# data[].attributes.body
https://ejatlas.org/conflict/asthma-alley

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
FreshDirect, a food delivery company based in Mott Haven in the South Bronx, is responsible for increased emissions and poor air quality in an already at-risk community.

In February 2012, a bidding war between the Bronx and New Jersey broke out regarding where the online grocer FreshDirect's new warehouse would be built. A 400,000 square foot site in Port Morris, the South Bronx, along the Harlem River waterfront, was chosen due to over $100 million in state and city tax incentives. The deal was facilitated by the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, and former Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg. The project is estimated to bring $112.6 million in investment to the Bronx and approximately 2,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs [1].

See more

Type of conflict. 1st level:

Infrastructure and Built Environment

Type of conflict. 2nd level:

Pollution related to transport (spills, dust, emissions)
Transport infrastructure networks (roads, railways, hydroways, canals and pipelines)

Project Details and Actors

Project details

FreshDirect is an online grocer based in New York City; they began delivering groceries to customers' homes in the New York Metropolitan area in 2002. The company has over $600 million in annual revenue [10]. FreshDirect was offered over $100 million in taxpayer subsidies to move their warehouse in Long Island City, Queens to the South Bronx [1]. The company makes up to 12,000 deliveries per day, and in 2011 expected revenues to increase by 15% to 20% per year for the next five years [13].

See more

Level of Investment:

$112,600,000.00

Type of population

Urban

Affected Population:

44,193

Start of the conflict:

02/01/2012

Company names or state enterprises:

Harlem River Yard Ventures, INC. from United States of America - Under a 99 year lease from the NYSDOT, petitioned against in lawsuit
FreshDirect, LLC from United States of America - Petitioned against in lawsuit,
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) from United States of America - The DOT would be responsible for managing the increase in trucks and traffic surrounding FreshDirect
UTF Trucking, INC. from United States of America - Petitioned against in lawsuit
Empire State Development Corporation from United States of America - Petitioned against in lawsuit
New York City Economic Development Corporation from United States of America - Petitioned against in lawsuit
New York City Industrial Development Agency (IDA) from United States of America - Petitioned against in lawsuit

Relevant government actors:

The Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo
Former New York City Mayor Bloomberg

Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available:

South Bronx Unite http://southbronxunite.org/

Intensity

MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization)

Reaction stage

PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase)

Groups mobilizing:

Local ejos
Neighbours/citizens/communities
Social movements

Forms of mobilization:

Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism
Media based activism/alternative media
Objections to the EIA
Official complaint letters and petitions
Public campaigns
Boycotts of companies-products

Environmental Impacts

Visible: Air pollution, Noise pollution
Potential: Global warming

Health Impacts

Visible: Other Health impacts
Potential: Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide

Other Health impacts

Asthma and other ailments related to poor air quality and diesel emissions

Socio-economical Impacts

Visible: Loss of landscape/sense of place

Project Status

In operation

Conflict outcome / response:

Court decision (failure for environmental justice)
Technical solutions to improve resource supply/quality/distribution

Proposal and development of alternatives:

Since FreshDirect is currently operational in Mott Haven, it is difficult to explore viable alternatives to this issue. There is always the option of having FreshDirect relocate their business to a community that is less at risk for asthma and other health impacts, but this is highly unlikely since FreshDirect is settled in Mott Haven. Additionally, even though FreshDirect has tried to add some electric and bio-diesel trucks to their operations, these attempts have not been widely successful and have not made a huge impact on air quality. FreshDirect could put more effort into investing in more electric and bio-diesel vehicles that will be reliant and minimize their environmental impact.

Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?:

No

Briefly explain:

The petitioner's lawsuit was dismissed, the case was thrown out, and FreshDirect opened their warehouse in 2018. FreshDirect claims they are committed to reducing their diesel emissions by finding electric vehicles that meet their standards. In 2018, they fulfilled their commitment by purchasing and incorporating 10 electric vehicles into their fleet [14]. As of 2020, none of these electric vehicles are functional and their manufacturer has gone out of business, and FreshDirect has not yet found an alternative. According to the City, FreshDirect has hired more than 1,500 employees from the Bronx since 2014 [14]. While FreshDirect has provided jobs for residents of the Bronx, they failed to adequately assimilate electric trucks into their fleet, but are attempting to use bio-diesel in some trucks, and have purchased newer diesel trucks that emit less PM/pollution [17].

