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Potential landfill lawsuit

From Video coverage of the White Street Landfill environmental justice issue in Greensboro, NC. Video coverage of the White Street Landfill environmental justice issue in…

Redistricting without a map

From NC Senate Redistricting Committee Chair Bob Rucho says that the state redistricting process is more transparent than ever before. But Rucho does not plan…

Public weighs in on congressional redistricting process

Follow the link above for video coverage. By Heather Moore RALEIGH – North Carolina lawmakers are working to redraw legislative and congressional district lines, which historically has been a very political process. It happens every 10 years after census numbers are released. Wednesday, the public got their first chance to tell lawmakers what they expect of the redistricting process and the new lines. Redrawing district lines impacts how many lawmakers represent an area and exactly which area they're representing. In the past, it could even play a role in who would win the election by creating districts of like-minded voters, a political tactic called gerrymandering. “My concerns are that minorities will be packed into certain districts under several gerrymandering techniques that have been used in the past,” said Jessica Holmes with the Alliance for Fair Redistricting and Minority Voting Rights. But state lawmakers say they're taking extra steps this year to make the redistricting process as fair and open as possible. “The gerrymandering as it's been in the past has pretty much been eliminated by the fact the courts have responded, especially the North Carolina Supreme Court,” explained Senator Bob Rucho, a Republican representing Mecklenburg County and Chairman of the Redistricting Committee. “There are certain times we're going to have districts that may be spread out but there's a reason for it legally, whether they follow the Voting Rights Act or whether they follow whole county or whatever it may be, but legally there's a reason for that occurring.” Lawmakers are holding at least twelve public hearings all across the state to get input about the redistricting process. Concerned citizens say they appreciate the opportunity to participate. “I'm very excited they have spread these public hearings across the state,” Holmes said. “I'm happy about this process. I'm happy about this opportunity to come here and give my public input.”

Expect landfill lawsuit, city told

By AMANDA LEHMERT Staff Writer GREENSBORO — An attorney working for northeast Greensboro residents warned the city on Tuesday that expanding the White Street Landfill would hurt communities of color — opening the city to legal challenges that could prevent it from getting landfill permits. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice, a Durham-based nonprofit, is providing free assistance to Citizens for Environmental and Social Justice, a group of residents who oppose reopening the landfill to household trash. In 2006, the city stopped sending household trash to White Street, although it still is permitted to do so. Residents could challenge current or future landfill permits under a law that allows the state to deny permits that have a disproportionate adverse impact on minority or low-income communities, Chris Brook, a staff attorney for the coalition, wrote to City Manager Rashad Young and City Council members. Brook already has submitted a letter to the N.C. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, opposing the city’s request to renew its current permit to bury household and other trash at White Street for five years. That permit is pending state approval. Young said the city is reviewing the law mentioned by Brook to see how it might affect the city’s ability to get permits. The City Council is considering three proposals that would expand the landfill. Brook said the council has not fully considered health, environmental or economic consequences. “Reopening White Street to municipal solid waste and potentially expanding it would have negative public health and environmental consequences without addressing Greensboro’s need for a long-term, fiscally responsible waste management plan,” Brook wrote. The northeast Greensboro citizens group approached the coalition earlier this year for help on the landfill. In the letter, Brook said 7,550 residents live within a one-mile radius of White Street — and about 85 percent of those residents are African American or Hispanic, citing 2010 census figures. Brook said that could be the basis for a civil rights complaint or a landfill permit challenge. The solid waste law says the state “shall deny” a permit if it has a disproportionate impact on minority or low-income communities. Brook’s letter also argued that a White Street expansion could “crowd out” business opportunities for the area. That possible economic impact — an issue that other Greensboro residents have raised — is something Young said is difficult to calculate. Brook also said cost savings from using the landfill would be short-term. The only way White Street could produce long-term savings is if the city expanded it beyond the current dumping space. “The life of the landfill is short. This is not a good option,” said Goldie Wells, a former City Council member who has been leading the anti-White Street charge. Brook accuses the City Council of plowing forward with plans to expand White Street before the health consequences are fully explored. The state requires the city to test groundwater at the landfill, capture the gas that comes out of it and undergo regular inspections. “We’re meeting the requirements that the state has put before us,” City Field Operations Director Dale Wyrick said. “I am not trying to minimize the concerns because there are community concerns, but we are doing our due diligence."

