How the New EPA Changes Impact Environmental Justice in the Bay Area: What You Need to Know

Talking about racism is essential to understanding why certain communities face significant challenges, especially regarding health. Black individuals often deal with poorer health outcomes and shorter lifespans. To make effective changes, these conversations must happen.

Maya Carrasquillo, a civil and environmental engineering professor at UC Berkeley, points out that recent federal actions send a troubling message about whose lives are valued. She believes this is a pivotal moment for California to enhance its commitment to environmental justice. “People are uniting around organizations that fight for this cause,” she said. “In the past, we’ve found clever solutions to get our work done, and we need to do that again.”

Carrasquillo’s team received an EPA grant aimed at installing tree planters in East Oakland. However, the federal government halted that funding briefly before restoring it. Similar issues arose for Beveridge’s West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, which secured a $500,000 grant to research air quality. Although the grant was temporarily frozen, the lack of communication from the EPA left them in the dark about their funding situation.

The EPA has also had issues with another $91,000 contract for local air quality monitoring. Beveridge noted, “We’ve invested time and effort into this work,” highlighting the importance of timely payment for both his team and the students involved.

Organizations like Climate Resilient Communities in East Palo Alto are also facing uncertainty. They hold three EPA grants totaling about $850,000 that are now at risk due to the closing of the environmental justice office. The largest grant, worth $500,000, aimed to provide air purifiers for children suffering from asthma. However, the director, Cade Cannedy, mentioned they stopped billing for these projects to avoid sinking their organization.

The executive director of Climate Resilient Communities, Violet Wulf-Saena, shared the stress of managing new hires who were trained for projects now stalled due to funding uncertainty. “We’re borrowing from the future,” she said, emphasizing the potential long-term consequences of these federal grant issues.

In South San Francisco, Julio Garcia, another executive director, experienced similar challenges when a $600,000 grant for planting trees was frozen. Such freezes leave organizations uncertain and deter private funding. Garcia expressed concern that fear and uncertainty could lead communities, particularly those underserved, to withdraw from decision-making processes.

A recent survey indicates that such issues have made non-profit organizations apprehensive about pitching their initiatives for funding. Many donors are now wary of where their money goes, especially related to climate change and social justice initiatives. This can prevent grassroots efforts from effectively advocating for their communities, further marginalizing those already affected by climate disasters.

It’s clear that these challenges highlight a critical need for open discussions around race, environmental justice, and funding stability. Communities most affected by climate change deserve to be heard and supported, which ultimately benefits everyone.



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