Environmental Justice

I'm also concerned with environmental justice, particularly with respect to political corruption and the illicit privatization of public land.

After the deforestation of 108 acres of public parkland in West Philadelphia occurred suddenly without community consultation, I worked to raise awareness and advocate for environmental justice in the community.

Color photograph of Shereen Chang, a concerned resident of Cobbs Creek neighborhood, inspecting a tree that was cut down in the Cobbs Creek Golf Course public park. The huge stump is cut at the height of her sternum, and appears to be roughly five times her width at the cut. Huge felled tree trunks are visible to her side and behind her in the photograph. Photo credit: Kimberly Paynter/WHYY

Photo: Kimberly Paynter/WHYY

Background of Deforestation at Cobbs Creek

In Philadelphia, corrupt city officials have made deals with private developers, allowing them to destroy publicly-owned parkland against the interests of the public, and without consulting the public. In February 2022, a private developer deforested 108 acres (including over 500 heritage trees) at the Cobbs Creek and Karakung Golf Course city parklands, without proper permits and community consultation, as required by their lease. Although they violated their $1 lease with the City of Philadelphia, city officials close to the developers (including a City Councilmember who had received illegal donations from them) allowed it to happen; furthermore, they arranged to give the developers a $3,000,000 handout from taxpayer funds (also contrary to the lease agreement), and despite public outcry.

February 2023: That City Councilmember passed a special ordinance to exempt the developers from an anti-erosion law that prohibits the destruction of trees on steep slopes. This ordinance allows developers to cut down all remaining trees on the steep slopes while avoiding accountability by silencing all the community concerns that would normally be heard through regular zoning approval processes.

Black and white photograph of a mass of felled trees and branches

Felled trees at Cobbs Creek Golf Course park in April 2022. Photo: Shereen Chang

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