Environmental Justice

In our last post we discussed what defines environmental justice. This week we’re going to talk about environmental injustice and how it manifests. We’re looking into the impact of these injustices on our most marginalized community members, and more specifically, our unhoused neighbors. 

TL;DR: the Sacramento region is experiencing the impacts (and facing the increasing severity) of climate change and environmental injustice. Our most vulnerable and marginalized community members bear the brunt of these effects, and are often forgotten when it comes to policy decisions regarding the environment and climate. Read through this piece to see what plans our local government has in place to mitigate these impacts, and which organizations are fighting for environmental justice.

TL;DR: Sacramento City Manager - and all around disappointment - Howard Chan attempted to remove funding for the RydeFreeRT program (a program that costs the City $1M...by contrast, this budgeting cycle we gave the police a $30M raise), but thanks in large part to community mobilization, this program will remain funded for another year! Unfortunately the City only covered $250,000 of the cost, with the remaining $750,000 being split between Sac RT and the Sacramento, Natomas, Elk Grove, and Twin Rivers Unified school districts. Permanent funding for this program will continue to be fought for.

In August of 2023, Tamika L'Ecluse was hired as the Sacramento Community Land Trust's (SCLT) first Executive Director! Tamika is long-time community advocate who is dedicated to supporting and empowering our most disenfranchised community members.

On December 16, 2020, the Board of Supervisors (BOS) adopted a Resolution​ declaring a climate emergency and directing the formation of a permanent Climate Emergency Mobilization Ta​sk Force.

Real talk, these climate updates have been the same for years. City staff discuss some of the excellent (and shiny) projects they are working on and what they expect to happen in the upcoming months. The projects are truly good and benefit the community and public health, and yes, the staff work incredibly hard.