Why is this top Democrat absent from the fight against toxic pollution in Cancer Alley?
Louisiana congressman Cedric Richmond has taken hundreds of thousands of oil, gas and chemical dollars – but is accused of failing to help his constituents
www.theguardian.com
- Local residents: ‘It was like he was trying to brush us off
Richmond’s stature in the Democratic party has grown during his 10 years in Congress, as he has pushed on traditional civil rights issues, coastal erosion in Louisiana and fought for funding following natural and industrial disasters in the state. But the congressman, one of the highest recipients of donations from the oil, gas and chemicals industries in the Democratic House caucus, has paid little public attention to perhaps the most internationally pressing issue in Louisiana’s second congressional district – the continuing proliferation of polluting petrochemical and fossil fuel plants in the region.
Seven of the 10 most air-polluted census tracts in America sit in his district, according to EPA data. While a proposed massive expansion of a plastics factory in his district could almost double the amount of toxic air pollution in the parish it will be constructed in.
Analysis of Richmond’s news releases shows he has not mentioned air pollution in his district at any point during his tenure. An examination of congressional records, suggests he has not spoken about the issue in Congress.
Movin' on Up
You realize the article you linked is about a year old and Cedric Richmond soon addressed this very issue?
Congressman Cedric Richmond to hold meeting with residents of Reserve after report examined his record on environmental issues
www.theguardian.com
Hooray for The Guardian!! (whatever.)
I'm sure his public comments, letters, and hearings are not going to dramatically change the petrochemical industry in Southern Louisiana anymore than the barely existent Democrats of West Virginia screaming about coal would move the clean Earth needle there. Glad he said it, though. Meanwhile, we should be dismissive of his work in other areas because, well, he's a-movin' on up so surely he must be a sell-out.
Environmental purity tests aren't going to play well with the steel-toed boots and pickup driving, non-college-educated folk the Democrats are supposedly ignoring, are they?
