http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5mRDOwMyxw
More videos are in the works so please stay tuned!
This video can also be found embeeded at: the FIB blog at:
http://foundinbrooklyn.blogspot.com/2009/05/superfund-gowanus.html
We at CORD are also very grateful to have the following letter to the EPA from one of our most devoted and passionate community members to publish. We encourage more people to write to the EPA! And, please send us your thoughts about the Superfunding of the Gowanus Canal, as well as concerns, memories, of Carroll Gardens/Gowanus etc., so that we can keep in touch with one another. You can use our address at cgcord@gmail.com for your submissions.
Letters like the one below are seen and read by so many different people in our community including our electeds. We encourage you to use your voice to fight with, and to join us!United, we can fight more effectively for the preservation and much- needed respectful development of our beloved Carroll Gardens! Register for our free newsletter on the right hand side of our blog at www.carrollgardenspetition.
Thank you.
CORD
"Below is my letter I submitted to the EPA in support of the Gowanus Canal Superfund nomination. I hope you have an opportunity to read this letter and discover why I wrote it. And maybe you will have the time to write one too! Please go to the following sites for more information regarding the Gowanus Canal Superfund Me campaign. Thank you for taking the time to care." M.Y.
http://www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com/
http://www.pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/
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Document ID EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-001
Document Title National Priorities List; Proposed Rule No. 50
My name is Maryann Young. I am a thirteen year resident and property owner in Carroll Gardens and I support the Gowanus Canal Superfund.
I am writing in support of this project because I care about my community and I care about the people who live here.
There is a quote on the CarrollGardenspetition.blogspot.com that reads:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world...Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
I’ve worked along side with these small groups and I can tell you…they are incredible people (CORD, SoBNA, USBA, CGNA, FROGG, and bloggers like Pardonmeforasking and Gowanuslounge to name a few.) They are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, educated professionals, and teachers, real people who also care about their community and the people who live here. Their dedication and determination to preserve and protect the integrity of our neighborhoods has been fought with truth and honesty, and with respect to others.
I find them passionate in what they believe in, highly intelligent, and rational in their perspective of the community’s issues. They are hard-working, tireless, and extremely generous. I am so proud to know them. They are my heroes.
They have been there for us at every community meeting, and at every public hearing testifying passionately and reporting diligently back to us.
They have dedicated many hours standing on the streets collecting signatures on petitions and letters urging our elected officials to help preserve our surroundings, and posting announcements of community hearings for all to see and know.
They have thoroughly researched and gathered all the information and facts needed for the fight to protect us.
They have generously and selflessly spent their own money and precious time to represent us all.
I believe in their sincerity and dedication to help protect and preserve this wonderful community and I stand by them.
Because of them, I support the Superfund nomination of the Gowanus Canal. I too, believe that the clean-up of this canal must be done first before we build. I too, believe that the safety of everyone as well as any future residents should be protected, and I too, believe that with the community behind this project we can lessen the time it would take to clean. We are a loud and active group of community-minded individuals. We would be vigilant in making sure that something will be done this time. Many know that this community is united and will not sit and wait for whenever. The time and opportunity is now.
Please don’t let the special interest groups and developers dictate what the real community wants. Our voices are much stronger than their hired lobbyists or PR firms. Our voices have been heard through the lies and half truths that have been and are now being spread by those with short-sighted vision, desperation and greed. I know that the opposition is trying to set up a self-fulfilling prophecy in everyone’s mind that the government will do absolutely nothing once the canal is nominated. They have underestimated this community.
We all know that the Canal is highly toxic. There are scientific studies available that state the findings. Do we really want to pretend that all is fine? Do we really want to take the chance and endanger the lives of many who will one day reside there? It doesn’t make any sense why any one would oppose this project knowing how toxic the land is. Are we being brainwashed into the “wear more sunscreen and shades” mentality while we are going through global warming? Are we “putting the cart before the horse”?
I don’t fear the negative labeling or stigma implications in this area from the Superfund listing. This community prevailed from dangerous conditions long ago of redlining to heavy crimes. It is the unity of this community and the strength of its people that make this place great.
I wholeheartedly support the Gowanus Canal Superfund.
Yes, clean up Gowanus Canal and start now.
Thank you for taking the time and coming out to tell us. You made a lot of sense…Cleaning up the canal would benefit the whole community in the long run.
Gratefully,
Maryann Young, Court Street, Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn's Lavender Lake Needs Superfund by Joshua S. Verleun May 26, 2009
http://www.gothamgazette.com/article//20090526/255/2925
