Environmental Health & Justice Campaign Endorses David Alvarez

Organization says candidate from Barrio Logan leads by protecting residents’ rights to clean air, green jobs and healthy neighborhoods

September 24, 2013— Today, Environmental Health & Justice Campaign (EHJC), an organization that empowers communities to achieve environmental justice, endorsed candidate David Alvarez for Mayor of San Diego. Focused on communities south of I-8, EHJC says that the Barrio Logan resident and candidate represents a critical chance to elect a leader who represents all San Diegans. It declared that communities of color located south of Interstate 8 have the voting power to ensure the District 8 Councilmember wins the special election on November 19.

"This is our time to finally a have a leader emerge from San Diego’s communities and guide our region into a new way of thinking for the next decade," said Diane Takvorian, executive director of EHJC. "For too long our communities have shouldered the burden of environmental injustice and Alvarez represents a sea change for the entire region.

According to EHJC, communities in urban south San Diego, such as City Heights, Barrio Logan, Logan Heights and Sherman Heights, have historically felt the burden of pollution, air quality issues and other environmental degradation from the lack of thoughtful leadership in the region.



"The time is now for our communities. Our children deserve clean air, and we want green jobs to improve our economy," said Beatriz Barraza, President of EHJC. "We have long been ignored by city hall, but we now have the opportunity to elect a mayor who understands, listens and takes action to our needs."



Alvarez has represented communities south of Interstate 8 as a city councilmember and has demonstrated leadership that protects the residents' rights to clean air, green jobs and healthy neighborhoods.  Alvarez recently led the effort to secure City Council approval for the Barrio Logan Community Plan Update, ensuring improved environmental and economic health.  EHJC also selected Alvarez because of this mayoral platform, which has prioritized neighborhood investment in infrastructure, parks and public safety.



"We want a mayor who understands the environmental, health and economic issues we've faced for generations and one who understands how we can work together to move beyond those burdens and achieve a greater quality of life for all," said Takvorian.



Environmental Health & Justic Campaign, a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation is an affiliate of Environmental Health Coalition (EHC), a 501 c (3) organization. EHJC’s purpose is to advocate for public and private initiatives that protect public health and the environment by means of community education and community organizing, to monitor government and industry actions that cause pollution, and to engage in other activities that promote social and environmental justice.



Paid for by Environmental Health and Justice Campaign.  Not authorized by a candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate.