Noxious New York: The Racial Politics of Urban Health and Environmental Justice

Noxious New York examines environmental justice movements in New York City during the late 20th century, with a focus on activism in communities of color. The book analyzes four case studies across different NYC neighborhoods where residents organized against environmental hazards and discriminatory urban planning. The research traces grassroots campaigns against waste transfer stations, incinerators, and other pollution sources that disproportionately impacted low-income areas and communities of color. Through interviews and archival materials, Sze documents how local organizations built coalitions, gathered evidence, and challenged official narratives about environmental risk. This study connects environmental activism to broader struggles for racial justice and community empowerment in urban spaces. Sze situates these local movements within national environmental justice efforts while highlighting the specific dynamics of New York City's political landscape and built environment. The book provides insight into how race, class, and geography intersect in debates about urban environmental policy and public health. Through its examination of community resistance movements, Noxious New York demonstrates the critical role of grassroots organizing in reshaping conversations about environmental justice and urban sustainability.

Readers value the book's detailed case studies of environmental activism in New York City and its examination of race, class, and urban development. Multiple reviewers note the strong research and documentation of grassroots movements. Positive feedback focuses on: - Clear connections between environmental racism and urban policy - Thorough analysis of community organizing tactics - Historical context for current environmental justice issues Common criticisms include: - Dense academic writing style that can be difficult to follow - Too much theoretical framework before getting to case studies - Limited discussion of practical solutions Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (2 ratings) One Goodreads reviewer states: "Important contribution to environmental justice literature, but the academic tone makes it less accessible to general readers." Another notes: "The case studies bring the theoretical concepts to life, showing how communities fought against environmental racism."

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From the Ground Up by Luke W. Cole, Sheila R. Foster Maps the emergence of environmental justice activism through legal battles and community organizing in urban areas from 1970-2000.

Garbage Wars by David Pellow Traces Chicago's waste management history and its impact on low-income communities through labor issues, environmental hazards, and community resistance.

The Politics of Environmental Justice by David Schlosberg Analyzes environmental justice movements through theoretical frameworks while connecting local activism to global environmental politics and policy making.

🌆 Author Julie Sze's research was partially inspired by her own experiences growing up in New York City's Chinatown, where she witnessed firsthand the disproportionate environmental burdens placed on low-income communities. 🏭 The book examines four specific environmental justice campaigns in NYC between 1989-2004, including fights against waste transfer stations in Brooklyn and the expansion of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's diesel bus depots in Harlem. 📊 The term "environmental racism" was first coined in 1982 by Benjamin Chavis during protests against toxic waste dumping in Warren County, North Carolina - an event that heavily influenced the framework used in Sze's analysis. 🗣️ The author demonstrates how community activists effectively used visual media, including photographs and documentary films, to highlight environmental inequities and mobilize support for their causes. 🏥 Research cited in the book shows that hospitalization rates for asthma in the South Bronx during the 1990s were about 21 times higher than those in more affluent areas of New York City, highlighting the health disparities discussed throughout the text.