Chelsea, Massachusetts—the state's smallest city—faces overwhelming environmental burdens from industrial pollution, traffic exhaust, and lead paint contamination, contributing to asthma rates far above the state average. Now the city's efforts to prepare for catastrophic climate-driven flooding have been derailed after the federal government canceled a $50 million grant for a flood barrier that would protect critical infrastructure and neighborhoods expected to face twice-daily flooding by 2050.
Massachusetts' Mass Save energy efficiency program is scaling back services for low-income residents after unprecedented demand threatened to exceed its budget, just months after state regulators cut $500 million from the program to address high energy bills. A state audit found that low-income residents have been paying more into the program through surcharges than wealthier communities but receiving fewer benefits, raising concerns about equity as the program now prioritizes other customer groups.
The City of Boston’s Environment Department Announced the six recipients of the 2025 Community Clean Air Grant Program at Rita Hester Green Park on Monday.
Two Chelsea nonprofits just scored $60,000 each to keep fighting for healthcare justice in communities that need it most, and this funding couldn't come at a more crucial time.
Mayor Wu's administration has removed a dedicated northbound bus lane from North Washington Street in Boston that served nearly 15,000 daily riders, mostly low-income Hispanic commuters, without public hearings, marking the third such bus lane removal in the past year and coming just weeks before the MBTA planned to implement new automated enforcement on this heavily-used route.
Chelsea, Massachusetts residents are combating extreme urban heat through a "cool block" experiment by environmental group GreenRoots that includes planting over 100 trees, painting rooftops white, and using lighter street surfaces to reduce temperatures that can be 15-20 degrees hotter than greener areas due to the Urban Heat Island effect.
As the summer heat intensifies in Boston, teams of SPH researchers have deployed a variety of sensors across the city to assess heat exposure among vulnerable residents and evaluate cooling interventions.
City officials, environmental advocates, and development leaders gathered last week to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Chelsea Creek Waterfront Project, a long-anticipated public access and resilience initiative set to transform a key parcel of waterfront land in Chelsea, MA.
A massive flood barrier project in Chelsea and Everett could protect 8 million people and billions of dollars in critical infrastructure from climate disasters, but after losing $50 million in federal funding, this game-changing project needs our help to move forward before devastating floods hit by 2030.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency canceled its $50 million grant for the cities’ Island End River Coastal Flood Resilience Project. The plan includes an above-ground flood wall to block water from spilling over the riverbanks, as well as ecological restoration of the marshes in the Mystic River tributary.
The non-profit group GreenRoots founded its teaching kitchen a year ago after they transformed an old warehouse into a space for community and cooking. The kitchen hosts free cooking classes several times each week for different age groups and in different languages.
A judge has approved the $8.36 million sale of a long-neglected Chelsea waterfront site to Mass Audubon, paving the way for a public park and mixed-income housing despite objections from the current owner, who is appealing the decision.
A coalition of nonprofits is buying a long-abandoned 17-acre industrial site on Chelsea Creek to transform it into conservation land, community space, and up to 225 units of affordable housing, with a focus on climate resilience and community input.
Several Massachusetts environmental projects, including wetland restoration in Harwich and a community garden rehab in Chelsea, are on hold due to a federal funding freeze caused by President Trump’s executive actions, despite court orders to restore the grants.
A coalition of community groups, Boston Waterfront Partners, released a report highlighting environmental justice, climate resilience, and economic challenges facing Boston’s Designated Port Areas, calling for updated regulations and local job opportunities in the maritime industry. As the state prepares its own recommendations for the inner port’s future, advocates emphasize balancing industrial needs with public health, environmental sustainability, and equitable waterfront access.
Eversource has begun construction on the nation's first fully underground electrical substation in Cambridge's Kendall Square, a 35,000-square-foot facility designed to support the area's growing energy needs as part of a $1.8 billion project, developed in collaboration with the city and private developers.
