Protesters’ photos show poor state of N.J. school buildings
A coalition that wants New Jersey to speed up the repair and replacement of run-down schools across the state staged a protest on the State House steps - using enlarged photos as props.
Judge tells SDA, school board to agree to new schedule for repairs to Trenton Central High School
While the latest developments in the courthouse drama over Trenton High were playing themselves out, less than a mile away protesters launched a fresh demonstration in support of rapid improvements at the city school and others in similar plight around New Jersey. See Article Here View the Slideshow here
Photo Essay: Documenting New Jersey’s Crumbling Schools
An art exhibit on the Statehouse steps yesterday exposed the shameful conditions in some New Jersey public schools. The exhibit, titled "A Blind Eye: The Immorality of Inaction," highlights the shocking result that four years of delayed repairs, renovations and construction have had on our public schools and the students who attend them. Full Article by Mo Kinberg, Campaign Organizer, WEC October 24, 2013 - NJ Spotlight
Healthy Schools Day of Action
TAKE ACTION NOW! Call Governor Christie at (609) 292-6000 and tell him attending school shouldn't make our children sick! It's time the Schools Development Authority (SDA) takes action to repair and modernize our schools. Download action flyer. Background Under the Christie administration, school repairs, renovations and construction in the 31 designated high-priority districts have stalled, slowed and in some cases stopped, leaving students, educators and school staff to endure terrible conditions on a daily basis. Healthy Schools Now, along with 43 organizations, including WEC, representing parents, school employees, students and other healthy schools advocates delivered a letter to Governor Christie asking him to take immediate action regarding the unsafe and poor conditions of our public schools and requesting repairs be made during the summer months. To date, the Governor has not responded and urgent repairs remain incomplete. Sample Message: I am a (parent/educator/resident) from (name of school & city) calling to express my disappointment with the lack of SDA action to repair and modernize our schools. Also share: specific examples of unhealthy or unsafe conditions in your school (such as mold, leaking roofs, exposed electrical, overcrowding, etc.) how have these poor conditions hurt you, the community, your child or students (such [...]
Statehouse Photo Exhibit Exposes Deplorable Conditions Endangering Thousands of Students in New Jersey Public Schools
An art exhibit on the Statehouse steps exposes the shameful conditions in some New Jersey public schools. The exhibit is titled "A Blind Eye: The Immorality of Inaction," and highlights the shocking result that four years of delayed repairs, renovations and construction have had on our public schools and the students who attend them. View the booklet and photos from the exhibit. See the Press Release here
Toxic Brews at Chemical Plants Could Trigger another Paulsboro-like Incident
A highly toxic cloud of cancer-causing chemicals moves into neighborhoods where local residents live and work. People are sent to the hospital in droves. More have to evacuate their homes. Parents are told not to let their children out of the house to go to school. Businesses are shut down. It may sound like a bad Hollywood movie, but this worst-case scenario happened last November in Paulsboro, when a train carrying more than 12 tons of vinyl chloride derailed and spilled its hazardous load. Full Article by Natasha Lavard, member, Paulsboro Action Committee and Debra McFadden, Assistant Director, WEC October 21, 2013 - The South Jersey Times
Failure to Act: New Jersey Jobs and Communities are Still at Risk from Toxic Chemical Disasters
Failure to Act documents how New Jersey jobs and communities are still at risk from toxic chemical disaster – five years after the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under former Governor Jon Corzine adopted rules to implement the NJ Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act that were supposed to drastically reduce that risk. These are the conclusions of the NJ Work Environment Council (WEC) following review of 42 publicly available reports submitted to DEP under the regulations. WEC is a nonpartisan advocate for worker and public health and safety and, along with its member organizations, was a leading proponent of the Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act and the rules issued by DEP to implement the law. This report was written by Denise Patel, former Project Coordinator, New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) and Debra McFadden, WEC Assistant Director. Additional research and data analysis was conducted by Paul Orum and Suzanne Marine. Cover design by Judith Rew. Read Full Report Sponsors of this WEC report are 15 organizations representing chemical facility and oil refinery workers, firefighters and other first responders, emergency room nurses, government environmental protection staff, educators, community members, faith leaders, environmental justice advocates, and environmental leaders: United Steelworkers [...]
Will Gov. Christie Act to Prevent a Toxic Disaster?
"It can't happen here." That's what most of us think when we hear about toxic chemical disasters. It's a comforting thought - except that if you live in New Jersey, it unfortunately is just not true. Full Article by John Pajak, Vice President, Teamsters Local 877 & WEC President October 13, 2013 - The Star Ledger
Is NJ at Risk For a Toxic Chemical Disaster? DEP Says No [AUDIO]
A new report by the New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) says millions of Garden State residents are still at risk from toxic chemical disasters five years after the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) adopted rules to implement the New Jersey Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act that were supposed to drastically reduce that risk. See Article Here
N.J. at risk of chemical disaster, coalition warns
A coalition of labor, environmental, and community organizations claims New Jersey is still at risk from toxic chemical disasters. See Article Here