Connecticut Coalition for
Environmental Justice

CCEJ: Fighting Polluters in Bridgeport

Bridgeport has allowed industry in the city's residential neighborhoods for decades. The consequence has been elevated rates of asthma, cancer, and diabetes , especially in the city's largely low-income East End and East Side. CCEJ has worked to prevent pollution in several of these areas as outlined below:

• O&G Industries on Seaview Avenue. Dust from the four to six debris piles on the O&G property had blown into neighborhood homes, affecting the respiratory health of many residents, in particular those suffering from asthma. The construction material piles at the Seaview Avenue site also are a source of neighborhood blight in the East End. The piles, which at one time stood as tall as the nearby highway, are often the first object seen when drivers take I-95 South, Exit 29 into Bridgeport.  Together with its partners in Bridgeport CARE, CCEJ convinced O&G to reduce the size of the piles and to cover them. O&G also agreed to have pear trees planted before the  property to reduce the blowing dust further. Monique Bosch, a landscape expert with the Bridgeport CARE partnership helped O&G install 8-12 pear trees at the Seaview Avenue property. She aided O&G in picking trees to acquire, purchase and installation, as well as instructing company personnel on proper tree care. The trees are well designed to control dust because of their unusually large leaves. The company also planted some 30-40 ivy plants and a number of bushes in front of the fence that will further help control the dust and beautify the property when the vegetation starts to grow in the spring.
• Samson Industries on Davenport Avenue. Blowing dust from Samson's volume reduction facility threatened the health of children playing on playgrounds across the street. CARE and CCEJ negotiated with the company and is working to see that it moves to a new location on Williston Avenue.
• Mark IV on Seaview Avenue. For over a decade, dust and pollution from Mark IV facility has prevented residential neighbors from being able to open their windows to get fresh air. In October, CCEJ and Bridgeport CARE held a press conference about our intent to have the city disallow Mark IV's further operations on Seaview Avenue. We are in the process of collecting signatures for a petition to move the the city to action.