Today, residents, community, labor, and environmental leaders gathered at a federal listening session to push the Obama administration to take bold steps to reduce the danger posed to millions of people by high-risk chemical facilities in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. See the Press Release here
The recent announcement that Trenton Central High School (TCHS) will be rebuilt is the latest proof of the old saying that "if the people lead, the leaders will follow." Indeed, that has been the case in New Jersey when it comes to providing our children and education staff with modern, productive learning and teaching environments free of serious health and safety hazards. Full Article by Mo Kinberg, Campaign Organizer, WEC and Mike Goodman, President, Trenton Central High School/Chambers Campus Parent Teacher Association February 18, 2014 - Times of Trenton
This national media coverage would not have happened without the hard work that the Trenton community and Healthy Schools Now Coalition has done to raise awareness about the deplorable conditions in our schools. See the NBC News Here
We may not know for several months exactly how a temporary worker died this month at Amazon.com's distribution center in Avenel, but there is already a lot we know about how companies like Amazon exploit temps and too often fail to protect them from physical danger. Full Article by John Pajak, Vice President, Teamsters Local 877 & WEC President and Marien Casiallas Pablen, Executive Director, New Labor and WEC Board Member December 27, 2013 - The Star Ledger
Students at New Jersey's most resource-starved public schools walk down hallways covered in mold, take tests in asbestos-filled classrooms and trod across floors peppered with rodent droppings. See Article Here
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.
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
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
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 [...]