The Biden administration’s clean energy initiatives, backed by billions in federal funding, are now in jeopardy as the Trump administration attempts to halt climate-related grants and aid, causing uncertainty and chaos for Massachusetts state agencies, nonprofits, and local governments relying on these funds.
GreenRoots stands firmly against the wave of recent executive orders issued by President Trump, which threaten our core values and the well-being of our communities. These executive orders include threats to birthright citizenship, withdrawal from international climate agreements and the World Health Organization, revoking regulations that promote clean energy and keep fossil fuels in the ground, removal of environmental protections, increasing funding for inhumane immigration enforcement, dismantling protections for transgender individuals, as well as federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs and more.
GreenRoots has awarded subgrants to 11 Chelsea-based groups to showcase the city’s rich heritage and diverse stories, from creating a Black Heritage Walking Trail to celebrating youth immigrant movements. This initiative, supported by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant, empowers organizations to bring Chelsea’s narratives to life through creative projects and collaborations.
Massachusetts is set to receive tens of millions in federal grants for clean energy, transportation, and climate projects in low-income communities, funded by the Biden administration's climate and infrastructure bills. However, under President-elect Trump, these initiatives face uncertainty, with concerns that federal funding cuts could delay or block crucial projects that support environmental justice and local jobs.
City officials announced this week that Chelsea is taking a groundbreaking step toward energy independence and climate resilience with the launch of its solar-powered, cloud-based microgrid project.
GreenRoots reaffirms its commitment to supporting Chelsea and East Boston communities through challenges posed by climate, environmental, and social injustices. With a focus on resilience and empowerment, GreenRoots will continue advocating for residents' rights, organizing against harmful policies, and fostering inclusive community solidarity.
Massport is facing new pressure from Secretary Rebeca Tepper to address Logan Airport’s environmental impacts, following years of complaints from AIR, Inc. and local advocacy groups. Tepper’s directive calls for real-time pollution tracking, expanded community engagement, and additional air quality measures as passenger numbers continue to grow, marking a pivotal move for airport and neighborhood collaboration.
Massachusetts has delayed stricter emissions rules for heavy-duty trucks, initially set for January 2025, citing infrastructure challenges and allowing certain exemptions for public works vehicles. The move, influenced by trucking industry lobbying, postpones new regulations aimed at reducing pollution impacting communities of color near highways and industrial areas, and may further hinder the state's climate goals.
GreenRoots, in partnership with Beth Israel Lahey Health, has launched a freight farm to provide fresh, affordable produce year-round, aiming to address food insecurity and promote health in the community.
Chelsea, Fall River, Malden, Melrose, Revere, and Taunton are collaborating with the EPA’s "Get the Lead Out" initiative, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to identify and replace lead service lines, ensuring safe drinking water for residents.
Joined by local leaders, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) called for increased federal funding to bolster climate resilience, highlighting that Massachusetts has secured nearly $200 million through recent laws to combat rising sea levels, extreme weather, and flooding in vulnerable communities.
Boston (October 15, 2024) – GreenRoots’ Executive Director Roseann Bongiovanni, Director of Climate Justice & Waterfront Initiatives John Walkey, and Waterfront Initiative Organizer Noemy Rodriguez will speak at a press conference hosted by Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today, Tuesday October 15, 2024 on the impacts of recent extreme weather events in North Carolina and Florida and their direct connection to the federally designated environmental justice communities of Chelsea and East Boston.
THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT put an end to a decade-long fight over an electric substation in East Boston, ruling unanimously that a state board did not exceed its authority in granting approval for the project and limiting the reach of a state law requiring agencies to consider the environmental burden of such facilities.
On September 26th, City of Chelsea staff informed GreenRoots of recent soil testing results from the 212 Congress Avenue site. The site was tested as the first part of the process of building the new park at this site. In contrast to past testing, these new tests revealed high levels of lead contamination on the unpaved side of the site.
