Posted on Mar 21, 2023
'Cancer Alley' residents sue parish over cramming industrial plants into Black communities
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Residents in one of Louisiana’s most heavily-industrialized parishes sued their local government in federal court on Tuesday, accusing officials of cramming petrochemical plants into Black communities.
In the scathing lawsuit, two local groups and one church alleged that the St. James Parish Council and Planning Commission have used the parish’s land use plan and zoning to encourage the plants to build in predominantly Black areas in the parish. At the same time, they argued the land use plan has prevented those plants from being built in St. James’ white communities.
“Lacking the imagination to develop safer, smaller and more durable forms of economic development, the Parish continues thus to trade in the health and safety of Black residents in exchange for the financial largess and tax benefits industrialization purportedly provides for the rest of the Parish,” stated the lawsuit.
Neither the St. James Parish Council nor the planning commission responded to a request for comment.
In the scathing lawsuit, two local groups and one church alleged that the St. James Parish Council and Planning Commission have used the parish’s land use plan and zoning to encourage the plants to build in predominantly Black areas in the parish. At the same time, they argued the land use plan has prevented those plants from being built in St. James’ white communities.
“Lacking the imagination to develop safer, smaller and more durable forms of economic development, the Parish continues thus to trade in the health and safety of Black residents in exchange for the financial largess and tax benefits industrialization purportedly provides for the rest of the Parish,” stated the lawsuit.
Neither the St. James Parish Council nor the planning commission responded to a request for comment.
'Cancer Alley' residents sue parish over cramming industrial plants into Black communities
Posted from wwno.org
Cancer
Medical
Health
Lawsuit
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The groups also want the court to create a community board charged with crafting a plan to preserve unmarked cemeteries in the parish, as some have been destroyed due to industrial development.
The lawsuit comes as the state has faced more scrutiny from federal environmental officials over possible civil rights violations against Black residents by failing to incorporate environmental justice concerns when permitting industrial projects.
The groups expect to be assigned a court to hear their case in the coming weeks."
..."The groups also want the court to create a community board charged with crafting a plan to preserve unmarked cemeteries in the parish, as some have been destroyed due to industrial development.
The lawsuit comes as the state has faced more scrutiny from federal environmental officials over possible civil rights violations against Black residents by failing to incorporate environmental justice concerns when permitting industrial projects.
The groups expect to be assigned a court to hear their case in the coming weeks."
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Seriously...you think that a chemical company that is in it for jprofit said...wow that's a black communtiy lets put our plant there? Wow...companies are for profit. They build wherever thay have the right electric grid, sewer and water support, highway/rail distribution systems, and at the cheapest cost for the land. Nobody probablyever said lets build in the black community. Wow...that is even a stretch for the left.
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