The Proposed Rezoning Disproportionately Affects Vulnerable Communities

Environmental discrimination, sometimes referred to as environmental racism, refers to the institutional rules, regulations, policies or government and corporate decisions that deliberately target certain communities for locally undesirable land uses and lax environmental laws, resulting in communities being disproportionately exposed to toxic and hazardous waste based upon socioeconomic characteristics. This is exactly what is happening here. This is one of the most economically disadvantaged areas in the county. For example, the two closest schools to the site are both Title 1 schools (school districts and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families). This change in zoning is an egregious example of the institutional regulations used to perpetuate environmental discrimination. This cannot be allowed to stand in Jefferson County.