Letter to the Mayor

Dear Mayor Castro,

This is an especially hard time to be low-income in America. Decades of globalization-driven outsourcing of reliable blue-collar work has ravished communities across the country. Coupled with the worst recession that America has experienced since the Great Depression, thousands of Americans are struggling to secure sustained and dignified employment. In the midst of this struggle, pollution and unsustainable energy and lifestyle practices are severely impacting the the health of urban communities. Despite the challenges inherent to this crisis, this situation presents opportunities for San Antonio to become a national leader in environmental justice through the creation of green jobs and progressive environmental policies that will work to shrink unemployment, reduce economic disadvantages, and improve community health.

In support of the Southwest Workers' Union, Energy Action Coalition--a national network of youth climate organizers--and Center for Community Change--a national effort to unite low-wage workers in support of an economy that benefits all income brackets--present you with this proposal of practical measures that can transform the Alamo City into a national leader.

I. Recent City Initiatives that We Would Like to Applaud
To begin, we want to acknowledge the noteworthy work that the City has done thus far in relation to environmental and social justice as these actions show the great potential of Mayor Castro and his administration. We commend the city's stance against the economically and environmentally irresponsible expansion of the South Texas Project. We also praise the creation of the Casa Verde program that uses federal stimulus money to weatherize low income communities. The recent opening of the Mission Verde Center at Cooper that serves as a hub for clean energy research and green job training further fuels our belief that the city of San Antonio can become a national leader in creating socially and environmentally just systems. No more important investment could be made in San Antonio than developing solutions for reducing our energy consumption and transitioning to renewable energy sources.



II. Improvements that Need to Be Made

It is crucial to us that sustainability plans meet the considerable energy and economic challenges that residents of San Antonio face. The low income families that make up the heart of our 3,000 person membership are struggling more than anyone to cope with the recession, especially in light of the alarming rate increases from CPS. To that end, SWU, allied grassroots groups, and the national organizations Energy Action Coalition and Center for Community Change call on Mayor Castro to commit to the following:


* Formalization of the vision of Mission Verde, complete with concrete resolutions, laws, etc.
* Establishment of community participation in CPS through a Green Jobs Leadership Council
* Freezing CPS rate hikes until CPS becomes more transparent and redirects its efforts toward progressive energy programs
* Providing vouchers--not rebates--for low-income residents to purchase energy efficient appliances. It is very disappointing to see billboard advertisements on buses for energy efficiency rebate programs for appliances that the bus riders likely cannot afford in the first place.
* Enactment of stricter ozone standards so that San Antonio does not face issues with noncompliance in terms of air quality standards. To make this a reality, New Urbanism planning policies that focus on accessible cities designed for people (not cars) should be enacted. Rather than channeling resources towards assisting low-income persons with maintenance of their sub-standard vehicles, proactive policies that focus on mass transit and walkability should be implemented.


In our conversations with members, SWU has come up with our own plan for local energy policy based on principles of environmental justice. We have already given your office a copy of the People's Power Plan. We are calling on you to actualize the these recommendations and to work with community groups and activists in order to create a future that is both green and just.