We do so many terrible things to ourselves in this state and say it's for "the economy." Is it any wonder the political agitation to open up and just get used to COVID is so strong here? Risking our health so the bosses can make their money is just how we do things here. Which is what makes this so perfect.
Hazardous air pollution may help explain the disproportionate number of COVID-19 deaths in communities like West Baton Rouge Parish, home to Port Allen. With 39 deaths as of Sept. 7, the parish’s per-capita death rate from COVID-19 ranked it among the top 3% of all U.S. counties with at least 30 deaths. Several of its neighbors in Louisiana’s industrial corridor also rank near the top of the list.
There is a sensational story in the news this morning about public officials planning to "crack down" on open air street gatherings they have determined to be an intolerable public health threat. Their idea is to punish individuals already suffering from unemployment and displacement by taking away their federal and state benefits.
In addition to simply issuing tickets, Cantrell said she has city officials researching whether the city would be able to strip those found in violation of the restrictions of their unemployment benefits.
"I have asked whether individuals who will be issued a citation, could that put them in jeopardy of losing their unemployment benefits," Cantrell said. "It’s my opinion, you can’t receive public resources but at the same time violate public mandates to keep people safe in the city of New Orleans. These are the things we’re looking at."
The chemical plants that line the Mississippi River and endanger thousands of lives by spewing tons of hazardous pollution into the air receive billions of dollars in public resources every year. Now that we see their activity directly exacerbates the threat from the pandemic, will anyone demand we take action against them? Or do we prefer to take it all out on the poorest and most helpless among us?
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