Greensboro residents argue against re-opening White Street Landfill with letter

The Southern Coalition for Social Justice, working with the Greensboro Citizens for Economic and Environmental Justice, today submitted a letter to the Greensboro City Manager and City Council opposing plans to re-open and potentially expand the White Street Landfill. The letter demonstrates re-opening this landfill would disproportionately burden African-American Greensboro residents with the negative environmental and public health impact associated with municipal solid wastes landfills. Re-opening the landfill would also stifle future economic growth in the surrounding community and subject Greensboro to potential legal action. To read the letter from SCSJ staff attorney Chris Brook click here. Check out The Greensboro Citizens for Economic and Environmental Justice website here.

Legal action promised if White Street re-opened

by Yasmine Regester Carolina Peacemaker Originally posted 4/6/2011 The Citizens for Economic and Environmental Justice (CEEJ) group held another open forum for the citizens of East Greensboro and citizens who oppose the reopening of White Street Landfill on Monday, April 4 at Laughlin Memorial United Methodist Church. The Greensboro City Council has already heard from five trash companies that are proposing solutions to the disposal of the city’s trash. Most of which include reopening and expanding the White Street Landfill. At Monday’s meeting, Attorney Chris Brook from The Southern Coalition for Social Justice was present to answer resident’s questions. Brook is providing legal representation for CEEJ. “Its these kinds of things that need to be stopped. This is a nationwide problem. Hopefully we’re involved early enough to put an end to this. There is legal representation for the community. There will be legal consequences if this decision goes forward,” said Brook. CEEJ are prepared to take this issue to court if the council decides to reopen the White Street Landfill. Former District 2 Councilmember Goldie Wells, who is leading the group, stated the citizens wanted to know the cost to the city. “We haven’t heard any true facts about how much this would cost the city or save the city,” said Wells. She added, “Council isn’t listening to the people.” Eighty-one year old Greensboro resident Raymond Neal, of Nealtown Road, spoke to the group and told a brief history of the area. According to Neal, his father sold 20 acres of his own land to the city for a landfill in 1952. The League of Women Voters has also gotten involved in the fight and the organization has held meetings of their own to help find a solution. They are suggesting that the city extend its contract with Republic Services and continue transporting trash to Montgomery County for the next two years, while the city investigates acceptable and sustainable alternatives for waste management. Brook noted that during his research on the landfill and its surrounding communities, he found that African Americans and Latinos make up 47 percent of Greensboro’s population; however, African Americans and Latinos make up 80 percent of the community surrounding the White Street Landfill. “This is a short term budgetary decision that’s going to have long term consequences,” said Brook, who advised the group that while identifying problems to the council they must also identify possible solutions. The group is continuing to speak at city council meetings and writing letters. Council is scheduled to approve a solid waste agreement at the June 7 council meeting. CEEJ will also be holding a rally at the White Street Landfill on April 15 at 12:15 p.m. For more information visit www.theCEEJ.org.

A Landfill Controversy with Statewide Implications

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The possible reopening of a landfill in Greensboro is generating a stink around the state, as groups express concern over its impact on the community and economy. The White Street Landfill in Greensboro was closed to municipal waste five years ago, but now the city may try to reopen the landfill to cut costs. The move challenges a 2007 state law that denies permits for solid waste facilities if they would have a disproportionate effect on African-American communities. Community activist Goldie Wells is concerned the decision will stunt economic growth. "We're quite concerned because we are an African-American community. The growth of Greensboro hinges on what happens with White Street Landfill." Wells says that the eastern part of Greensboro, where the landfill is located, has the most potential for further growth, if the landfill remains closed to city garbage. If the city is able to move forward in spite of the statute, other municipalities around the state could follow suit, according to the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. That organization is helping concerned citizens fight the White Street landfill. The city is expected to make a final decision in June. Staff attorney Chris Brook with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice says this fight reaches far beyond the Greensboro city limits. "It's a real opportunity legally to protect the communities that have traditionally been where these undesirable facilities end up being sited." Even if it's found that the state statute doesn't apply to this situation, the community may find protection under Title VI (6) of the Federal Civil Rights Act. Stephanie Carroll Carson, Public News Service - NC

