Funky Hood

Funky Hood

When The DISH complained about the stench in its South DeKalb County, Georgia community nearly a year ago, the absence of official concern fuelled suspicion that environmental racism played a critical role in the lack of concern for the health and well-being of area citizens. DISH research efforts identified Seminole Landfill, owned and operated by DeKalb County, as one source of pollution.

During his bid to unseat DeKalb Commissioner Porter Sanford (Dist. 7), Lou Walker teamed with area residents to demand the closing of the landfill, an end to the building of substandard housing around the site and a stop to the purchase of land around Ward Lake for a recreational park. Area residents contend the proposed park would be on land contaminated by leachate from the unlined landfill. While the county has closed the unlined section of the landfill, a new lined section keeps the landfill in operation. Housing subdivisions continue to be built at a rapid pace near what should be a heavy industrial site. In the case of the proposed land purchase around Ward Lake for a recreational park, concerned community activists made DeKalb Commissioners Bill Brown and Porter Sanford rethink the proposed purchase.

In May 1999, U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D) asked EPA to look into Seminole Landfill ground water contamination. Rep. McKinney's request centers around the prospect that such contamination places South River, and therefore all of us at risk. For a recap of Funky Hood articles click on the issues below to order up DISHes on environmental racism. (Volume 2 Issue 21)

Recent Issues

Kudos! Kudos! Issue 50

Funky Hood…MARTA Bus Barn's Wasteful Pollution Issue 14

Funky Hood…Update 2005: No Assessment? Issue (829)

Questions for DeKalb County's Elected Officials

Funky Hood Coverage

What's That Smell Making the Hood So Funky? Volume 1 Issue 23

Funky Stench Follow-up Volume 1 Issue 24

Funky Hood Update #2! Volume 1 Issue 25

Double Think: An Elitist View of Local Funk Volume 1 Issue 26

Funky Hood Smells Volume 1 Issue 27

Funky Hood Update #3 Volume 1 Issue 28