DETROIT – State Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) today joined local residents in providing testimony and discussing the human impact of living near a highly industrial area at Latino Family Services in Southwest Detroit.
"This was the first time that residents from all corners of my district came together to share their stories of living near noisy truck corridors and rail lines, chemical plants and underground blasting sites," Tlaib said.
Tlaib's district is home to the largest rail yard in the State of Michigan, one of the busiest international borders in the country (Ambassador Bridge), an outdated wastewater treatment plant that releases unbearable odors, a composting facility in Delray that spontaneously ignites and the continuous underground mining by the Detroit Salt Company. The district also is the future site of a proposed second international bridge to Canada.
At the forum, Tlaib announced legislation to address blasting from mining operations and several community actions to combat the human impact of living in the area, such as an anti-idling ordinance, promoting emission reduction legislation and advocating for better signage to reduce illegal truck travel on local neighborhood streets.
Tlaib was joined at the event by the Sierra Club of Detroit, East Michigan Environmental Action Council, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, Bridgewatch Detroit, People's Community Services of Metropolitan Detroit, and the Southwest Detroit Business Association.
"On a daily basis, I hear about the increasing fear and aguish in residents experiences living next massive transportation infrastructures, petroleum plants near their children's school and rail lines that close off neighborhoods from police and fire protection," Tlaib said. "My hope is that this forum will raise awareness that housing this array of industry in one small area has an impact on the health and quality of life of families nearby. More importantly, this forum brought various local and state departments to the table to discuss concrete solutions and residents were able to share their vision for a healthier neighborhood."