Barrio Logan Finally Gets A Community Plan That Protects Residents
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
After more than four decades and a devastating industry-led referendum, San Diego City Council approved an update to Barrio Logan’s community plan.
Today, the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to approve a Community Plan Update for Barrio Logan that will prioritize resident’s health, air quality, and culture, while slowing gentrification. This update is more than 40 years in the making. The previous Barrio Logan Community Plan allowed polluting businesses to operate right next to homes and schools.
“Barrio Logan residents have fought for a community plan update since the 1970s,” said Diane Takvorian, Executive Director of the Environmental Health Coalition. “This update is long overdue and will help put an end to the environmental racism residents have faced for generations.”
One of only 14 California Cultural Districts designated by the state, Barrio Logan is one of the most Latino/a/x communities in San Diego and has some of the lowest median income in the City. This vibrant cultural gem also suffers from some of the worst air quality in the State. Polluting highways and industries surround it. These same industries ran a referendum in 2013 that crushed a council-approved update to Barrio Logan’s community plan, which would have separated residential areas from industry.
“I know some neighbors that have asthma, in particular children,” said Barrio Logan resident Elizabeth Chavez speaking in support of the Community Plan Update during the City Council meeting. “With this plan in place, future generations’ health won’t be at high risk for developing even worse health issues.” She was one of the more than 20 residents who spoke in support of the plan.
The 2021 Barrio Logan Community Plan Update provides even stronger environmental protections for residents than the 2013 Draft. The new update that the City Council approved will:
- Put a buffer zone between industrial and residential areas of the neighborhood
- Promote more green spaces, like parks, and tree canopy
- Preserve community culture and history
- Improve walkability and increased opportunities for safe, accessible public transit
- Require more affordable housing and prevent displacement of residents in new developments
“On top of pollution residents live with daily, they are now threatened by gentrification,” said Julie Corrales, Barrio Logan resident and Policy Advocate at Environmental Health Coalition. “Although this plan provides unprecedented gentrification and displacement protections, the community still needs more. It must be this Council’s most pressing priority in the coming year to adopt an update of the City’s Tenant’s Right to Know Ordinance that will provide more tenant protections.”
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ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COALITION
Founded in 1980, Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) builds grassroots campaigns to confront the unjust consequences of toxic pollution, discriminatory land use, and climate change. Visit www.environmentalhealth.org to learn more.