producing an political pifiata is to be expected, after accept the presence of poisonous and largest Latino civil rights organiindustries. all, this country is built on the zation. LULAC, throughout its histoenvironmental report. Environmental Justice demands that exploitation of people of color. To ry, has committed itself to the princi- — Furthermore, these actions should public policy be based on mutual allow the Boyer Company and Union ~ ple that Hispanic Americans have also trigger‘a Historical Report under respect and justice for all peoples, free Pacific to fraudulently use Federal equal access to opportunities in ‘the National Historical Preservation from any form of discrimination or money is not only deceitful; it is illeAct. The Utah State Historical Society employment, education, housing, and bias. Providing environmental justice has deemed that the one- timber pile gal. As a community for social justice health care. goes beyond the stated definition and we.must invoke the protection of Title Early on, LULAC felt that U.P.'s trestle, open deck bridge, constructed includes a guaranVI of the Civil plans to reactivate a dormant rail line in 1931, located at Milepost 781.81 Rights Act of 1964, [“| | tee of equal access meets the basic eligibility criteria for (950 South) in Salt Lake City through prohibits here is more to iS Story, | to relief and meanlisting in the National Register of which a predominately Hispanic neighbordiscrimination on | butfor whatever reason, the | ingful community Historic Places. : hood, constitutes blatant and overt | participation with Because the reactivation of the 900 the basis of race, | mainstrea environmental racism. Federal agengovernment and South Line meets several of the crite- color or national | Sent cies have defined environmental origin in federally I industry decisionria for an environmental impact study racism as "any policy, practice or regmakers. Diverting trains into our funded programs. National by the ulation that is an intentional or unin- as. required neighborhood, without asking, is nothWhat do I mean by this? Funding Environmental Policy Act and Title 49 tentional, disproportionate imposition the Gateway mall by the Federal ing more than a continuation of enviof. the. U.S... Code of , Federal of environmental hazards on minority ronmental racism that is sustained by communities." Consider that our pre- Regulations, we should not rest until Government has had an unjust envieconomic extortion, and in this case by ronmental impact on a national origin one is done. | dominately low-income, minority U of U Seeks West Side | Community+Ambassadors by Irene Fisher hours The University of Utah is looking to partner with residents and organizations in educating U of U students about the _ West Side. 3 - The “Community Ambassador Program," announced last week by the University of Utah as part of their new partnerships with people and groups on the west side of Salt Lake City, seeks involvement from residents who are interested in working to make good neighborhoods even better. The "Community Ambassador Program" will bring together 10 to 15 people who have lived on the west side of incorporated Salt Lake City for at least _ three years, who are interested in the well-being of themselves and _ their neighbors, who are willing to work with all kinds of people, and who have two or so a week available to 4519, or Irene.fisher@utah.edu. the Federal Government itself. We must not allow Federal monies to be Gateway project. The EPA has the fol- repeat itself as Federal dollars are used to take our lands and communities. It is essential that we continue to seek the reclamation of our liberties and dignity. In the final analysis, we lowing information, posted on its WEB Page: Salt Lake City's Gateway be involved. Bi-lingual speakers will be especially helpful. The Ambassadors will work with Irene Fisher, Special Assistant to President Machen, to help orient U students, faculty, and other newcomers to our neighborhoods. The University will view _ the Ambassadors as the "resident experts" on the west side community, and will depend on the Ambassadors to help newcomers from the U understand the assets and challenges in the neighborhood. The positions of "Community Ambassadors" will pay $10 per hour, with an average of two hours of involvement.per week, at flexible times of day or evening. If you would like to receive an application or ask for more information, please contact Irene Fisher at 581- minority community that is already burdened with a disproportionate share of environmental risk. Bear in mind the original purpose of the Revitalization initiative will restore the 650-acre blighted industrial district that divides the east and west sides of the city. Current redevelopment proj- are fighting for more than just property values. We are primarily struggling ects within the Gateway include a $14 to preserve an endangered million, 5-acre housing and retail center, and a $15 million transportation hub for bus, railroad, and light rail trains so that the Federal Government could showcase Gateway as a success. our community. We must never grow weary of creating a consciousness within our barrio of our connectedness to the land. I call upon my neighbors to remain silent no more, and to join the coalition of Communities United for Responsible Rail. El Salvadorian Archbishop Oscar Romero was felled Here we by assassin's bullet March 24, 1980. activity. | used to peddle racist ideology. We cannot sit idly by and let Utah history | Someone forgot to tell us that it was our patriotic duty to live with freight see that the intention of the species - Federal money was to "revitalize" and — Even today, his words still ring profound, "A civilization of love that did to bring together the east and west sides of Salt Lake City. As part of the Gateway - not demand justice of people would plan, U.P. has sold at least 25 million dollars worth of land to the Boyer Co. We not be a true civilization." | |