Redrawing the Map: Redistricting Process Begins in NC

RALEIGH, N.C. - Redistricting is on the agenda for legislative districts across North Carolina now that the latest population from the 2010 U.S Census have been released, with the information and decision in the hands of the Republican-controlled State Assembly. The makeup of the legislature could change significantly and to the disadvantage of Democratic legislators. The process is governed by federal law and court rulings, but such citizens as Arthur Griffin, a member of the Mecklenberg County Committee on Redistricting, say it's important for voters to watch the process with a close eye. "It's really important that it's an open and transparent process and that citizens from all walks of life have an opportunity to be heard." The release of the Census data marks the beginning of this process, one that could likely take several months to complete. Political agendas often come into play, explains Anita Earls, executive director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, and that's why she says voters must be involved starting now. "People want a (district) line to be one place or another, and it's only with a fair and open process you get a plan that results in a good representative government." The statewide redistricting plans for State Assembly and congressional seats must be submitted and approved by January of 2012. Stephanie Carroll Carson, Public News Service - NC

Border Patrol Arrests Families in Louisiana Returning Home from Faith Event

On April 15, 2010, in Louisiana, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents detained over forty members of the Evangelical Latino congregation, “El Buen Pastor.” The families were returning home to Raleigh, North Carolina. The church members were traveling on Interstate-10 in Louisiana, returning from an annual jubilee in Texas, called the “Santa Cena” or “Holy Week.” The vans were not cited with any traffic violations; rather the stop and the arrests were motivated by CBP’s suspicion — based on Latino appearance — that the church members may be undocumented. CBP claims that they can use race as a factor to make stops and arrests within a 100-mile radius of the border. CBP also claims that the southern shoreline is border territory. Primarily families — men, women and children members of El Buen Pastor — were traveling in the vans. When CBP stopped them, the agents aggressively questioned the travelers. CBP agents handcuffed many of the men and took them away in patrol vehicles. Some of the churchwomen recounted the impacts they suffered at the hands of the CBP agents: The officials were banging on the door. My sister in law told the officials to lower their voices. . . All of us were scared. We said, “we are coming from a church event.” There were babies in the car and they were all crying. However, the officials did not change their tone. My niece is special needs and she started to moan and throw her arms around in the air. Her father was worried that she was going to accidentally detach herself from the feeding machine . . . As my children watched the officers handcuff my husband they started to cry . . . As we were driven to the CBP office by the officers, one of my aunts was crying and upset trying to pray and sing hymns in a quiet voice. Everyone else was crying and the official just laughed, asking if God would save us from this. CBP agents coerced the parents into signing documents they did not understand, despite trying to uphold their rights to remain silent and to consult with an attorney. The CBP agents threatened that if they did not sign, the men and women would be sent to separate detention facilities and the children would become wards of the state. Everyone else was crying and the official just laughed, asking if God would save us from this. For hours, the church members were crammed into the office as each family was processed. One churchwoman explained, “We waited in the office but there wasn’t really anywhere to sit. I remember my older son was tossing and turning because he wanted to sleep but there was nowhere to lie down. The children were crying.” CBP Official: “Like winning the lottery” The church members felt their rights were violated by the way officials treated them; CBP officials mocked them for wearing head coverings. Despite explaining that their dress is a way to demonstrate respect for God, the officials humiliated them, joking that the real reason they wear the veils is to disguise their messy hair. The officers spoke of the church members as objects. “At the time of shift change a new official came in and I heard him say to the others, ‘Good job, congratulations.’ He told them they had caught a bunch and because there were so many of us it was like winning the lottery.” The CBP arrest and treatment traumatized the families, especially the children. A Call for Support Now, church members are fighting to stop their deportation proceedings and uphold their human rights. With the support of Durham-based Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), the families are fighting for suppression of removal in Immigration Court because the government did not legally obtain the information regarding the documentation status of the church members. SCSJ represents the members in a suit against CBP for withholding public records about the arrest. SCSJ will also represent them in a suit based on emotional abuse CBP agents inflicted on congregation members and other violations of their constitutional rights.Buen Pastor is organizing with other faith communities and allies, in particular, Latino congregations that have suffered abuse by Immigration and other law enforcement authorities. On February 18, members of El Buen Pastor led a vigil attended by over seventy people. They called on their faith to give them strength and courage to continue fighting for their human dignity. Their next Immigration Court date is June 23rd, 2011 in Charlotte, NC. The congregation is asking for other Latino and allied churches to write letters denouncing the CBP abuses inflicted against them. If your congregation would like to write a letter or you would like to become involved contact staff organizer, Rebecca Fontaine at Rebecca@southerncoalition.org. To follow the case, sign up on SCSJ’s Twitter or Facebook account. Click here to read press articles about the arrest. Rebecca Fontaine works at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice as an immigrants' rights organizing and as a bilingual immigration paralegal. Labels: border, Border Patrol, El Buen Pastor, faith, Holy Week, immigration, Louisiana, NNIRR, racial profiling, SCSJ, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, undocumented