The Brian Lehrer Show Environmental Justice in NYC
Dec 16, 2025
Peggy Shepard, co-founder of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and Paul Onyx Lozito, deputy director at the Mayor's Office, dive deep into NYC's environmental justice challenges. They discuss the stark pollution disparities affecting communities and outline the comprehensive EJNYC report. Peggy shares the origins of WE ACT, emphasizing community activism against pollution, while Paul highlights new laws aimed at fostering community input. Together, they stress the importance of local engagement in shaping sustainable solutions for vulnerable neighborhoods.
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Grassroots Wins In West Harlem
- Peggy Shepard described WE ACT's origins fighting a sewage treatment plant in West Harlem and winning $55 million to fix it.
- She recounted campaigning on diesel bus depots in Manhattan that drove high asthma rates and led to cleaner buses.
Historical Roots Explain Current Risks
- Paul Onyx Lozito explained the report ties current disparities to historical policies like redlining and infrastructure siting.
- The EJNYC report quantifies over 100 factors showing how communities were systematically less served.
Use The EJNYC Tool And Engage
- Paul recommended using the EJNYC mapping tool so residents can see localized environmental burdens.
- He urged communities to engage with the Environmental Justice Advisory Board to shape agency actions.