As we look to 2024 and beyond, we remain committed to making a meaningful impact on both our community and the environment. We are excited to share some of our goals for the upcoming year:

• Expansion of Community Programs: We aim to provide even more individuals, families and youth with resources and educational materials focused on the Superfund and tools to advocate for a more robust cleanup, access to local jobs, climate resilience, public safety, clean air, and more.

• Bring our Duwamish Valley Youth Corps Program fully under our organization and be able to provide 3 cohorts a year for mentors as well.

• Increasing Capacity for Public Funding: As part of Justice 40, we are collaborating to increase federal funding support for the Duwamish Valley Community and our partners as part of Justice 40. We will continue to work as a regional hub.

• Collaborations and Partnerships: We will seek new, intentional partnerships with like-minded community-based organizations to amplify our impact on climate justice.  

• Work to develop strong legislative policies that protect the health and well-being of our community and our environment in the Duwamish and statewide.

• Take care of our employees with the right benefits and their well-being.

Thank you for being an essential part of DRCC and for joining us in the collective effort to care for our community and the environment. Truly, thank you for caring and for joining us in caring for our community!

Wishing you a joyful and prosperous New Year 2024!

DRCC Updates

Superfund:

Public comment period for South Park Landfill closes on January 17, 2024.  Ecology is seeking input on an amended Agreed Order and Amended Interim Action Work Plan and Completion Report.

Clean Air Program

As we embark on a new year, the state legislative session that commenced on January 8th brings with it promising developments in environmental legislation, particularly concerning air quality and pollution. Two major bills are at the forefront of our attention, reflecting significant strides in our ongoing commitment to a cleaner, healthier environment.

House Bill 2070: Cumulative Risk Burden (CURB) Pollution Act The CURB Act marks a paradigm shift in how we approach environmental health and safety. Notably, the bill:

• Expands the Scope of Pollution Regulation: It mandates the inclusion of previously unaddressed pollutants affecting health.

• Protection for Vulnerable Communities: It identifies and provides specific protections for communities disproportionately harmed by pollution.

• Stricter Permitting Process: The bill requires the denial of permits for new facilities contributing to cumulative pollution. It also necessitates collaborative efforts with existing facilities seeking permit renewals to gradually reduce pollution levels.

• Community Participation: A vital feature of the CURB Act is the emphasis on frontline community participation in the permit evaluation process.

This legislation effectively caps the current levels of pollution and sets in motion a gradual reduction over time. In support of this critical bill, the DRCC will be traveling to Olympia, Washington, to advocate and testify on its behalf.  Great news: our bill is moving forward! That’s right, HB 2070 (the CURB Pollution Act) is set for its very first committee hearing and will be heard this Tuesday, Jan. 16, by the House Environment and Energy Committee.  Our bill will not get the chance to be voted on by the full House unless this committee moves it forward. 

WE NEED YOUR HELP to move our bill forward by signing in PRO for the CURB Pollution Act by Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 3 pm PST.

(What does it mean to sign in PRO? It means you enter your name and contact information into a form, where you will also mark your position as PRO to show you support our bill!)

Also, check out this Bill: 

House Bill 1368: Pioneering Eco-Friendly School Transportation Sponsored by Representative Tana Senn (D-Mercer Island), House Bill 1368 emerges as a hallmark of the House Democratic Caucus's environmental agenda. The bill:

• Mandates Zero-Emission School Buses: By 2027, all new school bus purchases must be zero-emission vehicles.

• Funding for Eco-Friendly Transition: It establishes a funding program to bridge the cost gap between diesel and electric buses and supports the necessary charging infrastructure.

• A Step Towards a Sustainable Future: Representative Senn emphasizes the bill's importance, stating, “This bill is not just about cleaner buses; it’s about securing a healthier future for our children and addressing the urgent need to combat climate change."

These legislative efforts represent a pivotal moment for Washington State. As a community, let's stay informed and supportive of these initiatives that pave the way for a healthier, more sustainable future for us and our children.      

DAISY- Welcome to our Promotores / Community Health Workers

Join us in extending a warm welcome to DRCC’s Promotores/Community Health Workers! We express our gratitude to Van Ly, Gloria Ramirez, Thuy Numrich, Luis Amado, and Maria Cristina Vargas-Jackson for their commitment to collaborating with us in the Duwamish Air Improvement Study (DAISY). In this role, they will provide valuable advice and assistance in identifying youth who could benefit from our air improvement study. Their wealth of technical expertise and community knowledge is truly appreciated.

If you or someone you know has a child with asthma, reach out to us – the DAISY study could make a difference!

Contact any of the promotores or other staff, and email us at joseph@drcc.org.

South Park Neighborhood Association’s Unsung Heroes of 2024!

Join us in congratulating South Park Neighborhood Association’s Unsung Heroes of 2024!  Thank you to Erik Bell, Cedar Bushue, Monica Perez, Shawna Murphy and Christian Peetz, Coco Campos, Nicolasa Hernandez, Maribel Pastor, Dustin Weyer, Walter Vining, Christian Poulsen, Rosalinda Yazzy Lindsay, Amanda Zenteno, Alonnie Birdwell, Michelle Carranza Velasco, Dennise Lopez, and Duwamish Valley Youth Corps Ari, Ehecatl, Alonnie, Gabe, Sara, William, Celeste,  Jacqueline, Sterling, and Henry. We are so grateful for the work you do in South Park! You are invited to the monthly SPNA meetings held on the second Tuesday of each month from 6-7:30 at the Duwamish River Community Hub (8600 14th Ave S). SPNA is a community meeting where neighbors can discuss community issues and is open to all.

Welcome Duwamish Valley Youth Corps

We welcome our new Duwamish Valley Youth Corps members joining the first 2024 Climate Justice Cohort of the year!  After a much needed holiday break, DVYC is back and ready for another wonderful season of partnerships with SPU, the UW, and Dirt Corps. We are also hosting another group YES Cadets, featuring a new suite of activities geared towards getting our youth out in the community to learn about the impacts of climate change, to see what assets already exist in South Park to mitigate those impacts, and to come up with an action plan to further boost the resilience of their community. We can’t wait to get started, and hope you’ll follow along on instagram @drcc_org!

February 28th, 2024- Department of Ecology Office Hours

The Department of Ecology offering monthly community office hours in 2024 at different locations in Georgetown and South Park. Drop-in to talk with cleanup site managers, outreach, and technical staff about the Lower Duwamish Waterway cleanup. Phone interpretation available in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Khmer. All ages welcome! Questions: Contact Meredith Waldref (meredith.waldref@ecy.wa.gov) - Next location is February 28, 2024 (4:00-7:00pm) at South Park Library

January 24th, 2024- Book Club

Our heartfelt gratitude to you all for attending our second  book club gathering at the Seattle public library south park branch.  It was an honor to have BJ Cummings, the author of our present book “ The River that made Seattle” and listen to her fascinating presentation.  

Our next meeting is scheduled for January 24th at 6:15pm-7:30pm at the Duwamish River Community hub. We hope to see everyone there to discuss chapters 3 and 4 of the book ( “the river that made Seattle”).  See below invitation flier.