The Sustainability Myth: Environmental Gentrification and the Politics of Justice

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WINNER OF THE 2021 DELMOS JONES AND JAGNA SHARFF MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR THE CRITICAL STUDY OF NORTH AMERICA!
Uncovers the hidden costs and contradictions of sustainable policies in an era driven by real estate development
From state-of-the-art parks to rooftop gardens, efforts to transform New York City’s unsightly industrial waterfronts into green, urban oases have received much public attention. In The Sustainability Myth, Melissa Checker uncovers the hidden costs―and contradictions―of the city’s ambitious sustainability agenda in light of its equally ambitious redevelopment imperatives.
Focusing on industrial waterfronts and historically underserved places like Harlem and Staten Island’s North Shore, Checker takes an in-depth look at the dynamics of environmental gentrification, documenting the symbiosis between eco-friendly initiatives and high-end redevelopment and its impact on out-of-the-way, non-gentrifying neighborhoods. At the same time, she highlights the valiant efforts of local environmental justice activists who work across racial, economic, and political divides to challenge sustainability’s false promises and create truly viable communities.
The Sustainability Myth is a cautionary, eye-opening tale, taking a hard―but ultimately hopeful―look at environmental justice activism and the politics of sustainability.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ NYU Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 27, 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1479855278
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1479855278
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #793,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #383 in City Planning & Urban Development #390 in Urban Planning and Development #802 in Sociology of Urban Areas
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