Super Blog #3 - Stringfellow Acid Pits

Each day I spent with Penny Newman and the Stringfellow Acid Pits brought me closer to realizing how invested in this story I am. One day I hope to contribute to the Stringfellow archives by conducting oral histories with the residents who experienced the effects of the toxic waste and curate some sort of exhibit that gives voice to the survivors of this tragedy. Unfortunately, not many photos exist online and like I mentioned in my previous blog, Covid-19 restrictions have made it virtually impossible to access archives both at UC Riverside and in the office for Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice. Below are some photos that I think highlight the stories in different ways. 
These are two photos of Penny Newman, taken nearly 25 years apart. The first one is from the mid eighties when the cleanup initially began. I cannot find an exact date or photographer but I found it on the CCAEJ website. The second photo is from the Press-Enterprise and was taken during a 2016 grand opening of a new filtration system installed onsite. Together these photos show the longevity of both the fight for cleanup and Penny's tenacity. Also, in the first photo Penny looks unsure of herself and being photographed but after decades of interviews and photos ops the second photo shows a much more relaxed and comfortable women. 

I chose this map because it's easy to understand. The illustration shows how far into neighborhoods the Stringfellow Groundwater Plumes go and how close the contamination is to the Santa Ana River. The map does not do a good job telling how many people are effected, however. 
This is an aerial view of the pits and surrounding area taken in 1973. By this point the site was supposed to have been closed but illegal dumping still occurred. While this photo is hard to understand it shows the proximity to the freeway and how unassuming the surrounding landscape is. 
This photo is my favorite and the one that I would use as a book cover. It shows that the children who this effected were involved in the activism and hints at the reason why so many parents, especially women, became involved. Between the kid's hair and the arid reference it perfectly captures the early 80s which illustrates when this was happening. 







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