Sacrifice Zoning in St James
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Challenge Discriminatory Land Use Plan
Exploratory Map
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Equity analysis of comprehensive land use plan in St James.
The origins of this work began while conducting research on property transactions and applications for a bunch of large new methanol and plastic facilities being granted permits from 2016-2018. Findings from this research was published in the Plan Without People report, which was co-authored with Anne Rolfes of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade.
The Plan Without People report, which uncovered the measurable impacts of the St James land use planning framework, designated majority black areas of the parish for new heavy industry, and protected majority white areas for residential growth. The findings of this report formed the basis of a groundbreaking civil rights lawsuit against the parish government, seeking a moratorium on new industrial development. The case is currently on appeal to the Supreme Court, meanwhile the parish leaders have continued the practice of approving new hazardous industrial development in the same areas inhabited by majority black residents.
Lawsuit Challenges New Industrial Permits
The Supreme Court recently dismissed the defendant’s appeal to have the case dismissed, sending the case back to District Court for evaluation on its merits. This is a landmark case, and the parish has done everything in their power to attempt to have the case thrown out or dismissed in order to not confront the reality of their faulty and flawed land use planning document, which protects residential areas in the white portion of the parish, and sends more heavy industry into the majority black half.
