One of America’s largest shingle makers is pumping pollution into Black and brown communities from Texas to Minnesota
SIERRA-Lindsey
Wed, 2025-01-08 05:00
Janie Cisneros (left), who leads Singleton United/Unidos, sits with four others in front of GAF on Earth Day 2024. The action was planned to raise awareness for a campaign aimed at closing down a shingles factory, one of the largest polluters in Dallas. | Photo by Johnathan Johnson
AmalAhmed
Jan82025
Ayearago,AlapDavefoundhisdreamhouseonSingletonAvenueinWestDallas.Whenhewenttoseethehouseforthefirsttime,henoticedashinglefactoryacrossthestreet,buthecouldn’tsmellanypollutantsortoxins.
Afterhemovedin,henoticedthatwhenthefacility,ownedbyGAFRoofing,startedup,itreleasedfumesintotheairthatstunghis nostrils.“It’slikerotteneggsandsewagecombined,”Davesays.“It’sworsethananyofmyoldstinkysoccercleats.”Asphaltisatypeof crudeoilbyproduct—athick,tarlikesubstancethat’smixedwithotherproducts.It’smainlyusedtomakeshinglesandpaveroads.AccordingtoananalysisbyPaulQuinnCollege’sUrbanResearchInit
