Environmental Injustice in Our Own Backyard!
Posted by Christine Bailey
Posted on June 17, 2018
Did you know that on May 8, 2018 the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors formally designated West Arden-Arcade as an “environmental justice community”?
Did you know that an environmental justice community is one with high percentages of people of color, low-income residents and/or immigrant communities that experience higher levels of environmental hazards and resulting health problems?
Did you know that UUSS is located in the southern edge of the West Arden-Arcade environmental justice community?
Did you know that the California place with the most income inequality is probably Arden-Arcade? http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article199690919.html
There’s work to do in our own backyard!
A workgroup from our Sacramento ACT Environmental Justice Committee is spending the summer investigating the conditions that create environmental injustice in West Arden-Arcade and the opportunities to change them. The workgroup is composed of members of Sacramento ACT clergy, UUSS, Congregation B’Nai Israel and St. Francis of Assisi Parish. We are meeting with environmental justice community organizers and community groups such as Black Child Legacy. We are studying environmental health data for West Arden-Arcade to learn the geographic locations of the environmental hazards. We are reaching out to the faith community in this area to see whether anyone is already doing this type of work and who may be potential partners as we move ahead.
In September, once we’ve gathered this information and have more knowledge of some of the environmental burdens of the area, our intention is to listen to those people in West Arden-Arcade who are most affected by environmental injustice and to hear their concerns and priorities. We feel they should be the ones who tell us what they would like to see for their communities.
The West Arden-Arcade Environmental Justice Community is roughly bordered by Ethan Way in the west, Interstate 80 in the north, Watt Ave. in the east, and Fair Oaks Blvd. in the south. (See map.)
We will report back to our congregation on our findings in September. Meanwhile, if you have questions or ideas please share them with us at
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9/10/20
By Christine Bailey
2 Responses to “Environmental Injustice in Our Own Backyard!”
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This is near to my home. I pass this area on the way to 80 to go downtown. It’s very sad how these homes and businesses have gone downhill over the years. Part of why Arden Arcade tried to be a city years ago. Now it’s more expensive, like the worst divorce to separate from Sacramento County thanks to the Governator. We’re 10 miles from the Board of Supervisors and a lot of us feel they don’t care about safety and quality of life issues. I see too many homeless people and their pets on the streets.
Thank you for doing this important work! I’m very interested in keeping up with your progress.