MassDOT is providing resources to Chelsea residents who may be impacted by the dust and noise of ongoing repairs to the Tobin Bridge.
Lead paint chips had been falling off the bridge into the neighborhood. Last year, nets were set up around the structure to contain some of the debris. Now, MassDOT is working to remove all the old paint before repairing damage to the steel supports and repainting.
This week on The Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith is joined by Rusty Polsgrove, an organizer with Arise for Social Justice, and by John Walkey, Director of Climate Justice and Waterfront Initiatives at Greenroots, to discuss the role of environmental justice in climate legislation. They focus especially on the environmental justice community designation, and why environmental advocates wish it had a larger presence in the current climate bill.
A massive 14-month effort to verify the eligibility of millions of Massachusetts residents for the state’s Medicaid program ended with about 363,000 fewer people on the public insurance program’s rolls, MassHealth announced on Thursday.
It was the first time since the start of the pandemic that people were asked to reapply for MassHealth. Membership in the program swelled during the public health crisis, when federal law barred Medicaid administrators nationwide from conducting standard annual eligibility reviews. The pause eased the hardship for people who lost jobs and health insurance during the height of the crisis.
Mayor Wu has declared a heat emergency. Worcester Public Schools ended the academic year early because of this week’s forecast. Brookline, Quincy and a host of other communities have opened cooling centers. We’re in a heat wave, and extreme heat is bad for our health; for some people it can be downright dangerous.
One wellness solution when facing a summer scorcher? Head to the waterfront.
CAMBRIDGE — As the stifling heat bore down Wednesday, construction workers building a parking garage near Kendall Square sat down in the shade to take a break. It was only lunchtime, and the temperature was already climbing into the 90s.
Nearby was an even cooler refuge: a worksite trailer with air conditioner. The workers use it for quick breaks of five or 10 minutes to cool down, said Joe Davey, 31. Such respites are usually not allowed by the bosses. But with the oppressive weather of the past three days, “everyone’s on the same page,” added another worker, Tom Parmensi, 52.
It’s not officially summer yet, but the first heat wave of the year will envelop the Northeast beginning Tuesday, bringing high temperatures that could be especially dangerous to people in areas with limited tree canopy and air conditioning.
GreenRoots is thrilled to announce the full opening of our new Teaching Kitchen on Pearl Street in Chelsea! The community was involved throughout the entirety of the process to bring the kitchen to fruition. Community members developed the original idea and vision; and dozens of residents were involved in final designs, program development and more! GreenRoots officially launched programming in spring 2024 and brought on Joanna “Jojo” Emerson as the Teaching Kitchen Coordinator. Jojo embodies GreenRoots goals of combining health and nutrition with cooking skills.
Chelsea, plagued by pollutants from Logan Airport and hazardous waterfront storage, faces severe environmental injustices affecting its largely immigrant, low-income population. GreenRoots, a local organization, combats these issues through community involvement, legal action, and advocacy, achieving successes like stopping a diesel power plant near a school and creating green spaces.
A new database aims to shine more light on how energy infrastructure impacts public health, including the disproportionate impact on communities of color.
The database, launched last week by Boston University’s Institute for Global Sustainability, gathers, for the first time, disparate sources of federal information about the location of energy infrastructure into one location.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court heard a case against an electricity substation on the Chelsea Creek Waterfront, opposed by GreenRoots and the Conservation Law Foundation. Critics argue the substation adds environmental burdens to Eagle Hill, with hopes for a favorable decision soon.
Throughout Earth Month, weekly conversations with Greater Boston residents focused on enhancing regional resilience against climate change are featured. Arianna, a member of various youth climate organizations including Gov. Maura Healey's Youth Climate Council and Environmental Chelsea Organizers, discusses her efforts in mobilizing fellow young individuals in Chelsea around climate issues and her advocacy for climate justice on Beacon Hill.
Advocacy groups are raising concerns about the disproportionate burden of power infrastructure siting on low-income communities of color in Massachusetts, as the state aims to transition away from fossil fuels and decarbonize its electrical grid by 2050.
