When it comes to environmental disasters, what happens in one city often echoes across others, especially for Black and Brown communities living near industrial zones. That’s why on EcoWURD, we broke down what happened with the recent oil spill in Baltimore.
Captain Bobby, founder of Sail Local in Baltimore, joined the show to share firsthand insight. What started as a 200-gallon leak from Johns Hopkins Hospital turned out to be over 5,000 gallons of diesel flowing into the city’s waterways. Just like in Philly, this raised serious questions about corporate accountability, environmental justice, and the safety of our neighborhoods.
The spill was contained before significant harm reached Baltimore’s aquatic life. But the bigger story is that the cleanup cost over $400,000 to $600,000, and it took days for Johns Hopkins to admit fault. Yet again, a major institution with billions of dollars in the bank was slow to protect the people closest to its operations.
For Philly, this hits home. Whether it’s the aftermath of the PES refinery explosion or the everyday toxins in underserved neighborhoods, Black and Brown communities often bear the brunt of environmental disasters with little warning or support.
Captain Bobby reminded us, “It’s not just about when disaster strikes. We need people showing up every day to keep our neighborhoods clean, safe, and thriving.”
Follow his work at @saillocal and learn more at boatbaltimore.com.
Listen to Eco WURD each and every Friday, starting at 10:00 AM on 96.1 FM and 900 AM Philadelphia, Hosted By P.O.C. Stay tuned for more updates.