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City Limits’ climate reporter Mariana Simões spoke with WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show about her recent reporting on the Trump administration’s decision to layoff staff at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and what it means for local communities.
Last month, the day before Earth Day, the Trump administration told more than 450 staffers at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that they were being let go or reassigned—part of the White House’s plan to do away with “environmental justice” and “diversity, equity, and inclusion” efforts at the federal agency.
But what is environmental justice exactly, and what does the elimination of those positions mean for New York City communities dealing with air pollution or contaminated land?
That was the subject of a segment on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show Wednesday, featuring City Limits’ climate reporter Mariana Simões, who joined the public radio host to discuss her recent reporting on EPA cuts and their local impact. They also took questions and heard feedback from callers who shared their thoughts on what environmental justice means to them.
“I grew up in the Bronx, and I remember when I was a kid, I would see hazardous waste trucks driving through my community, and I would always say to myself, ‘I don’t see these in Manhattan. I don’t see these in the suburbs,'” one caller said. “I think another way to think about environmental justice is simply racial justice.”
You can read Simões reporting on what’s happening at the EPA here, and can listen to the full WNYC segment below.
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