ACORN Argentina is improving basic rights in its capital city of Buenos Aires, including the rights to public housing, education, clean air and water by fighting for protection from health hazards caused by traffic pollution and cellular antenas.

Health Risks to ACORN members

These rights are under particular threat in the southern districts of the city where there is a high level of contamination. The polluted Riachuelo River poses grave health risks to low-income residents and the heavy traffic due to the port industry increases neighborhood traffic with industrial pollution. Some adverse effects include higher incidence of lung cancer, leukemia, respiratory problems, hepatitis and heavy metal poisoning. 

Celular antenna radiation is also linked to leukemia and cancer.  ACORN groups are fighting for a law that dictates where new antennas will be built to minimize health risks to the children, the sick, and the elderly. 

Many families lack sufficient access to affordable healthcare.   Many local healthcare clinics are inadequately funded and not open sufficient enough hours to attend citizens around-the-clock.  Outside of Capital, in La Matanza, there is no public transportation in many areas of the province and residents have no feasible way to get their families to the care they need.

Comunas Campaign

By the end of 2007 the citiziens of Buenos Aires will be one step closer to autonomy by finally having  a system in place called the comunas.  This system will group current political districts and culturally-recognized neighborhoods into 15 comunas. The citizens of Buenos Aires will finally be able to vote for local representatives who will comprise a Communal Board for each comuna of 7 members.  There will be a president of the comunas voted by the people who will then head the Communal Board.  This system will not be perfect, but it will allow citizens to have more control over the budget and more control over the city´s services.  It is a step in the right direction.  ACORN needs to build a City-wide non-governmental coalition to ensure that this step is made when Mauricio Marcri (PRO) takes office in 2008 and further steps are taken in the future. 

ACORN’s role in the issue of demanding accountable and transparent governance will stretch from one as the creator and executor of direct education and outreach campaigns to that of key facilitator of the only non-governmental coalition dedicated to a true democratic government in the Capital Federal Buenos Aires.

Housing Campaign

ACORN Argentina has also launched a district-wide organizing campaign to empower La Boca public housing tenants whose houses are under threat of demolition. The Institute of Housing purchased the housing complex in 1991, but now wants to convert the units to higher income properties. Many families have roots in La Boca's conventillos, spanning decades, however. ACORN members are fighting for the right to be treated with dignity as public housing tenants and to continue living in the place where they have built their lives.