From a citywide clean-up campaign to resisting the arrival of behemoth polluting facilities, the fight to make Gary greener and more sustainable never stops. Gary, one of Indiana’s most polluted areas, is burdened by toxic air pollution, flagrant zoning and land use violations, and decades of economic disinvestment, which only heighten the stakes of the […]
Environmental Justice
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Health
Gary’s Steel Industry Is Linked to Increased Health Risks and Lower Life Expectancy
Growing up in Gary, Dr. Beverly Lewis knew her family’s health issues were severe — but she didn’t know why. It wasn’t until years later, as a medical professional, that she connected the environmental hazards in her hometown to her family’s suffering. Her brother died of asthma. Her father, a former steelworker in East Chicago, […]
Posted inExtreme Weather
Remnants of Hurricane Helene Expected to Bring Life-Threatening Conditions to Lake Michigan
After making landfall Thursday night along the Florida coast, Hurricane Helene claimed several lives while causing life-threatening flooding and forcing evacuations as it swept across the South. The National Weather Service in Chicago warned Friday that the remnants of Helene will cause intermittent rain, hazardous lakeshore conditions, and strong winds across the region, impacting residents […]
Posted inCommunity, Environmental Justice
Gary Celebrates the End of Waste-to-Energy Company Fulcrum BioEnergy
Gary has narrowly avoided becoming home to a controversial $600 million waste-to-fuel plant, marking a rare environmental victory in a city often burdened by industrial pollution. After a five-year battle, Fulcrum Bioenergy’s proposed facility has been suspended, ending fears that it would further degrade the city’s fragile ecosystem. This victory, led by community activists and […]
Posted inExtreme Weather, Public Safety
Gary Braces for Heat Wave as Temperatures Approach Triple Digits
Gary is bracing for a surge of extreme heat this week, with temperatures nearing triple digits and deteriorating air quality prompting health and safety warnings from local authorities. As temperatures rise, the combination of scorching heat and high humidity is expected to create dangerous conditions for Gary residents. The National Weather Service has forecast that […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
Environmental Advocates Gain ‘A Seat at the Table’ at Gary City Hall
Gary community members from different walks of life have joined forces with city leaders to tackle a pervasive problem that affects them all: climate change. Mayor Eddie Melton’s administration recently began recruiting residents to join a new environmentally focused advisory council, headed by local sustainability and community leaders, to help the city address critical challenges […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Health, Housing
Redlining’s Toxic Legacy: How Historical Housing Policies Still Threaten Gary
In many ways, where you live determines your quality of life. A recent fair housing report seems to agree. A new report from the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana underscores significant environmental concerns across Indiana, including Gary and Lake County, stemming from historical redlining. The study found that historically low-income and redlined communities are […]
Posted inCommunity, Environmental Justice
Residents Fight Gary Works Air Permit: ‘If the Steel Mill Won’t Quit, They Should Get No Permit’
Across the street from the smoke plumes of Gary Works’ steel mill, community members gathered at 21st Century Charter School to fight for their right to clean air. “Our air quality is a joke,” said Gary resident and gardener Libre Booker, who was moved to tears while speaking. “Our air quality is actually a joke. […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
IDEM’s Latest Climate Action Plan Is Up for Review. Will Gary Benefit?
A crucial next step that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Gary is underway. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management applied for an Environmental Protection Agency implementation grant this week. IDEM submitted its Priority Climate Action Plan, a proposal that included projects with greenhouse gas reduction measures and input from community surveys and Hoosiers […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, State Government
What the Latest Environmental, Health Laws Mean for Gary
Indiana state lawmakers passed a number of environmental and health-related bills this past legislative session that could affect Gary. Meanwhile, some bills that would have potentially impacted the city were left on the cutting room floor. From wetlands protection to radon testing, Capital B Gary took a closer look at the legislation that passed and […]
