Gary Horton, an Erie social justice advocate, has always considered himself an environmentalist.
Horton, who is CEO of the Urban Erie Community Development Corp. and president of the Erie NAACP , said he has a great deal of respect for many in the local environmental community.
But when it comes to International Recycling Group ‘s plans to build a $300 million recycling plant on Erie’s East Side, he finds himself at odds with the authors of a letter , signed by more than 100 environmentalists, that opposes the Department of Energy’s decision to grant a $182 million loan to the project.
Recycling plant holds promise of economic benefits
Like his brother, Erie County Councilman Andre Horton, Gary Horton is supporting the project, which is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs and more than 200 permanent positions.
Horton said he sees jobs and opportunity in the project that’s planned for a portion of International Paper Co. plant on East Lake Road.
“You can call me a Black activist,” Horton said. “I serve the interests of a lot more people than Black people. I serve the interests of a lot of poor people in the community and that’s the voice I’m speaking with. We want to hitch our wagon to a horse that’s going somewhere.”