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School District Woes Likened to ‘Environmental Racism’ in Flint, Mich.

Summary

The East Ramapo Central School District, located about 30 miles north of New York City, has received a failing rating for all 13 of its school buildings in a state-mandated survey of building conditions. The survey found that tap water in all public school buildings is unsafe to drink, and the district faces chronic disrepair that would require over $230 million in repairs. The New York Civil Liberties Union, along with 24 other organizations, is calling for a state takeover of the school system, comparing the situation to the "environmental racism" seen in Flint, Michigan. The schools in East Ramapo primarily serve Black and Latino students, and the district has been in disrepair for years, with lead in the water being detected in 2016.

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