The ProvPort Community Benefits Fund, designed to address the environmental injustice burdens of Wards 10 and 11, may be redirected into a scholarship fund.
After I went to press I received the following from Monica Huertas of the People’s Port Authority, who fought so hard to get the Community Benefit Fund established just over a year ago:
“While we recognize the importance of supporting educational opportunities, we have reservations about the allocation of these funds for a scholarship program.
“Our concern lies in the fact that scholarship programs, while beneficial, may not directly address the immediate environmental justice needs of our community. As an organization committed to combating environmental racism and advocating for the well-being of marginalized communities, we believe that any funds designated for community benefits should prioritize initiatives that directly mitigate the harmful impacts of industrial activities on public health and the environment in our Green Justice Zone.
“Instead of solely focusing on scholarships, we would like to see a more comprehensive approach that includes investments in environmental remediation projects, healthcare services, job training programs in sustainable industries, and community-led initiatives aimed at addressing environmental injustices. These efforts would not only benefit individuals but also contribute to the long-term resilience and empowerment of our community in the face of systemic environmental challenges.
“It's actually tacky (and tasteless), given the fact that so many of our children miss school daily due to health issues caused by the port.”
This is, as presented in the so-called meeting, disingenuous at best. Back off from “best” and we are left with an agenda that is transparently bullshit. Who benefits from such a ridiculous presumption. $5000??? That’s not a meaningful check at any college.
Thank you for this incredibly important article. It's amazing the things that elected officials will try to wrangle under the radar. However, this may represent a new low: using an already-gathered group of middle-school students as technically meeting the requirement of having sought community input. That sounds nothing short of crooked, and absolutely not in the community's best interest. If they think the idea is so great, and if they believe that their job is to represent the people, then they should do a little legwork to create a well-attended forum where there is ample opportunity for community members--including adults!--to discuss the proposal and share any concerns they have. This was the opposite.
I am with Monica on this ., Totally. I have known Pedro Espinal for many years and he is an ego driven schemer. His plan is to make himself look good while shafting the community
After I went to press I received the following from Monica Huertas of the People’s Port Authority, who fought so hard to get the Community Benefit Fund established just over a year ago:
“While we recognize the importance of supporting educational opportunities, we have reservations about the allocation of these funds for a scholarship program.
“Our concern lies in the fact that scholarship programs, while beneficial, may not directly address the immediate environmental justice needs of our community. As an organization committed to combating environmental racism and advocating for the well-being of marginalized communities, we believe that any funds designated for community benefits should prioritize initiatives that directly mitigate the harmful impacts of industrial activities on public health and the environment in our Green Justice Zone.
“Instead of solely focusing on scholarships, we would like to see a more comprehensive approach that includes investments in environmental remediation projects, healthcare services, job training programs in sustainable industries, and community-led initiatives aimed at addressing environmental injustices. These efforts would not only benefit individuals but also contribute to the long-term resilience and empowerment of our community in the face of systemic environmental challenges.
“It's actually tacky (and tasteless), given the fact that so many of our children miss school daily due to health issues caused by the port.”
Wow. Not a Providence resident but I live in Edgewood not far from the Port. That is such bullshit.
This is, as presented in the so-called meeting, disingenuous at best. Back off from “best” and we are left with an agenda that is transparently bullshit. Who benefits from such a ridiculous presumption. $5000??? That’s not a meaningful check at any college.
Thank you for this incredibly important article. It's amazing the things that elected officials will try to wrangle under the radar. However, this may represent a new low: using an already-gathered group of middle-school students as technically meeting the requirement of having sought community input. That sounds nothing short of crooked, and absolutely not in the community's best interest. If they think the idea is so great, and if they believe that their job is to represent the people, then they should do a little legwork to create a well-attended forum where there is ample opportunity for community members--including adults!--to discuss the proposal and share any concerns they have. This was the opposite.
I am with Monica on this ., Totally. I have known Pedro Espinal for many years and he is an ego driven schemer. His plan is to make himself look good while shafting the community