Vernon Loeb of Inside Climate News writes about the question hanging over three Black neighborhoods in industrial north Birmingham that, together, compose the 35th Avenue Superfund site: What does the future hold—revitalization, or relocation? In a nutshell:The future of three Black neighborhoods in industrial north Birmingham, known as the 35th Avenue Superfund site, remains uncertain. However, some residents, like Charlie Powell, believe that decades of pollution, redlining, and racist zoning have irreversibly damaged the communities. The big picture:The pollution emitted by coke works, such as those found in industrial areas like north Birmingham, has devastating health effects on vulnerable populations. For more context, read Brian Bienkowski's excellent piece about how asthma-spurring pollution swirls around children living in the shadow of the Clairton Coke Works Plant—where black and poor children suffer the most

Source: New York Times July 16, 2023 16:46 UTC