#SWEAnews | #SWEA | #SouthWardEA | #SouthWardEnvironmentalAlliance |
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Your Monthly News & Updates |
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Message from Founder & Executive Director |
Greetings South Ward Family,
We have so many projects scheduled that we decided to change our newsletter to a bi-monthly publication. This format will allow us to spotlight our members, community partners and special projects. In this March/April issue we are providing updates of our first Environmental Summit, Purple Air monitoring project, the Amazon Hub fight and the Sonny Gaddy Jr Scholarships.
Looking forward to sharing more stories with you in May!
Kim Gaddy
Executive Director
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Mobile Monitoring + Truck Count
Wed Apr 20 – Thu Apr 21, 2022 (EDT)
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SWEA's new home office is located at 208 Lyons Avenue, overlooking the heart of the South Ward communities, Weequahic Section and the Dayton Street Community. The new office is located inside of the Rev. Ronald B. Christian Community Health & Wellness Center.
Thanks to a new partnership with the Beth Israel Medical Center, residents and our environmental justice partners, can meet and train in our office space.
SWEA' s satellite location or Clinton Hill resource center, is with our partner's at the Clinton Hill Community Action center; located at 404 Hawthorne Avenue.
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South Ward Environmental Summit 2022
'Environmental Summit' A Success In Newark's South Ward
"The workshops addressed the environmental injustices that impact our quality of life," organizers said.
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NEWARK, NJ — The South Ward Environmental Alliance (SWEA) will hosted its first "Environmental Summit" on Saturday, Feb. 19 in Newark.
The event took place from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Weequahic Park, Feldman Middleton, Jr. Community Center, located in Newark's South Ward.
"The theme was 'One Ward, Fighting for Environmental Justice.' Kim Gaddy, the Executive Director for SWEA, states, 'this is a critical topic for the South Ward community due to the proliferation of warehouses, increased truck traffic, flooding and unsafe drinking water in our homes and schools.'
'The workshops addressed the environmental injustices that impact our quality of life and uplifted the importance that everyone regardless of race, neighborhood or financial status deserves access to a healthy community to live in,' stated Terrance L. Bankston, the Environmental Justice Organizer for Clean Water Action.
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What Do South Ward Leaders & Environmental Justice Partners
Think of SWEA's 1st Environmental Summit?
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Click On Photos To Access Videos |
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Amy Goldsmith
Clean Water Action
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Yvette Jordan
Newark Education Workers
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Nicole Miller
NewarkDIG & Newark Green Team
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Nathaly Agosto Filion
City of Newark
Office of Sustainability
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Air Quality Monitoring Project (Update) |
Why air quality monitoring is essential?
Monitoring helps in assessing the level of pollution in relation to the ambient air quality standards. Standards are a regulatory measure to set the target for pollution reduction and achieving clean air.
Sites Being Monitored:
Clinton Hill Early Childhood Center
420 Hawthorne Ave, Newark, NJ 07112
Newark Fire Dept
360 Clinton Ave, Newark, NJ 07108
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Ave, Newark, NJ 07112
Brown's Chapel FWB Church
326 Chancellor Ave, Newark, NJ 07112
Club Eclipse
247 Fabyan Pl, Newark, NJ 07112
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The Fight For A Community Benefits Agreement Continues Between Amazon & Locals Labor and
Environmental Justice Leaders.
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Chloe Desir of Newark tells roughly 75 demonstrators Thursday at 4 World Trade Center in New York why she opposes Amazons plans to build an air hub at Newark airport unless the company and Port Authority mitigate air pollution, truck traffic and guarantee living wages for workers.
Updated: Mar. 17, 2022, 3:55 p.m. | Published: Mar. 17, 2022, 3:55 p.m.
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Moving Forward Network - Digital Campaign NoX Truck |
New Jersey - Earlier this month the Environmental Protection Agency for NJ, NJ EPA announced their proposed Heavy Duty NOx Truck rule. As so many expected, the rule, according to the Moving Forward Network partners like SWEA, 'falls short and does not address any of the requests made in our letter. By not taking on a comprehensive zero emissions program for all trucks, especially heavy duty trucks, the EPA is prioritizing industry and dodging accountability.'
According to members of the Moving Forward Network, 'stalling of a comprehensive regulatory proposal that includes at least the demands from our EJ communities, will result in further public health and environmental damages for our communities, who have been breathing toxic, polluted air for far too long.'
How Can You Help?
We’ve put together some initial materials to respond to the rule below to share them on your social media channels:
Facebook - The EPA's proposed Heavy Duty NOx Rule fails to protect the lives of EJ communities everywhere. Achieving a Zero Emission future for our freight system requires a holistic approach that prioritizes environmental justice. #ZeroMustMeanZero
Twitter - The administration should listen and center the voices from EJ communities who are the most impacted by the effects of freight. The proposed HD NOx rule falls dramatically short at protecting EJ communities. It's time for a just transition to zero emissions. #ZeroMustMeanZero
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Protesters oppose Newark Airport Amazon air hub deal at Port Authority’s first in-person meeting. Protesters greeted the Port Authority’s first in-person board meeting since the pandemic on Thursday to oppose an August 2021 agreement to build an Amazon Air hub at Newark Airport and asking the authority to revisit the deal.
About 75 demonstrators picketed outside Port Authority headquarters at 4 World Trade Center and voiced their opposition during the authority’s first in-person meeting since they went virtual at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
Several speakers from community organizations in Newark and Elizabeth voiced their concerns during the demonstration about how the Air hub would affect the surrounding communities.
Several speakers voiced concern about more pollution being inflicted on a neighborhood already affected by air pollution and associated diseases, such asthma, from the airport and port emissions.
“We cannot stand any more pollution in our community, our lives do matter,” said Kim Gaddy, Clean Water Action environmental justice director and a Newark resident. “Amazon and the secret deal will kill more people. “We want more community benefits, we want clean air. We demand you respect the residents of Newark and Elizabeth.”
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Terrance L. Bankston, the NJ Environmental Justice Organizer for Clean Water Action, recently launched an environmental justice campaign pertaining to the NJ Green Amendment.
Background:
As of March 18, 2022, 4 Years and 70 Legislative Cosponsors later, the NJ Green Amendment has not been scheduled for a hearing with the NJ legislators.
"Once Again – the New Jersey Green Amendment (ACR72/SCR15) has been delayed, not even one hearing this legislative session despite a four-year struggle and strong support from 70 legislative cosponsors," voiced organizers from Green Amendments for the Generations.
Your right to clean air and water deserve to be heard. Tweet, email & call legislators to get hearings this Spring in time to get your rights on the ballot this year!
Take Action Now
We Need a Green Amendment Hearing Before It's Too Late!
To help take action in NJ, and to protect our right to clean air and water, and to help get a hearing scheduled for this Spring:
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Scholarships -
Sonny Williams Gaddy, Jr.
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As an alumni of Science Park High School, this book scholarship recognizes students who understand the importance of hard work and dedication. Two select winners will be chosen to receive an award of $500 towards college book expenses. Please complete the application below and be sure to provide any additional supporting documentation.
This entrepreneurship scholarship recognizes business owners who understand the importance of innovation and vision. One select winner will be chosen to receive an award of $2500 towards “seed money” to help grow their business. Please complete the application below and be sure to provide any additional supporting documentation.
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