Environmental Racism in Siting Decisions for Locally Unwanted Land Use Areas in Albany, NY

An overwhelming body of research points to the fact that locally unwanted land uses (LULUs), such as hazardous waste facilities, toxic waste sites, landfills, incinerators, etc., are sited in a way that creates a disproportionate impact on poor, disenfranchised people of color.  As a result, this segment of the population often finds themselves plagued by the consequences of living near these hazardous sites. This thesis examines if environmental racism was a factor in land use decisions for the siting of various different unwanted land uses in two neighborhoods in Albany: the South End and Sheridan Hollow. By using racial demographics, socio-economic status and voter turnout records the results of this research point towards environmental racism being a factor in land use siting decisions in these two neighborhoods.