★ 2023 article on refinery emissions ★

Published by The Inquirer, Walnut Creek Magazine, & Martinez News-Gazette.

 
 

Martinez Residents Voice Anger, Fear Over Refinery’s Toxic Spew

By Katia Novak

“When the people of Martinez awoke to ash scattered on their cars and homes last November, they assumed it was from a nearby wildfire. Even after authorities revealed the dust had actually resulted from a toxic emission at the local refinery, life carried on. Children rolled on front lawns, parents planted gardens, winter turned to spring.

It took nearly five months of email updates and virtual town halls before residents finally filed into a Martinez City Council meeting last month to hear the most substantial report to date about the leak—and to share the confusion, fear and anger they’d been holding for so long…”