Albuquerque, NM—The New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) announced the winners of its Annual Environmental Justice Awards for 2024. The winners were celebrated during NMELC’s Annual EJ Awards event held on Thursday, December 12th at the Harwood Art Center in downtown Albuquerque. The five awards given out include the tongue-in-cheek “award” for Toxic Polluter, which was “awarded” to Dan Lewis, Klarissa Peña, Louie Sanchez and Brook Bassan. NMELC staff presented a mock “certificate” to the Toxic Polluter of the Year for harming the environment and the health of New Mexicans.
Other awards included the Karl Souder Award for Water Protection, the Jeanne Gauna Community Environmental Advocacy Award, the Youth Earth Protector Award, and an award for Special Recognition of Extraordinary Commitment given to an organization.
Here are the winners for this year’s NMELC EJ Awards for 2024:
Toxic Polluter Award for 2024
Dastardly Dan Lewis & His Toxic Toadies
Klarissa Peña, Louie Sanchez & Brook Bassan
This year’s Toxic Polluter Award for 2024 goes to Albuquerque City Council president Dan Lewis and the Albuquerque City Council members: Klarissa Pena, Louie Sanchez and Brook Bassan, his “Toxic Toadies,” for their ongoing record of perpetuating discrimination against Albuquerque’s most overburdened communities and championing policies that befoul our County’s air, land and water. …