References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries

Other comments:

The Bronx is considered one of the poorest counties in America, and it also happens to have some of the highest asthma rates in the nation. 15.5% of 4-5-year-old Bronx children were found to have asthma; to put this statistic in perspective, 9.2% of New York City students overall have asthma [16]. Children living in the Bronx are twice as likely to be hospitalized for and die of asthma than other US children [16].

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Campaign Against FreshDirect: Bronx New York, USA | EJAtlas

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
FreshDirect, a food delivery company based in Mott Haven in the South Bronx, is responsible for increased emissions and poor air quality in an already at-risk community. In February 2012, a bidding war between the Bronx and New Jersey broke out regarding where the online grocer FreshDirect's new warehouse would be built.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

# data[].attributes.headline
I drew the FreshDrect logo to tell people that they shouldn't order from FreshDirect. I drew lungs and smoke to show people that some people have asthma and when they breath in smoke it's hard for them to breath because Freshdirect put their warehouse near the neighborhoods where people aren't as wealthy

# data[].attributes.subject
I drew the FreshDrect logo to tell people that they shouldn't order from FreshDirect. I drew lungs and smoke to show people that some people have asthma and when they breath in smoke it's hard for them to breath because Freshdirect put their warehouse near the neighborhoods where people aren't as wealthy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
FreshDirect, a food delivery company based in Mott Haven in the South Bronx, is responsible for increased emissions and poor air quality in an already at-risk community.

In February 2012, a bidding war between the Bronx and New Jersey broke out regarding where the online grocer FreshDirect's new warehouse would be built. A 400,000 square foot site in Port Morris, the South Bronx, along the Harlem River waterfront, was chosen due to over $100 million in state and city tax incentives. The deal was facilitated by the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, and former Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg. The project is estimated to bring $112.6 million in investment to the Bronx and approximately 2,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs [1].

See more

Type of conflict. 1st level:

Infrastructure and Built Environment

Type of conflict. 2nd level:

Pollution related to transport (spills, dust, emissions)
Transport infrastructure networks (roads, railways, hydroways, canals and pipelines)

Project Details and Actors

Project details

FreshDirect is an online grocer based in New York City; they began delivering groceries to customers' homes in the New York Metropolitan area in 2002. The company has over $600 million in annual revenue [10]. FreshDirect was offered over $100 million in taxpayer subsidies to move their warehouse in Long Island City, Queens to the South Bronx [1]. The company makes up to 12,000 deliveries per day, and in 2011 expected revenues to increase by 15% to 20% per year for the next five years [13].

See more

Level of Investment:

$112,600,000.00

Type of population

Urban

Affected Population:

44,193

Start of the conflict:

02/01/2012

Company names or state enterprises:

Harlem River Yard Ventures, INC. from United States of America - Under a 99 year lease from the NYSDOT, petitioned against in lawsuit
FreshDirect, LLC from United States of America - Petitioned against in lawsuit,
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) from United States of America - The DOT would be responsible for managing the increase in trucks and traffic surrounding FreshDirect
UTF Trucking, INC. from United States of America - Petitioned against in lawsuit
Empire State Development Corporation from United States of America - Petitioned against in lawsuit
New York City Economic Development Corporation from United States of America - Petitioned against in lawsuit
New York City Industrial Development Agency (IDA) from United States of America - Petitioned against in lawsuit

Relevant government actors:

The Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo
Former New York City Mayor Bloomberg

Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available:

South Bronx Unite http://southbronxunite.org/

Intensity

MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization)

Reaction stage

PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase)

Groups mobilizing:

Local ejos
Neighbours/citizens/communities
Social movements

Forms of mobilization:

Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism
Media based activism/alternative media
Objections to the EIA
Official complaint letters and petitions
Public campaigns
Boycotts of companies-products

Environmental Impacts

Visible: Air pollution, Noise pollution
Potential: Global warming

Health Impacts

Visible: Other Health impacts
Potential: Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide

