Debra Coyle

About Debra Coyle

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So far Debra Coyle has created 100 blog entries.

Job Opening: Campaign Organizer

The New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) is a coalition of labor, community, and environmental organizations advocating for safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment. WEC seeks a full-time, experienced campaign organizer. The person hired will have primary responsibility for organizing and advancing WEC’s Healthy Schools Now initiative, while also supporting WEC’s broader organizing, coalition-building, and campaign efforts. Responsibilities Include: Working with the Executive Director and staff to develop, implement, and evaluate campaign strategies, timelines, messaging, and deliverables, while adjusting plans as priorities and circumstances change. Building and maintaining relationships with a diverse coalition of labor, community, environmental, parent, and other partner organizations through one-on-one meetings, campaign planning, events, and presentations. Leading grassroots and grasstops organizing efforts, including recruiting and developing volunteer leaders, mobilizing supporters, organizing petitions, letter-writing, direct actions, and other campaign activities. Coordinating communications and public engagement efforts, including messaging, press conferences, media events, social media campaigns, and outreach to legislators and other public officials. Developing and delivering training for parents, community stakeholders, and emerging leaders to build organizing capacity and strengthen campaign participation. Collaborating with the Executive Director, staff, board members, and coalition partners to advance organizational priorities, campaigns, events, and strategic initiatives; proactively identifying challenges and [...]

By |2026-08-19T11:18:43-04:00August 13th, 2026|Highlights, Job Postings|Comments Off on Job Opening: Campaign Organizer

US sees unprecedented number of chemical plant fatalities in past year

Thirty-six people died from on-the-job chemical accidents in the US in a recent 11-month period, “the largest number of fatalities ever investigated by the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) in a comparable time period,” a top US chemical safety official said in June. This recent rise in US deaths comes amid repeated efforts by the Donald J. Trump administration to defund the CSB and to rewrite a key industrial chemical safety regulation, the Risk Management Program (RMP). The proposed RMP changes, released in February, would save chemical industries billions of dollars and affect more than 11,000 chemical manufacturers and refineries, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. But they would also increase risks to workers at the facilities as well as community members living nearby, say safety advocates, community groups, and the CSB. Read the full story from Chemical and Engineering News here.

By |2026-08-11T10:00:38-04:00August 3rd, 2026|Highlights, Uncategorized, WEC in the News|Comments Off on US sees unprecedented number of chemical plant fatalities in past year

Gov. Signs Bill Requiring Mercury-Free Flooring in Schools and Childcare Centers

May 8, 2026 Today, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed S1370/A1514 which requires new flooring for schools, community centers, and childcare centers to be certified mercury-free. In the 1960s a number of companies began manufacturing and installing a thin layer of synthetic, polyurethane flooring on top of concrete sub-floors, to provide a resilient and rubberized surface. Certain formulations of polyurethane incorporated a mercury catalyst, such as phenylmercuric acetate (PMA), to produce a solid seamless rubber-like floor. Mercury-containing polyurethane floors were widely installed in school gymnasiums across the United States. These floors may have been manufactured as late as 2005 and installed as late as 2006 (Washington Twp., NJ). Read more on Insider NJ here.

By |2026-07-24T11:44:03-04:00May 24th, 2026|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Gov. Signs Bill Requiring Mercury-Free Flooring in Schools and Childcare Centers

Federal Chemical Safety Board Sends Warning on Trump Disaster Policy

Story By Hiroko Tabuchi New York Times, May 14, 2026 For a year now, the Chemical Safety Board, a small independent federal agency that investigates chemical spills and other disasters has faced elimination under President Trump's budget cuts. That hasn't stopped the Board from taking on the Trump administration. Read more here.

By |2026-06-22T21:47:51-04:00May 14th, 2026|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off on Federal Chemical Safety Board Sends Warning on Trump Disaster Policy

Too hot, poor ventilation, overlooked: Newark’s East Ward students are learning in decades-old buildings

While Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s proposed budget does not add new money to the SDA, Maggie Garbarino, Sherrill’s deputy press secretary, said her administration will follow an existing funding schedule established in 2023 that will add $350 million for school construction projects that have already been started and an additional $50 million for emergency repairs in high-poverty districts this budget cycle. Read more here.

By |2026-07-09T12:20:01-04:00March 31st, 2026|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off on Too hot, poor ventilation, overlooked: Newark’s East Ward students are learning in decades-old buildings

Health and Safety Protections Against Chemical Emergencies Eliminated and Weakened in New Trump EPA Proposal

Washington, D.C. — Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to delay, weaken, and dismantle key safeguards against chemical emergencies and disasters, while millions of people nationwide, including children, live daily in harm’s way near industrial chemical facilities. The  latest Trump plan threatens the lives and safety of  the over 177 million Americans who live in worst-case scenario zones near chemical facilities. The proposal increases the likelihood of chemical emergencies and disasters for workers, first responders, and children and families who live within a chemical danger zone,  breaking the administration’s promises to “make America healthy.” Read More here.

By |2026-07-09T12:20:45-04:00February 17th, 2026|Highlights, Uncategorized, WEC in the News|Comments Off on Health and Safety Protections Against Chemical Emergencies Eliminated and Weakened in New Trump EPA Proposal

A $10.5B school construction bond could help fix Newark’s old school buildings

A proposed $10.5 billion state school construction bond could unlock new funding for Newark Public Schools and other school districts in the state to address longstanding needs for new schools and urgent repairs. Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz introduced legislation Thursday that, if approved, would ask voters in November to authorize new state bonds for school construction, expansion, and renovation projects in high-poverty districts as well as others. Read more here.

By |2026-07-09T12:21:11-04:00February 6th, 2026|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off on A $10.5B school construction bond could help fix Newark’s old school buildings

Labor, Environmentalists, and Community Groups Applaud Action to Make New Jersey Rail Safer Despite Heavy Industry Opposition

January 22, 2026 Labor, Environmentalists, and Community Groups Applaud Action to Make New Jersey Rail Safer Despite Heavy Industry Opposition TRENTON, NJ – In the final week of his administration, Governor Murphy signed S3389, which creates some of, if not the strongest, regulations on railroad operators in the country. Under the new law, rail companies transporting hazardous materials will be required to have two-person crews on all trains, take active measures to install wayside detectors, submit bridge condition reports to the state, and allow for worker inspections at facilities. These measures were supported by a diverse coalition of stakeholders including labor unions, environmental groups, and community members who live near railroad tracks. While advocates and experts pushed for even greater regulation in the aftermath of multiple major accidents in recent memory, including in East Palestine, Ohio (2023) and Paulsboro, New Jersey (2012), the steps taken by the state have been called common sense actions that will decrease the likelihood of a catastrophic event. These measures are especially important given the inaction at the federal level. Railroad companies have lobbied against any additional safety regulations and while successful at the federal level, were unable to kill this bill in Trenton. Read the [...]

By |2026-08-11T10:11:47-04:00January 26th, 2026|Highlights, Press Releases|Comments Off on Labor, Environmentalists, and Community Groups Applaud Action to Make New Jersey Rail Safer Despite Heavy Industry Opposition
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