SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES IN MASSACHUSETTS: Forging Greater Community Participation in the Planning Process DANIEL R. FABER Northeastern University Department of Sociology + Anthropology PENN LOH Alternatives for Community + Environment JAMES JENNINGS Tufts University Department of Urban + Environmental Policy + Planning
ABSTRACT In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ecologically hazardous sites and facilities, ranging from highly polluting power plants to toxic waste dumps, are disproportionately located in communities of color and working-class communities. In fact, 9 of the 15 most environmentally overburdened towns in Massachusetts are low-income communities (where median household income is less than $30,000). Likewise, 9 of the 15 most environmentally overburdened towns in the state are of "higher-minority" status (where 15% or more of the population are people of color). In fact, citizens residing in a community of color in Massachusetts are 19 times more likely to live in one of the 25 most environmentally overburdened communities in the state. Striking inequities in the distribution of these sites and facilities are placing lower-income families and people of color at substantially greater risk of exposure to environmental health hazards. In response to these disparities, a vibrant environmental justice movement has emerged in Massachusetts. Aimed at organizing and mobilizing community residents to "act and speak for themselves," these environmental justice organizations are playing a pivotal role in organizing and mobilizing residents to be active participants in the planning and regulatory process. This article will highlight key lessons for planners around making community participation an effective tool for equity struggles, focusing on the role of Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE) in the Boston neighborhood of Roxbury.