Simply Living joined a coalition of organizations led by Columbus Stand Up! in delivering a letter to elected officials demanding answers about the April 7 explosion at the Yenkin-Majestic Paint Corporation. The blast killed one person, injured eight, and spewed ash and other debris over area homes.
The factory, located immediately adjacent to a majority Black residential neighborhood on the east side, has a long track record of environmental and safety violations. The explosion rocked homes and businesses and released toxic chemicals. The long-term effects on the area’s water and soil are unknown.
The letter asks State Sen. Hearcel F. Craig and State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells to take several actions in response to the blast:
- A survey of the structural integrity of homes and business in the area, which residents felt shake around them
- Covered health screenings for residents to measure increased levels of toxic substances and compensation for any necessary medical care
- A list of actions the city will undertake following the Ohio EPA’s assessment of the water and soil conditions in the area
- Immediate public disclosure of all findings by OSHA inspectors at the facility
- Relocation of this facility to a non-residential area
Besides Columbus Stand Up! and Simply Living, other organizations that signed the letter included the Ohio Sustainable Business Council, Columbus Socialist Alternative, Freedom BLOC, Ready for 100 Columbus, Students for a Democratic Society – Ohio State University chapter, and Our Revolution Central Ohio.
I am an artist doing art projects made from recyclables. I am available to do community outreach activities with simply living.