Sustainable South Bronx

Majora Carter is one of those few brilliant people trying to make a difference. See what she has to say about "greening" the South Bronx.


Majora, I love you.

Floating Pool at Baretto Point Park

According to online local news sources Curbed and Gothamist, a 260 foot long barge with a full-sized swimming pool, AKA The Floating Pool will be docked at Baretto Point Park this summer.

Baretto Point Park is a relatively new NYC Park located in Hunts Point, a neighborhood located in the South Bronx. It's part of the community's plan to "green the ghetto." Although there have been complaints of foul odors emanating from nearby industrial plants, the Floating Pool should help draw thousands of locals this summer to the area.

The Bronx Library Center

I went to the Bronx Library Center (310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off of Fordham Rd.) with a group of 6th graders today -- what a fantastic library! Lots of great books, in a beautiful space, with a friendly and helpful staff. If I were a middle school student in the Bx, I'd probably spend every day of my summer there (well, I'd probably split my time at a library and an outdoor destination, like Pelham Bay Park).

The kind staff erased my overdue fines, so I can check out books from the NYPL again. Two of the books I took out are poetry compilations: Paint Me Like I Am and You Hear Me? Poems and Writing by Teenage Boys. I've really started getting into poetry a few months ago; really, ever since I visited Ms. Rymer's poetry class. I find that it really helps me understand myself and others, and it doesn't take a lot of time to get into, like a novel. I like my poetry candid and raw -- I'll post a few of my favorite poems later.

The third book I checked out is called Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini. I was drawn to the book by its title and cool cover -- I'll post a review of it after I finish reading it.

Asthma in the South Bronx

Recently, I learned that Harlem & the South Bronx have one of the highest rates of asthma in the nation. The illness particularly affects kids: in the U.S., asthma is the number one cause of school absences each year.

Why do so many kids in our area have asthma? Experts aren't sure, but many attribute it to pollution.

Here's an excerpt taken from an article written by Natalie Olivero in the Gotham Gazette:

Communities like East Harlem are burdened with polluting facilities, like a multi-storied diesel bus depot operated by the New York City Transit Authority, a sanitation truck depot, and a sewage treatment plant on Ward’s Island,” said Yolande Cadore, organizing director of the environmental justice group West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc. ( WE ACT), in an email. “These communities bear the burden of high asthmas rates, lung and heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

Why does pollution end up in the South Bronx? According to Yolande Cadore, it's because there's not enough people fighting to keep pollution of their neighborhood.

WE ACT takes a broader approach to alleviating asthma: They fight to keep pollution out of poor neighborhoods. Cadore says that city planners often build sewage treatment plants and bus depots in poor neighborhoods of color because they assume the community will not protest as much as a rich, white community might. Cadore said this is because historically minority communities have been less politically active, less likely to vote, and have had less money to sue.

One of our mottos at MH3 is to help students become community leaders. Perhaps this is what that motto means...To inform you of the issues affecting your community, and perhaps spur some into action. Folks, what can you do to make a difference?

Image take from S. Bronx Environmental Health and Policy Study