In south Baltimore City, the residents of the Curtis Bay neighborhood are fighting to win a decades-long battle for clean air. Curtis Bay lies next to industrial areas that line the end of the Patapsco River as it flows into the Chesapeake Bay. Within these industrial areas are many corporations that harm the environment, but the biggest offender is the CSX’s Curtis Bay Coal Pier. Baltimore’s port is the second largest in the U.S. just behind Norfolk, Virginia, in the volume of coal it handles having shipped 23 million tons of coal just last year. 

A recent air quality study has determined coal dust from the pier is present all over Curtis Bay. This is something that CSX continues to deny and dismiss, even going so far as to hire their own “independent” study into the air quality. In addition to denying the presence of coal in the air, they ironically state they are “…deeply committed to safe and environmentally sound operations at the Curtis Bay Piers facility and value the collaboration with community leaders.” Soon after CSX released this, Johns Hopkins researchers were quickly able to disprove their claims, finding coal present in the air even as far as three-quarters of a mile away from the facility. 

Studies have shown that the life expectancy of Curtis Bay residents is almost four years less than the Baltimore average, with high rates of asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic lower respiratory disease. While large corporations can ignore studies when it’s convenient, the working-class neighborhood of Curtis Bay cannot ignore the toxic coal dust that continues to poison their bodies, homes, and communities. 

Porches Covered in Soot

The people of Curtis Bay have been fighting against pollution for decades, but the fight became more urgent for many on Dec 30, 2021 when a buildup of methane inside a tunnel at the facility caused an explosion. This event released nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide into the air as well as shattering the windows of homes within the neighborhood. The explosion violated Maryland’s Environment Article, and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) found CSX had not taken “reasonable precautions” to prevent the explosion. 

The coal dust from the explosion that spread throughout the area will no doubt have a lasting impact on people’s physical health in years to come. But even with these recent events, the MDE has continued to allow CSX to continue to operate. 

The residents have said that their porches are covered in soot, they cannot enjoy being outside of their houses, and even on nice days they are not able to open their windows. Along with every other burden capitalism has put on working-class people, it’s also taking away some of the more simple everyday enjoyments. 

This past December, residents of Curtis Bay marched on Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, dropping a stocking of coal on the Democratic Governor Wes Moore’s mansion demanding he intervene. Their primary demand was that Gov. Moore and the MDE deny CSX’s operational permit for the coal terminal, which the MDE at the time had been reviewing for renewal.

Companies found violating the legal agreements made with the MDE can be fined $25,000 every day if they do not meet regulations. CSX has already been fined $115,000 total by the MDE for the 2021 explosion. But as one resident has been correctly quoted, such a penalty is a “drop in the bucket” to a company such as CSX that raked in $3.5 billion in profits last year.

Corporate Dollars Fuel Climate Change

Curtis Bay and the surrounding neighborhoods were hit even harder this time last year, when a container ship leased by shipping giant Maersk lost all power and struck the support beam of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. In the seconds it took the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River, many residents lost their jobs, homes, and more. In the wake of this tragedy, Curtis Bay has become a thoroughfare for truck traffic, shaking the houses as they speed through the streets at twice the legal limit raising the chances of vehicle accidents, according to residents.

This tiny community in Baltimore is not alone in their suffering. Many communities, of every size, have felt the impact of corporations having both political parties in their pockets—knowing that their own livelihood and the welfare of their loved ones will always come second to profits. 

For example, the people of East Palestine in Ohio are now two years out from when a Norfolk Southern train derailment changed their lives forever. And while they continue to fight for their basic needs such as access to clean water and healthcare to be met, the shareholders and board members debate how they can save the most money.

There was a similar infrastructure tragedy in Texas four winters ago, when the power grid experienced outages causing 4 million working class people to go without heat and water while experiencing historic freezing temperatures. The political and corporate leadership throughout the state could not be bothered by the 30 deaths that resulted, as long as their profits continued to flow. 

In his first Baltimore City mayoral campaign, sitting Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott promised to “aggressively” pursue Zero Waste goals in his first term and was quoted saying, “I will work my butt off to make sure this is the last time we give [CSX] a new contract.” Now in his second term, Scott has failed to take any actions to reduce dependence on the incinerator or prevent the need to renew the contract in 2031. 

Similarly, Democratic Governor Moore implemented an executive order directing state agencies to take actions to meet Maryland’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60% of 2006 levels by 2031, achieve 100% clean energy by 2035 and reach net-zero emissions by 2045. But when the opportunity arises to hold the coal terminal accountable and deny the permit to CSX, Moore and his office continue to take no real action. CSX has made profits while burying the people of Curtis Bay in coal soot for too long and we can have no faith in the Democratic Party to pull working people out of this mess.

Corporate-caused disaster after disaster continues to show that, even on a local level, both the Democrats and Republicans only truly care when their billionaire-backed supporters are experiencing losses. For years, the Democrats running the city of Baltimore and the Maryland Department of the Environment have ignored the cries for help, making empty promises on the campaign trail that never came to anything. 

Fight CSX—And All Polluting Industries!

When the people of Curtis Bay took to Gov. Moore’s mansion, they made the clear and correct demand calling for him and the MDE to deny CSX’s permit which was at the time up for renewal. This demand is something all working-class people can get behind, and needs to be linked to a broader program to fight climate change and its devastating impacts on communities..

South Baltimore City is a predominantly Black working-class area made up of neighborhoods with high poverty rates, low employment rates, and poor access to public transportation. We demand that Baltimore City, and all of Maryland, raise the minimum wage to $25/hour. Large corporations, like CSX, in Baltimore should be made to fund high quality public transportation and safe and affordable housing for all, built with well-paid union labor. CSX themselves should be required to clean up the neighborhood of Curtis Bay and pay for universal healthcare that is needed as a result of years of unapologetic pollution.

Although it’s an important first step, the fight against polluting industries can’t be met by just a few hundred residents from a working-class neighborhood marching on the capital of Maryland and throwing down a symbolic coal-filled stocking. This fight must consist of all working-class people in the city, and must be linked with the broader fight against climate change. Trump is currently attacking the EPA and environmental protections at an alarming rate. But climate change and pollution isn’t just because of Trump, or even just CSX, but because of the whole capitalist system that is run based on profits for companies like CSX. The fight against polluting industries must include the unionized workers of CSX, who are also exposed to similar harm in their jobs, and have no interest in the horrendous effects of capitalist-caused climate change. The leadership of the unions within CSX must stand up and say “No More” to poisoning its workers and the citizens of the areas they work within by fighting for a green transition from polluting CSX to union jobs in renewable energy, with no loss in pay, benefits, or seniority for workers. 

The fight needs to be broadened, fighting climate change and demanding a green transition for all workers in polluting industries that reduces the use of our dependency on materials like coal and instead fight for clean and sustainable energy resources. The top 100 polluting companies need to be made to pay for emergency services to protect those most impacted by climate disasters, as well as high quality housing and displacement assistance. Those same companies should be taken into democratic public ownership for a transition to 100% renewable energy internationally. 

We need to tax the rich to pay for bringing neighborhoods such as Curtis Bay to a place where it is safe to go outside and be in the community. Ultimately, only a socialist world that benefits working-class people and youth everywhere can solve the climate crisis.