Serrano Celebrates Earth Day

“Many times over the years, our Bronx community was told both directly and indirectly that we should not expect to live in a place with clean air, clean water, and green spaces,” said Serrano. “We rejected that notion and have worked diligently to recapture our environmental rights. As a result, we now have environmental resources that are treasured by our community.

“The Bronx River is a miles-long oasis with wildlife and natural beauty in the midst of a dense urban environment. We recently saw the return of the Alewife herring three years after we released their parents in to the Bronx River. This environmental victory is very real. We are also reclaiming our waterfront from polluting industries in a way that preserves and creates jobs. We are cleaning the air in the South Bronx slowly but surely, as we help green the business activity and mitigate its emissions.

“The story of the Bronx environment is one that people around the country are noticing. They look to us for a model of how to advocate for environmental justice for people of color and in low income communities. We have proven that working together, we can cause meaningful change in our neighborhoods and our environment.

“With that success in mind, it is still important that we look closely at our lifestyles and make sure that we are working to lower our personal environmental impact on a daily basis. Our fight to reclaim our environment in the Bronx should not be limited to larger actions, but also extends to the daily decisions we make.”