Issues &
Projects
1. ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE:
Lowndes Citizens United for Action (LCUFA) was organized to stop the
dump on the Civil Rights Trail (Highway 80 between Selma and
Montgomery, Alabama). We quickly found that the environmental
justice issue was intertwined with racism, poverty, politics and
self determination.
Our local
government had ignored our requests regarding the landfill, and
there was virtually no participation in local government at the
citizen level. We realized we had to become active, and we did.
We reached out for
help and through the efforts of the Southern Organizing Committee
(SOC) helped to found the Alabama African American Environmental
Justice organization. We made contact with other at-risk
communities. In Macon County, Alabama, we helped them devise a plan
to stop the dump that was to be built in the Shorter community
before it got started. We helped the Ashurst Bar Smith Community,
also in Macon County but near Tallassee Alabama fight the re-opening
of the dump in their area. Unfortunately, that effort failed. In
recent weeks, ADEM has allowed expansion of the cells at that
landfill.
Still, throughout
this struggle, LCUFA brought the eyes of the world on the fight
against the dump. People are beginning to realize that communities
of color have a high rate of chemical plants, dumps and other
unhealthy industries. It is clear that these communities are
targeted on the hope that their political disenfranchisement and
poverty will keep them from fighting back.
Waste Management
has announced that they intend to start up the push to build the
dump on our beloved Civil Rights Trail. They now own the land along
US 80. We urge you to contact us at
info@lcufa.com if your group wants to help with the upcoming
struggle. We particularly invite civil rights groups to participate
to help us stop the travesty on our history.
2. OPEN
GOVERNMENT
Project Goals:
The goal of the Open Government Project is to open up local
government and policy organizations to citizen involvement and to
educate the community and the office holders alike about
responsibilities and accountability, and to build membership and
skill level in LCUFA.
As a result of
this goal, the community will have more self-determination,
understand the strengths and weaknesses of government, and take back
the decision making process. As this process occurs, new members
will be recruited, and skills will be built. LCUFA’s mission of
bringing people together will strengthen the overall community.
Background:
The
rich history of the civil rights struggle in Lowndes County often
excludes the fact that economic development has been virtually
nonexistent. Many of the conditions that existed in 1965 still
exist today. Schools are still segregated. The educational system
is under-funded, and the schools themselves are physically in
terrible condition.
There is still no
decent tax base. There are few industries, and those that do exist
have been given carte-blanche and tax abatement by local government
officials in their desperation to attract jobs.
In 1975 a report
was compiled that said that Lowndes County processes were still the
same despite the election and appointment of Blacks to positions of
power. For instance they cited the fact that the Superintendent of
Schools still runs the School Board, instead of the School Board
directing the Superintendent.
No where is that
more evident that at the Lowndes County Commission. Commissioners
have run the county with an iron fist, and have used favors to
generate support among voters. Make the commissioner happy, and
your road gets paved. Make him mad and you are on dirt.
Commission
meetings are run poorly. The public isn’t given agendas, nor are
minutes read and approved. Much of the county business is not done
in public despite Alabama’s sunshine laws. It was in this arena
that the commission gave their permission for the dump on the Civil
Rights Trail and more recently, committed to a 3.2 million dollar
industrial park and 4 million dollars in incentives to a factory
that is locating in the county. Citizens have not been told,
despite their questions, how this money will be repaid, and although
many are hopeful, most remember how GE Plastics located in Lowndes
County and hired people from outside to work in the plant.
LCUFA is anxious
for economic development, but members are concerned about putting in
place processes that are a clear road map toward progress. They
want the days of favoritism and cronyism to end and instead have
transparent government so they can protect themselves and their
children.
LCUFA has
committed to working on an open government project that includes
regular attendance at local government, including county commission
meetings. LCUFA members have agreed to take part as much as
possible in local processes and to lobby and advocate for fairness,
openness and justice.
In addition, LCUFA
will be instrumental in evaluating political candidates and working
with community groups county-wide to attract new, honest,
responsible leadership so that the goals of self determination and
open government can be achieved.
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