STOP Corporate Welfare

" While the pandemic downturn hit the oil industry hard, Valero Energy has taken advantage of many of the bailout programs in the CARES Act. Through the Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility, the Federal Reserve has purchased $6 million in Valero bonds and another $11 million via its purchases of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Valero also reported a tax benefit of $117 million for the first half of 2020 thanks to a CARES Act provision that allows them to apply any net operating losses to previous years’ tax burdens."  [1]

Think they can afford to invest in technology to further reduce emissions, mitigate noise, and pay the local portion of property tax, regardless of any previous State Industrial Ad Valorem Tax Exemption Program (ITEP). Together with other industries, if the ITEP local taxes were paid, we wouldn't have continued referendums for more and more property taxes; we might even be able to keep all the fire stations open, rather than rotate closures at times. 

"Due to an Executive Order signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards in June 2016, local school districts, sheriff departments, parishes and cities, for the first time in 80 years, will have the authority to determine for themselves whether to approve industrial tax exemptions and on what terms. " [2] 

The EO only applies to new applications or when existing ITEPs renew, and is expected to be reversed through legislation or by the next State Governor. 

"Louisiana Economic Development (LED), the state agency which administers ITEP and which local entities are looking to for information, has declined even to give an assessment of how much the exemptions are costing those entities at the local level." Parish-wide, lifting all ITEPs, not just one facility, was reported to return an estimated $42 MILLION and lower the average homeowner's tax bill by over $500, and  lower the average business' tax bill by over $1,100 [2]

As neighbors in St Bernard Parish, we care for each other, we make groceries and send food when neighbors are sick, we share ice and drinking water and supplies after hurricanes, we offer an extension cord to the power generator or provide shelter from the heat or cold. We lift each other up and give each other hope.

These industrial neighbors need to get with the program, demonstrate respect for the human beings on the other side of the fence, and stop dragging our quality of life down. 

[1] Tim Donaghy, Senior Research Specialist @Greenpeace USA

[2] Together Louisiana 

Save Historical Burial Sites

 

Oil company files plan to build over Historic Slave Cemeteries in Plaquemines Parish, LA 

Story by David Hammer/Eyewitness Investigator WWL TV

Sadly, not the first company to disrespect historic slave cemeteries. In St James Parish, LA residents demand local council and Army Corps STOP Formosa plastics plant construction on burial grounds. 

STOP FORMOSA

L E A N community Survey

 

Founded in 1986 by a group of concerned citizens, the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) is a community based not-for-profit organization whose mission is to resolve the unique environmental struggles present in Louisiana by fostering cooperation and communication between individual citizens, corporate organizations, and government institutions. Through education, empowerment, advocacy, and support, LEAN provides the necessary tools and services to Louisianans facing environmental problems that often threaten their health, safety and quality of life. This survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Community Survey

Highest toxic air emissions per square mile

 

Air Quality Regulators in ‘Cancer Alley’ Have Fallen Dangerously Behind

‘Louisiana has the highest toxic air emissions per square mile of any state’  

By Mark Schleifstein -- February 2, 2021

https://lailluminator.com/2021/02/02/air-quality-regulators-in-cancer-alley-have-fallen-dangerously-behind/?fbclid=IwAR10NAAck35vEFUAnU0Z6lQEyyRuYRgChFEEX6ugcGfU7wAq4mPLXYJ5l7c

"The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality needs to do a better job of identifying industrial polluters that don’t properly report emission violations, and it should enforce those violations more aggressively, according to a new management audit  by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office."

no where to hide

In the aftermath of a Category 4 hurricane, a fire at BioLab chemical plant causes a chlorine leak in Westlake, Louisiana, a community surrounded by petro-chemical facilities. Smoke and chemicals flowed over Interstate 10, which was closed. Residents were instructed to turn off the air conditioning if they had electricity, and shelter in place. 

https://twitter.com/TheBradSowder/status/1298991534537203718

https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2020/08/27/lake-charles-i-10-bridge-fire-chlorie-leak-sulphur/5644167002/

https://www.kplctv.com/2020/08/27/fire-chemical-plant-westlake/

Earlier this year, Mossville residents petitioned Louisiana DEQ to reject increased emissions from another facility.   https://www.humanrightsnetwork.org/press/2020/2/18/concerned-citizens-of-mossville-and-university-network-for-human-rights-urge-louisiana-deq-to-reject-sasols-request-for-increase-in-toxic-emissions-from-lake-charles-facility

Property Tax Referendum

Early voting ends Saturday for a local referendum to decide the future of drainage in St. Bernard Parish.

The election day is August 15th.

A yes vote provides for St. Bernard Parish Government to obtain, maintain and improve the pumping stations along the 40 arpent canal and about 60 miles of existing storm drainage canals.

A no vote retains the system "as is" with the Lake Borgne Basin Levee District [LBBLD] (aka Southeast Levee Protection Board).

There are two other property tax mills set to expire this year: The Hospital Service District 8 mills and a LBBLD 4.3 mills. Both will expire this year and are not being renewed. Should the 8 mills for Drainage pass, the property tax bills should remain the same.

St Bernard Parish Government recently settled lawsuits with the State agency(s) over maintaining and operating drainage assets . “This agreement allows for the flood authority to adequately maintain its hurricane protection responsibilities while enabling St. Bernard to assume responsibility for and properly fund its drainage system. https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_bb8fcf38-a8c3-11e9-b73e-671bd5df0ebd.html



Sample Ballot:

• Shall the Parish of St. Bernard, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), levy a special tax of eight (8) mills on all property subject to taxation within the Parish (an estimated $3,053,300 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2021 and ending with the year 2030, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, operating and maintaining drainage canals, pumps, pumping plants, dykes, small levees and other drainage works, including all necessary equipment, within and for the Parish?

Environmental Justice for All

Environmental Justice for All Act, introduced by U S Representative Grijalva in February 2020:

 H. R. 5986 : .      "To restore, reaffirm, and reconcile environmental justice and civil rights, provide for the establishment of the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice Compliance and Enforcement, and for other purposes.” 

“It would also require federal agencies to consider health effects that might compound over time when making permitting decisions under the federal Clean Air and Clean Water acts.”    

  https://grist.org/justice/exclusive-kamala-harris-to-introduce-comprehensive-environmental-justice-bill-in-senate/

U S Senator Kamala D. Harris is joining Representative Grijalva, Representative McEachin, and dozens of congressional colleagues, environmental justice groups, and community leaders in introducing the Environmental Justice for All Act. https://www.harris.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/EJ%20for%20All%20Act%20-%201%20pager.pdf