Bryce Issues Statement on Walker’s Approval of Foxconn’s Air Pollution

RACINE, WI – Democratic congressional candidate and Racine County resident Randy Bryce released the following statement on the decision by the state’s Department of Natural Resources to approve air permits for Foxconn.

“For Scott Walker, it wasn’t enough that taxpayers forked over billions of dollars to Foxconn, he expects us to sacrifice our air quality too. Sadly, I fear this is the kind of treatment we can expect from Foxconn. They will take, take, take for their bottom line, and give little in return to the working families funding their corporate welfare. Families in Racine County have already seen how We Energies has been permitted to get away with contaminating our homes and playgrounds with coal dust, thanks to the Governor’s lax standards.”

More on Foxconn’s Impact on the First District…
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Plans by Foxconn Technology Group for a massive manufacturing complex in Racine County would represent a major new source of air pollution in an area already struggling with summer smog problems.  Emissions from the company’s operations in Mount Pleasant would rank among the highest in southeastern Wisconsin for pollutants that create smog, also known as ozone pollution, state documents show. Smog poses a health threat, especially for the elderly, children and people who suffer from respiratory problems like asthma. But it can also lead to reduced lung function for people working and exercising outdoors, and environmental groups are concerned about Foxconn’s impact on air quality.” (3/28/2018)

Journal Sentinel Headline: Foxconn’s promised jobs boom could miss neighboring city Racine (4/6/2018)

Racine Journal Times: “Independent testing has confirmed the presence of coal dust found Monday in a neighborhood north of the We Energies power plants in Oak Creek…Coal dust contains toxic metals including lead, mercury and arsenic, the release states. The health effects of inhalable particulate matter include aggravation of asthma, respiratory symptoms, an increase in hospital emissions and increased mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and from lung cancer. ‘There is no safe level of coal dust exposure.’ ‘This isn’t the first time this has happened,’ stated Greg Millard, a concerned local resident. ‘This is the first time they got caught. Coal dust blowing from the piles at these plants has been a problem for decades, and We Energies knows it. We want something done about it.’ Coal dust causes problems south of the plant, stated Bill Pringle, president of Environmental Accountability Group. ‘I used to live in Caledonia just south of the plant,’ Pringle stated. ‘Myself, my wife and my children became very ill, and after only eight years we had to move. We Energies did testing twice and said there wasn’t a problem, but when we hired someone to do independent testing, we found coal and fly ash in our house.’” (3/10/2018)

About Randy Bryce
Randy Bryce is a U.S. Army veteran, cancer survivor, and union ironworker. He was raised in southeastern Wisconsin, and went to public schools. Randy’s father was a police officer, and his mother worked in a doctor’s office. After graduation, Randy enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was posted to Honduras, where he earned the Army Achievement Medal. After returning stateside, Randy was diagnosed with cancer, which he survived, but only after struggling through the bankruptcy that came with the medical bills. Once in remission, Randy found his way to an apprenticeship as an iron worker, a trade he’s now been practicing and fighting to protect from anti-labor laws for nearly 20 years. Randy currently resides in Caledonia, WI with his son, Ben, who attends public schools like his dad. Randy joined the race for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District in Summer 2017.

Randy Bryce for Congress

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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