EAST PALESTINE, Ohio – Antonio Diaz-Guy, 32, has lived in East Palestine most of his life. Now, he’s helping write the next chapter in the small town’s history.
“I have a lot of big plans. I am a big dreamer. I like to ideate,” Diaz-Guy said.
“My grandparents owned Guy's Bakery here, as well as Parkside Restaurant, and all of my family lives and has worked in East Palestine,” Diaz-Guy said.
On Feb. 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern Train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed and caught fire in the village of East Palestine. The incident caused thousands of resident to evacuate for several days. Since then, Norfolk Southern trains have continued to pass through East Palestine with transported substances falling under federal regulation.
Now, two years after the train derailment, Diaz-Guy said the town is ready to move on and make changes, starting with its economic and social sectors.
“We’re taking a look at all the existing ordinances and saying, which one of these are preventative to business growth and revising them,” he said. “And then also remarketing some programs that we've had long standing in East Palestine.”
While also looking to make improvements in the village’s infrastructure.
“I would love to see our park get finished, and I'm working with all of the resources we have at hand,” Diaz-Guy said.
Following the derailment, many residents reported experiencing health issues, including coughing, nausea and headaches.
Diaz-Guy said the village has conducted studies with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and university researchers that indicate there are no current health risks posed to residents. Still, Diaz-Guy said he’s supporting residents’ health and the environment for the long run.
“The federal EPA, the Ohio EPA [and] our community representatives all have data sampling. We have sentinel wells for water testing, all drilled through the community,” Diaz-Guy said. “Our water testing plant has been upgraded and is compliant. Those samples get reviewed every month.”
Barbara Kliner graduated from East Palestine High School’s class of 1969.
She now lives on the town’s west side within a two-mile radius of where the incident happened.
“I was in bed, I heard it and I thought, oh, that's an unusual noise,” Kliner said.
Kliner said she witnessed the incident’s initial devastation and the chaos that followed.
“I think that was the worst part of the whole thing was the lack of information and the lack of coordination initially,” she said.
Still, Kliner said she’s noticed a transformation within the village’s leadership, which is bringing a new hope to the community.
“I have seen a vast improvement in the communication between city council and our village manager and the people that take the time to go,” she said. “... The sun's coming out here in East Palestine, and we're going to be OK.”
Diaz-Guy said its only the beginning of building a better future for all residents.
“I have a son who is now 17 months old. My ambition is that 20 years from now, when he decides to begin his adult life, he wants to begin in East Palestine,” Diaz-Guy said. “That there's local jobs and opportunity in our region to support a healthy, profitable lifestyle.”