As City Council prepares to vote on whether or not to allow more industrial contamination in East Side neighborhoods, community leaders gather in front of City Hall to advocate environmental justice and healthy communities. Members of the Southwest Workers Union, Youth Leadership Organization and Committee for Environmental Justice Action will be present to demand land use plans that do not situate polluting facilities near families, schools and playgrounds, but rather promote libraries, grocery stores and people-centered economic revitalization.
For decades the East Side has served as a dumping ground for industrial toxics, dangerous maintenance yards, petroleum infrastructure and truck stops. 60% of all city fuel storage tanks are located on the East Side releasing benzene, xylene and toulene into residential neighborhoods. Children suffer disproportionately from asthma, central nervous system disorders and respiratory problems. In order to take the lead to protect future generation, it is necessary to amend current zoning laws to move industry away from places of work, play, school and prayer in order to ensure clean air, water and soil in all communities. In spite of the best promises, our communities know that very little regulation or oversight occur, that even the best technologies fail and that it is always the residents who pay the price.
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There has been accusations that politico David Arevelo is threatening to sue the Neighborhoods Alliance over the Redifuel zoning flap. According to sources with the NFA, community activist David Arevelo, now turned politician, is angry about charges that he was secretly trying to get close associates and relatives financial contracts with the Redifuel Corporation in exchange for his support in a zoning case that went before city council. When the owner of Redifuel supposedly refused the deal Arevelo changed his support for the project and actively campaigned against it. Arevelo represents Residents Organized for a Safe Environment (ROSE) organization. Allegedly, after Arevelo could not get construction contracts for relatives and associates he urged the City Council to oppose the zoning. According to community sources Arevelo is angry and is threatening to sue the NFA because of a fall out over support for the Redifuel zoning case. Arevelo has denied the charges at a community meeting a few months back, when the NFA was meeting with the police chief, but the issue has not gone away. If all of this is true it certainly threatens Arevelo chance of running any credible campaigns in District 2 and may raise questions about ethics.
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