all people with respect to the development, imple-
mentation, and enforcement of environmental
laws, regulations, and policies and the equitable
distribution of environmental benefits. EJ is based
on the principle that all people have a right to be
protected from environmental pollution and to live
in and enjoy a clean and healthful environment.
Additionally in Massachusetts, special des-
ignation has been conferred upon "Gateway
Cities" that meet the following criteria:
• a municipality with a population greater
than 35,000 and less than 250,000
• a median household income below
the Commonwealth's average
• a rate of educational attainment (bach-
elor's degree or above) that is below
the Commonwealth's average
Gateway Cities are midsize urban centers that
anchor regional economies around the state. For
generations, these communities were home to
industry that offered residents good jobs and a
"gateway" to the American Dream. Over the past
several decades, manufacturing jobs have slowly
disappeared. Lacking resources and the capac-
ity to rebuild and reposition, Gateway Cities have
been slow to draw new economic investment.
In an attempt to bring the benefits of tree can-
opy to EJ populations located in Gateway Cities,
Massachusetts has developed the Greening the
Gateway Cities Program (GGCP), an environ-
mental and energy efficiency program designed
to reduce household heating and cooling
energy use by increasing tree canopy cover.
GGCP is a partnership of the State's Executive
Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA),
Chicopee, MA urban foresters
"mudding in" a public park tree.
Public tree plantings are highly visible
and act as a billboard for the GGCP.
10 CityTREES
