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No Matter Who is Elected to Office, Our Work Continues

Posted Nov 18, 2022, by Veronica Coptis

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Photo by Tara Winstead on Pexels

One thing is clear after this past election: Your votes do matter. However, the fight to protect our communities and health from pollution never stops at the polls. CCJ will be here with you, continuing to support our communities and advocating for true economic solutions while protecting our health, environment, and local economy.

With Josh Shapiro as our next Governor, given his track record as Attorney General and of holding polluters accountable, we hope to see a Department of Environmental Protection that is not afraid of enforcement or permit denials. Time will tell if he will continue to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable. Still, we know Governor-elect Josh Shapiro will need to be pressured to stop supporting false economic solutions and tax breaks for dirty energy.

Decades of influence on our elections from the fossil fuel industry will not change in one election cycle. No matter which political party is in charge, Americans generally feel the government is not doing enough to prioritize our health over lining the pockets of CEOs and shareholders. But last Tuesday, we saw more people show up to vote and make it known that the peoples’ voice does matter.

Everyone in this state, no matter who they voted for in this election, has a constitutional right to clean water, clean air, and the enjoyment of our natural resources. CCJ will continue to fight for those rights and to advocate for a future where our kids don’t have to leave Appalachia for a good job and a healthier environment.

Author

  • Veronica Coptis

    Veronica Coptis joined the CCJ staff in March 2013 as a Community Organizer and is now serving as the Executive Director. She grew up in western Greene County near the Bailey Mine Complex and currently lives in the eastern part of the county. Before joining the CCJ staff, Veronica served on the Board of Directors for CCJ and organized with Mountain Watershed Association. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from West Virginia University. She enjoys hiking and geocaching at Ryerson State Park and other areas around Greene County with her husband and daughters. Read more about Veronica in a New Yorker Magazine profile at https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/07/03/the-future-of-coal-country. Contact Veronica at veronica@centerforcoalfieldjustice.org.

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