Administrator Michael Regan, Remarks for the Gordon Plaza Demolition Event, As Prepared for Delivery

Remarks for the Gordon Plaza Demolition Event, As Prepared for Delivery

Michael Regan

October 30, 0204
New Orleans, Louisiana

Good afternoon, everyone. It's great to join you all today.

Mayor Cantrell, members of the City Council, and Representative Carter-I appreciate the warm welcome and the invitation to be here.

And to my colleague, Regional Administrator, Dr. Earthea Nance, it's wonderful to see you.

We appreciate your outstanding work and the work of your team here in Region 6.

Dr. Beverly Wright, it's always an honor to be in your presence, your leadership and legacy inspire us all.

And to the local community members here with us, thank you for joining today's program.

I'd like to acknowledge your enduring fight and powerful advocacy-work that has carried this community through some of the toughest circumstances imaginable.

When I was confirmed as EPA Administrator back in 2021, I vowed to visit communities across the country who have endured environmental injustice.

I wanted to see these challenges firsthand...to meet with impacted residents face-to-face...and to take what I learned back to Washington so that we could work towards solutions.

And one of my first stops was here, in Gordon Plaza.

I sat with residents and community leaders...and listened to folks that had been hurting, and demanding solutions, for far too long.

I heard your concerns around serious health conditions and toxic exposure...abandoned properties and loss of home value...insufficient compensation...illegal dumping...and so much more.

And I returned to EPA determined to ensure these stories were not shared in vain.

Since then, EPA has continued to coordinate with the city of New Orleans to provide critical research, resources, and technical assistance.

And today, I'm honored to be back with the community as we mark an important milestone and look towards the future.

The ground we are currently standing on will soon be home to a community solar farm...bringing renewable, clean energy and charting a sustainable green future for all.

Folks, this is the power of community.

The power of organizing.

The power of resilience.

What was once a source of toxic chemicals will now be a beacon of clean energy.

But I know today's actions also mean the demolition of a neighborhood that, despite it all, holds sentimental memories.

This is where you raised your families.

This is where many of you bought your first home, after years of work and countless sacrifices.

Today, I honor the sense of loss...and acknowledge the weight of emotions you are feeling.

Folks, we're committed to doing everything we can to right the historic wrongs that have held back so many in this community.

One thing that has become clearer and clearer to me in this role is that the fight for civil rights and the fight for environmental, economic, health, and racial justice are inseparable.

We simply cannot be for one without the other.

And while the historic harm that has been imposed on this neighborhood and its people will always be remembered.

We are here today to lay the foundation for a future where this never happens again. And we are committed to getting it right.

This is the work I came into this Administration to do, and it's the work that all of you have been demanding for years...because everyone deserves the opportunity to live and thrive in a clean and healthy environment.

And we won't stop fighting until we get there.

Thank you.

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