Conclusion

Landlords are too often unwilling to fix these problems and intimidate tenants who ask them to do so. In addition, mold and air pollution, including dust from building demolitions, trigger or worsen asthma symptoms. And living near vacant properties and illegally-dumped trash also poses health risks associated with rodents and other pests, as well as exposure to asbestos, lead, and other toxic materials.

These issues are not new. While there have been, and are now, efforts to address some of these problems, the risks persist and continue to disproportionately impact and endanger black St. Louisans. As a result, racial injustice is perpetuated if not intensified by the absence of a robust environmental justice agenda. Those impacted suffer immensely – medically, economically, and in overall quality of life – while society as a whole pays the costs of avoidable medical and hospital bills, lost opportunity and productivity, and the tangible and intangible harms of living in a region plagued by deep inequity.

Creative new approaches are required. The disparities highlighted in this report call for ensuring that all St. Louisans, not only the most privileged, have:

• Safe, affordable, and energy-efficient housing;

• Sufficient air monitoring stations to ensure clean air and effective air quality management;

• Reliable, affordable public transportation;

• Healthy, fresh, and accessible food; and

• Neighborhood-based revitalization efforts that include addressing vacant properties and illegal dumping, directed by and for the benefit of local residents rather than the profit motive.

The present failures in each of these respects must be seen as manifestations of institutional racism and an economic system that has allowed some to profit at the expense of black and low-income communities in St. Louis. The broad recommendations of the recent Dismantling the Divide report,¹ as well as those of its predecessor For the Sake of All,² aim to eliminate racial disparities while providing quality, affordable housing and access to public transportation and healthy food, among other goals.

While endorsing those recommendations, this report also calls for those who are most directly impacted to play a leading role in crafting programs and policies to address these critical issues. For any solution to be effective in eliminating environmental racism and achieving racial justice, it must also be transparent in design and implementation. We hope that this report can be a tool for impacted communities to lead the way in this process.