On November 25, 2014 Governor Deval Patrick signed into law an Executive Order on Environmental Justice that directs all state agencies to devote resources to protect the health, safety and environment for the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth. He was joined by the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Alliance (MA EJ Alliance), comprised of environmental and social justice organizing and grassroots groups from across the state.
Massachusetts became the eighth state in the country to pass an Executive Order on Environmental Justice. Environmental justice populations reside in 137 of the Commonwealth's 351 municipalities, including communities in the Mystic River Watershed such as Chelsea, East Boston, Malden and Everett. Residents in these communities, who are mostly low-income and people of color, live with substantially greater risk of exposure to environmental health hazards than the general population.
MyRWA applauds the Governor and the many environmental justice advocates for this great achievement! MyRWA will continue to advocate for policies that advance environmental protection, equity, and public health within the 22-community Mystic River Watershed.
Learn more about the event at our partners website, Alternatives of Community and Environment (ACE).
