Urgent Action: Monday June 10th
Join The Residents of Curtis Bay and Tell CSX No More Business as Usual
What: Rally and March
WHere:
Curtis Bay Rec Center
1630 Filbert St
Baltimore MD 21226
When: June 10, 2023, 3:30pm
Organizers: Curtis Bay Residents and organizers
Background:
In Curtis Bay, an industrial area in South Baltimore, CSX operates an open air coal terminal. CSX trains bring coal that is mined west of Baltimore to the terminal on the harbor where ships pick it up and ship it around the world.
This open air coal terminal pollutes the surrounding communities with coal dust, and it sustains a global market in fossil fuels that is destroying the planet.
The residents of Curtis Bay have been fighting back, envisioning a world free of coal, a community with sustainable jobs and housing and a healthy environment. While they build that better world they are demanding the State of Maryland do its job and regulate this industry polluting their communities.
I interviewed Dr. Nicole Fabricant of Towson University who wrote a book called Fighting To Breathe: Race Toxicity and the Rise of Youth Activism in Baltimore. She talks about the movement in Curtis Bay. You can watch here.
Policy Solutions
In my interview with Dr. Fabricant she outlines a series of policy options that can happen at the City and State Level. She Identified things like
City
Do not renew the contract with the Bresco Incinerator.
Invest real resources into zero waste infrastructure in order to have good zero waste jobs in Baltimore City.
Increase the availability of curbside composting.
Limit the use of city-owned land for use by the fossil fuel industry.
State
Remove trash incineration from the renewable energy portfolio.
Emergency hazardous air declaration in Curtis Bay.
Allocate federal resources to ensure a just transition away from an extractive fossil fuel economy.
Direct Maryland Department of the Environment to strictly regulate the transportation and storage of coal, in Curtis Bay and across the state.
Direct all executive agencies to use the power they have to protect residents instead of industries.
What I offered during the interview is that our campaign will work with residents and activists to put forward a policy agenda which recognizes the ongoing environmental injustices in Curtis Bay as the State of Emergency they are.
There are policy solutions that our current elected leaders can pursue, but do not. We are committed to advancing the solutions on scale with the problem with a focus on a just and sustainable transition away from an extractive fossil fuel infrastructure. We are committed to advancing the solutions the residents of the community are calling for.
Join the residents and activists fighting CSX and the state of Maryland for a better world and we will see you on Monday!