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State legislators and local officials urge Passaic Valley Sewage Commission to reject proposed gas plant at 600 Wilson Avenue
Summary
A letter read into the record cited environmental-justice concerns and urged the Passaic Valley Sewage Commission to vote no on a gas-fired power facility proposed for the Ironbound neighborhood; the council member present asked the city to send a supporting letter to state officials.
A letter from state legislators representing the 29th Legislative District was read into the record at the Newark City Council’s May 13 special meeting urging the Passaic Valley Sewage Commission to vote no on plans for a gas-fired power facility at 600 Wilson Avenue.
The letter, read by the clerk on behalf of Senator Ruiz and other legislators, said the Ironbound neighborhood is already an "overburdened community" under New Jersey's environmental justice law and listed existing pollution sources including fossil-fuel power plants and a large incinerator. The letter called the proposed plant "a textbook example of environmental racism" and said cleaner alternatives to prevent sewage overflows should be studied and shared with the public.
Council response
After the letter was read, a council member asked the clerk to prepare a city letter supporting the legislative request and opposing the proposed plant ahead of a commission vote scheduled for Thursday (the clerk and council members discussed circulating such a letter). The requesting council member said the city should back the 29th Legislative District’s position because the neighborhood already carries a disproportionate pollution burden.
Direct quotes
"The iron bound neighborhood already designated an overburdened community under New Jersey's environmental justice law is saturated with polluting infrastructure," the letter said. "This is textbook example of environmental racism where communities of color are disproportionately forced to carry the weight of pollution and industrial development."
What the letter asked
The letter urged a full and transparent alternatives study and said the Sewage Commission should choose "long term health over short term fixes." It requested that the commission vote no on the proposed gas-fired power plant at 600 Wilson Avenue.
Ending: Council members indicated they would send a municipal letter of support to the legislative delegation and to the Passaic Valley Sewage Commission ahead of the commission’s vote.