Other Health impacts

Asthma and other ailments related to poor air quality and diesel emissions

Socio-economical Impacts

Visible: Loss of landscape/sense of place

Project Status

In operation

Conflict outcome / response:

Court decision (failure for environmental justice)
Technical solutions to improve resource supply/quality/distribution

Proposal and development of alternatives:

Since FreshDirect is currently operational in Mott Haven, it is difficult to explore viable alternatives to this issue. There is always the option of having FreshDirect relocate their business to a community that is less at risk for asthma and other health impacts, but this is highly unlikely since FreshDirect is settled in Mott Haven. Additionally, even though FreshDirect has tried to add some electric and bio-diesel trucks to their operations, these attempts have not been widely successful and have not made a huge impact on air quality. FreshDirect could put more effort into investing in more electric and bio-diesel vehicles that will be reliant and minimize their environmental impact.

Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?:

No

Briefly explain:

The petitioner's lawsuit was dismissed, the case was thrown out, and FreshDirect opened their warehouse in 2018. FreshDirect claims they are committed to reducing their diesel emissions by finding electric vehicles that meet their standards. In 2018, they fulfilled their commitment by purchasing and incorporating 10 electric vehicles into their fleet [14]. As of 2020, none of these electric vehicles are functional and their manufacturer has gone out of business, and FreshDirect has not yet found an alternative. According to the City, FreshDirect has hired more than 1,500 employees from the Bronx since 2014 [14]. While FreshDirect has provided jobs for residents of the Bronx, they failed to adequately assimilate electric trucks into their fleet, but are attempting to use bio-diesel in some trucks, and have purchased newer diesel trucks that emit less PM/pollution [17].

References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries

Other comments:

The Bronx is considered one of the poorest counties in America, and it also happens to have some of the highest asthma rates in the nation. 15.5% of 4-5-year-old Bronx children were found to have asthma; to put this statistic in perspective, 9.2% of New York City students overall have asthma [16]. Children living in the Bronx are twice as likely to be hospitalized for and die of asthma than other US children [16].

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Campaign Against FreshDirect: Bronx New York, USA | EJAtlas

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
FreshDirect, a food delivery company based in Mott Haven in the South Bronx, is responsible for increased emissions and poor air quality in an already at-risk community. In February 2012, a bidding war between the Bronx and New Jersey broke out regarding where the online grocer FreshDirect's new warehouse would be built.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In 2013, we attempted to stop the plan by filing a against the City and State because of their failure to conduct an adequate environmental review of the site, choosing instead to use a 21 year old environmental impact statement (from a study conducted in 1993). We asserted that the relocation would increase traffic, and, with it, asthma rates, and that the project was ineligible for the excessive subsidies promised by the City and State. In addition to the lawsuit, we conducted outreach in our community to increase awareness about the issue, we organized demonstrations and marches, engaged in direct actions, attracted media attention, wrote op-eds, offered testimonies, and reached out to our local legislators.

Unfortunately, our lawsuit and appeal were dismissed and FreshDirect was allowed to move forward with their plan, opening its facility in 2018, subsidized by our taxpayer dollars. Since then, we have seen traffic and air quality worsen, with 1,000 Fresh Direct diesel truck trips running through our neighborhood every day. A study conducted by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health between June 2017 and May 2020 revealed an increase in truck and vehicle traffic between 10 and 40 percent, especially during overnight hours.

Mark Hilpert, Ph.D., an associate professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia and a senior author of the study, noted, "Even small increases in air pollution are a concern to this community which is already overburdened by high levels of air pollution and related health risks. In most New York City neighborhoods, air pollution levels have been in decline, and air pollution sources have been reduced or removed, not added. Mott Haven, which had higher than average amounts of pollutants from traffic and other sources even before the opening of this warehouse, is an exception."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
social justice bronx
climate justice bronx

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Campaign Against Fresh Direct - SOUTH BRONX UNITE

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In 2013, we attempted to stop the plan by filing a against the City and State because of their failure to conduct an adequate environmental review of the site, choosing instead to use a 21 year old environmental impact statement (from a study conducted in 1993).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Something is rotten in the south Bronx, and it smells like FreshDirect. FreshDirect, the online grocery delivery company, may seem like a good deal to Riverdale residents. What could be …