WHY ENVIRONMENTALISTS SHOULD SUPPORT THE NORTHSIDE UNITED CAMPAIGN
At its most fundamental level the “Take Back the Northshore Campaign” is about whether or not Pittsburgh residents will have a say in how publicly funded development projects benefit their communities. Northside residents are saying that they should have a say in how the development between the stadiums will benefit Northside neighborhoods. So far the answer from the City, the County and the developer, Continental, is a resounding “No, you don’t get a say”.
Having a voice in how our community works is one principle that the environmental community holds dear. We are exercising that right when we say that buildings in Pittsburgh should be built to LEED certification. We are exercising that right when we say that diesel pollution must be cut drastically to clean up the air and control global warming. We are exercising that right when we say that our community needs to be a leader in switching our economy to renewable sources of energy.
If the Northside is not successful in getting a seat at the table in this development, we are all poorer for it. In fact, Continental has already refused to get LEED certification for the hotel they are building near PNC Park. To have a developer go against the wishes and desires of Pittsburghers who have worked to make our city a national leader in LEED buildings is appalling – especially in such a prominent location.
There are several important issues that the environmental community needs to raise as part of the struggle for fairness to the Northside community:
• We have an epidemic of asthma in children in this town. According to a July 20 WTAE investigative report on asthma in Pittsburgh, we have seen a 60 per cent increase in asthma in the last ten years. Diesel pollution is one of the major causes. These increases fall disproportionately on low income communities like many of the Northside neighborhoods. Continental needs to pledge that they will use diesel equipment that does not add to our pollution problem
• Continental needs to pledge to the Pittsburgh community that they will build their buildings LEED certified – especially given the high visibility of this project.
• The development project is very close to the rivers and Continental needs to pledge that they will take extra precautions to protect our already stressed rivers.
Having a voice in how our community works is one principle that the environmental community holds dear. We are exercising that right when we say that buildings in Pittsburgh should be built to LEED certification. We are exercising that right when we say that diesel pollution must be cut drastically to clean up the air and control global warming. We are exercising that right when we say that our community needs to be a leader in switching our economy to renewable sources of energy.
If the Northside is not successful in getting a seat at the table in this development, we are all poorer for it. In fact, Continental has already refused to get LEED certification for the hotel they are building near PNC Park. To have a developer go against the wishes and desires of Pittsburghers who have worked to make our city a national leader in LEED buildings is appalling – especially in such a prominent location.
There are several important issues that the environmental community needs to raise as part of the struggle for fairness to the Northside community:
• We have an epidemic of asthma in children in this town. According to a July 20 WTAE investigative report on asthma in Pittsburgh, we have seen a 60 per cent increase in asthma in the last ten years. Diesel pollution is one of the major causes. These increases fall disproportionately on low income communities like many of the Northside neighborhoods. Continental needs to pledge that they will use diesel equipment that does not add to our pollution problem
• Continental needs to pledge to the Pittsburgh community that they will build their buildings LEED certified – especially given the high visibility of this project.
• The development project is very close to the rivers and Continental needs to pledge that they will take extra precautions to protect our already stressed rivers.
• Continental needs to include parks and open spaces that are accessible to Northsiders or pledge to build parks in the Northside neighborhoods.
Tom Hoffman
Western PA Director
Clean Water Action