The MBTA board approved a half-price fare program for Massachusetts riders earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, set to launch this summer after a decade of advocacy. Estimated to cost up to $62 million annually by 2029, the initiative will offer reduced fares across all MBTA services, benefiting an estimated 62,000 riders.
Despite efforts by organizations like Massport to mitigate environmental impacts, concerns persist among activists and experts regarding the health consequences of increased shipping traffic and the need for measures like electrified shore power to reduce emissions.
Yaritza Morales Gonzalez, Director of Operations at GreenRoots, has been dedicated to environmental and social justice since her youth, driven by her upbringing and personal experiences with respiratory diseases in her family. Despite the emotional toll, she remains committed to serving her community, prioritizing family and advocating for inclusivity and empowerment, particularly for women, in her work.
The "Chelsea Chronicles: Navigating Life and Transit" zine uses fictionalized stories and artistic submissions to convey the struggles and resilience of Chelsea residents, based on findings from the Healthy Neighborhoods Study. By transforming data into relatable narratives, the zine makes critical information accessible to the community, addressing issues like financial insecurity, food scarcity, and housing challenges.
The city of Chelsea and Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood are each moving forward with microgrid projects that supporters hope will be powerful case studies for other communities to follow.
Panelists at a forum on “nature-based solutions” against climate change advise that coalitions are key. John Walkey, a panelist, talks about the necessity of belligerency and accountability.
Governor Maura Healey established a state commission in late September to make recommendations on the creation of clean energy infrastructure in Massachusetts.
Governor Maura Healey announces $31.5 million in Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grants in FY2024, which include nearly $5.7 million in funding for community-designed projects in cities and towns, including Chelsea, MA.
The dominant narrative about cities like Chelsea, Boston, and Flint, Mich. are stories of sickness and chronic underinvestment. But what Chelsea resident Sara Arman sees when she looks at her hometown is proof that things will get better, that the climate movement is “not one of despair.”
In the midst of the hottest months on record, data suggests neighborhoods like Dorchester and Roxbury are most adversely affected by temperature spikes due to racial inequality. We talk with two journalists who have studied heat disparities in those neighborhoods, along with Bianca Navarro Bowman of the Chelsea-based climate advocacy group GreenRoots.
The Sumner Tunnel is closed 24/7 from July 5 through the end of August, in the first of two big shutdowns for much-needed restoration work on the 88-year-old harbor tunnel.
Four Extinction Rebellion Boston climate activists were arrested Tuesday after they climbed the fence of Eversource's East Boston electrical substation and set up a picnic to protest construction. Activists are calling on Governor Maura Healey to intervene on the local community's behalf.
CHELSEA, MA–GreenRoots members will meet with Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca and MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver on Thursday, April 13th, 2023 to address the community’s public health concerns on recent findings of toxic amounts of lead found from paint chips falling from the Tobin Bridge in the backyards, playgrounds, streets and sidewalks of Chelsea residents.
BOSTON–Boston City Councilors: Julia Mejia, Gabriela Coletta, Kendra Lara, Ruthzee Louijeune, Ricardo Arroyo and #NoEastieSubstation activists held a press conference to announce the passage of a Boston City Council Resolution in support of the ongoing opposition of the Eversource electric substation in East Boston.
EAST BOSTON–Hot on the heels of recent targeted arrests of #NoEastieSubstation activists, GreenRoots, Extinction Rebellion Boston and dozens of environmental justice allies rallied at the East Boston Eversource substation site Wednesday morning to say “no” to the construction of a dangerous substation in the majority immigrant and working-class community of East Boston.
In an op-ed for Mass Live, the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Table urges legislators to support the Air Quality Bill in the next legislative session.
A city block just behind the industrial waterfront in Chelsea is typical for urban heat islands across the U.S. Nearly every foot is covered by a roof or pavement.
