Richmond Residents to Speak Out and Fight Proposed Crematorium

WEST COUNTY TOXICS COALITION & SHIELDS/REID NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL & NORTH RICHMOND MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

For immediate release:

Contact
Henry Clark, West County Toxics Coalition (510) 232-3427
Johnny White, Shields/Reid Neighborhood Council (510) 449-2159
Maricela Navarro/North Richmond resident (Spanish-speaking interviews) (510) 229-5042
Lee Jones/North Richmond resident (510) 798-3322


Richmond Residents, Community & Environmental Justice Groups to Pack City Hall to Oppose Proposed Toxic-Spewing Crematorium
Outraged Residents to Demand City Council Reject Planning Commission’s Zoning Change
“We Demand Healthy Air for our Kids, Not More Pollution and Environmental Racism”
TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2006 - 7 P.M.
RICHMOND CITY HALL, 1401 MARINA WAY SOUTH, RICHMOND

Richmond, CA – Richmond residents, community and environmental justice groups will speak out at the Richmond City Council public hearing Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 7 p.m. to demand the City Council reject the Planning Commission’s recent approval of a zoning change that would allow the siting of crematoriums in heavily polluted North Richmond. A large turnout of angry residents is expected. The City Council

Residents are outraged that on June 1st the Planning Commission approved a zoning change that could allow Stewart Enterprises, owner of the Neptune Society, to build and operate a crematorium at 1151 Hensley Street in North Richmond. The proposed site is near homes, a community center, soccer field and just four blocks from the YMCA Child Development Center, which cares for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

If the crematorium is allowed, toxic mercury from deceased persons’ fillings would be released over North Richmond, and since Neptune reportedly would cremate more than 3,000 bodies annually, it would generate at least 3 pounds of mercury emissions ever year. Mercury is highly toxic to children's nervous systems and brains, and affects fetal development as well as children’s cognitive ability, memory and language skills. In adults, it can cause disorders such as excessive shyness, attention deficit and respiratory problems.

North Richmond is already unjustly affected by pollutants from dirty industries, and angry residents have vowed to fight any attempt to add more pollution into their neighborhood. Residents promise protests, appeals, legal action and nonviolent direct action to block construction if necessary.

“We don’t want any crematorium or more toxic pollution,” said Maricela Navarro, a North Richmond resident. “We need to protect the health of our kids and families.”