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The report details a long history of toxic pollution and regulatory non-compliance at the Quemetco secondary lead smelter in the City of Industry, California. It documents extensive lead, arsenic, and hexavalent chromium contamination in the air, soil, and water, affecting predominantly low-income and minority communities. The author argues that Quemetco has exploited a flawed regulatory system to avoid accountability and recommends that California regulators deny its permit renewals and expansion requests, ultimately shutting down the facility in favor of cleaner energy storage alternatives like lithium-ion batteries.

The toolkit addresses 'green gentrification,' where green infrastructure investments increase property values and spur real estate speculation, leading to the displacement of vulnerable populations. It proposes a multi-layered approach combining tenant protections, land-use regulations, funding alignment, economic opportunity enhancement, community ownership, and inclusive design to ensure that the benefits of urban greening are shared equitably without harming existing residents.

The report argues that large-scale institutional food procurement can drive systemic change in the US food system by leveraging collective buying power to demand sustainable, healthy, and fair food production. It highlights the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP), which uses five value categories—local economies, environmental sustainability, nutrition, valued workforce, and animal welfare—to guide procurement. A case study of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) demonstrates that adopting these standards can lead to significant local economic gains, reduced carbon and water footprints, improved student health outcomes, and industry-wide shifts, such as the increased production of antibiotic-free chicken in the US.