Our Mission
Every New Yorker has the right
to live, work and play on land
without being exposed to
legacy pollution
What is Legacy Pollution?
Our cities experienced more than 150 years of unregulated pollution discharged from industrial, commercial and municipal sources before the emergence of the modern environmental movement. In New York City, for example, almost all solid waste generated before 2001 is still present underground in hundreds of undocumented landfills throughout the five boroughs. Many durable pollutants still persist and could pose an exposure risk without a clear set of policies and programs for their management. It is time to address the polluting activities of the past, our legacy of pollution. The Center for Land and Soil Security (CLASS) is leading that effort.
The Center for Land and Soil Security
is working to address
legacy pollution in New York City.
This is what we are advocating for:
Governance
Investigation
CLASS advocates for strong government policy to ensure land and soil security for all New Yorkers
CLASS advocates for investigation of historic land pollution to identify ongoing pathways for potential human exposure to pollution
Remediation
Communication
CLASS advocates for programs that remediate legacy pollution and eliminate potential pathways for human exposure to pollution
CLASS advocates for effective communication by government about public policies, resources and programs for land and soil security
Resources
CLASS advocates for useful resources to help improve quality of soil in backyards and community gardens
A Bill of Rights
for Land and Soil Security
in New York City
At CLASS, we believe in the right of all New Yorkers to live, work and play free from exposure to legacy pollution. We have established a Bill of Rights for land and soil security with 16 rights in five central themes designed to protect New Yorkers from legacy pollution.
“We are working to make NYC a
safer place to live, work and play.
Consider becoming a member
of the CLASS Coalition.
This will support our work and
help us achieve our goals”
-Daniel Walsh, Ph.D.
Director, CLASS
Frequently
Asked
Questions
How do I learn more?
Read the Bill of Rights to learn about our main goals. Check our Blog from time to time to learn more about what’s going on. If you have questions, send us a message on the Contact page or email us directly at dwalsh@classny.com.
How can I get involved?
You can show your support for our work by becoming a member of the CLASS Coalition. Becoming a member means that you support our advocacy efforts. Your membership shows us and others that you are behind us and that we speak for you.
How can I join the CLASS Coalition? Who can join?
Go to our Join the Coalition page and fill out the form, it’s as simple as that. New members can be individuals or organizations. We ask a few basic questions to learn a little about you or your organization. We will not share your contact information with others. You can also let us know if you prefer that we not list you as a member to those we advocate with (i.e. government agencies).
How can I donate to CLASS?
Sorry, but we do not accept donations. CLASS is a free-standing and self-funded center. However, let us know if you would be willing to support our work in other ways, such as attendance at advocacy events, petitions or letter-writing campaigns.
Is there any obligation if I join the CLASS Coalition?
There are no obligations if you become a member of the CLASS Coalition. You can opt out at any time.