COLUMN: Dorothy Day House Justice Roundtable welcomes SOBE concerned citizens
On March 21 at 5 p.m., a presentation was given to the Justice Roundtable of the Dorothy Day House summarizing the work in the past year of concerned citizen in Youngstown uniting as SOBE Concerned Citizens to prevent pyrolysis next to our revitalized downtown.
About one year ago, March 30, Thomas Hetrick spoke at the Dorothy Day House about How Youngstown City Zoning Can Keep SOBE from Expanding from a Steam Heating and Cooling business to an industrial concern.
He read the zoning opinion written by Jack Daugherty, a certified city planner employed by YNDC. SCC took this document and created a Zoning Petition.
They canvassed the city and on May 9, 2023 presented the over 550 signatures to Mayor Jamael Tito Brown urging him to inform SOBE they could not pyrolyze tires here.
Ultimately, the petition was signed by approximately 700 citizens. The SCC conference May 18, 2023 across from SOBE site, the tabling at Earth Day, May Day, and Juneteenth to inform the public was discussed, as well as many more public education actions taken by the group.
SCC thanked Buckeye Environmental Network whose director, Teresa Mills, (died Dec. 2, 2023) got a grant from the Ben and Jerry Foundation that helped them activate the community with a website, billboard, direct mailers, yard signs and posters and support materials for public meetings.
SCC had a massive postcard, calling and letter writing campaign to the OH EPA urging them to not issue an air pollution permit to SOBE, during the public comment period on the DRAFT permit Aug.10-Sept.10.
SCC thanked their pro bono legal team: the Kramer Law Clinic of the Case Western Reserve Law School, who was responsible for writing: the Resolution passed by Youngstown City Council to reject SOBE Sept. 20, 2023, Legal Zoning Analysis for City’s Use, and One Year Moratorium Ordinance passed by City Council and signed into law by Mayor Brown on December 26, 2023
The presentation covered the February 7 & 8, 2024: SCC Testimony to US EPA and US State Dept. with Beyond Plastics Because of American Chemistry Council, the lobbyists for the Petrochemical Industry pushing “Advanced Recycling” to the U.N. Climate Council. SCC were invited by Jess Conard of our affiliate, Beyond Plastics as a “frontline community” to talk about fighting pyrolysis plant SOBE Thermal in Youngstown.
Jess Conard spoke about what help Beyond Plastics can provide to SCC and thanked them. SCC thanked the Dorothy Day House for their support.
SOBE Concerned Citizens spoke out against the OH EPA issuing the final air pollution permit to SOBE on Feb. 14, 2024. February 14, 2024, March 11, 2024 March 15, 2024 Press Releases from SCC regarding the Ohio EPA issuing a final air pollution permit to SOBE Thermal were discussed. All of them emphasize that the MU-C Zoning designation and the 1 year Moratorium Ordinance prohibit SOBE from expanding into an industrial use. They cannot pyrolyze tires in Youngstown.