Thursday, April 30, 2009

F.R.O.G.G. AT BROOKLYN FOOD CONFERENCE THIS SAT. MAY 2

This coming Saturday, May 2, look for the F.R.O.G.G. table at the Brooklyn Food Conference
in Park Slope! FREE for everyone!

Where:
John Jay High School
237 7th Avenue, Brooklyn
PS 321
180 7th Avenue, Brooklyn
When: All Day

Brooklyn Food Conference Mission: "The Brooklyn Food Conference will bring together a uniquely broad and diverse community of activists and interested persons to discuss and learn more about the critical food issues of our time and what role we as neighbors can play to address them. We will create a Brooklyn base for the food movement, advocating for Food Democracy in our neighborhoods and everywhere in the world. Food Democracy is here defined as a just, sustainable, healthy and delicious food system."

For more info: http://brooklynfoodconference.org/

New website! www.superfundgowanus.org

This just in to CORD.
New website!  www.superfundgowanus.org
complete with a link to a Superfund Gowanus Petition on the website.
There is also a link with informational content to support those letters to
EPA.

Everyone is encouraged to go the website and activate the link to the
petition and please offer personal comments and SIGN THE PETITION.

This petition will NOT, however, replace our individual efforts to write personal letters to
EPA. For more information on setting up those letters, there is additional information on the website.

GO OUT THERE AND SPREAD THE WORD! DEFEND GOWANUS!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Monday, April 27, 2009

Thanks to all for the Dazzle Me Forum!

CORD would like to thank all those who attended the Dazzle Me Forum last Saturday, candidates and residents alike. For a good re-cap of the events, see these two blogs. (Click on them to link).
Pardon Me for Asking
Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn

CORD
HERE IS THE LETTER CORD SUBMITTED TO THE EPA IN SUPPORT OF THE SUPERFUND NOMINATION



RE: The Gowanus Canal Superfund Nomination

April 21, 2009

Dear Mr. Munhall,

RE: HQ SSUND 2009-0063

GOWANUS CANAL

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

Our names are Lucy DeCarlo, Rita Miller and Triada Samaras. Two of us are third generation Carroll Gardens residents, one is a “newcomer” at only fifteen years. Each of us are property owners. We are all founding members of a grass roots community organization called, CORD (the Carroll Gardens Coalition for Respectful Development). Our organization believes in exactly that…development that is respectful of the environment, context and character of our neighborhood, which is why our group has worked and continues to work very closely with other community organizations as well as the New York City Department of City Planning on the rezoning and preservation of Carroll Gardens.

We would like to begin by thanking you and the EPA for the generously long comment period. Accepting comments until June 6th , allows the residents to compose their thoughts and fully express their feelings toward the nomination of the Canal for Superfund status.

We think that the DEC request to nominate the Gowanus Canal as a Superfund site is the best thing that has ever happened to our neighborhood.

The canal, a cross contaminated aberration displaying the result of the many decades of abuse by pollutants and polluters alike, antiquated, inadequate New York City run infrastructure as well as a great deal of neglect, has presented and continues to present itself as nothing short of a major public health hazard. It is an absolutely appalling, environmental disgrace. It is an open sewer here, in the United States of America, in one of the greatest cities in the world, in this, the 21st Century. How shameful!

For a very long time, we have been told by both elected and civic leaders that the only way to get the canal clean, was to develop it for residential housing----that would be the catalyst in moving the canal toward somewhat, cleanliness. But, there was never any explanation of which mechanism would be put into place exactly to make this happen.

Placement upon the National Priorities List, appears to be the best, indeed, the only mechanism by which the required thorough, comprehensive remediation can be achieved. The word, comprehensive, is by far the most important aspect of what superfund status offers us, as a community.

There has been a great deal of press about one development project in particular and the fact that this developer, has expressed their reluctance to continue with the project if the canal is indeed placed upon the NPL. They have publicly stated that they feel that their project would be stigmatized and therefore unmarketable if the superfund label were placed on the Gowanus Canal.

Simply labeling the Gowanus a superfund site is not going to make anyone view the canal any differently. Any sighted, living creature only has to take a brief glimpse at the canal, even on its best day, to see that there is something terribly wrong with it.

There has also been posturing in the press by some, claiming that those who are for the canal being placed on the NPL are really just against the above mentioned Toll Brothers project and other proposed projects, like, Public Place. They prefer to spin a tall tale by claiming that those who are pro-superfund site status are really anti development factions in disguise, who only want the canal placed upon the NPL to stop all development for their own nefarious reasons.

This is utter nonsense. We are for the superfund designation. We are not anti-any development but, we are against placing densely populated developments on quasi-remediated sites. We believe that comprehensive cleanup should come before any development. We want the canal cleaned, period.

We believe that everyone deserves to live in a healthy, life supporting environment. Clean water is an integral part of that. If the US Government has the means, the inclination and the opportunity to get this job done right-----then, so be it. Should the Toll Brothers, or any other perspective developer, feel that a clean, healthy environment is NOT in the best interests of the community, or, is not necessary for the present and/or future residents, then perhaps they are not really such great new potential neighbors and losing them would not be such a disaster after all.

In regard to Public Place, the chief concern, as indicated by individual CORD members in written statements to NYC’s HPD, during their recent comment period, has always been the following:

An extended period of time in which to measure the success of the land remediation prior to construction is vital. This was not part of the presented plan, even though the DEC admitted that this particular brownfield site was totally unique from any other brownfield site because of its proximity and symbiotic, cross contaminating relationship with the equally, albeit differently, polluted canal.

The EPA’s involvement in this process gives us a much more secure feeling that the upland remediation will now not only be done properly, but, will be vigilantly monitored to insure its success. Since the EPA will be monitoring how effective and successful that upland remediation is by monitoring the cessation (hopefully), of the upland’s contamination of the canal, and vice versa, We feel that everyone working, living or playing upon or near that site can have a much more reasonable expectation of life without risk of health problems due to however well intentioned, what comes down to a partial, piecemeal and therefore, inadequate cleansing of the area.

The fact that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation initiated the request in the first place speaks volumes. If the State felt that they could effectively do the job alone, or even in conjunction with the City, they would not have felt the need to request that the site be granted Superfund status.

It makes perfect sense to us that a Federal agency be responsible for this project. It is of a nature, size and scope that cries out to and for the US government and its considerable resources.

We were delighted to hear Mr. Walter Mugdan express the readiness and willingness of the EPA to work hand in hand with the state and city of New York on this project, in spite of the fact that Mayor Bloomberg’s spokesman was expressing disapproval and disbelief in the EPA and the Superfund program. This willingness to collaborate on the part of the EPA, in the spirit of getting the best job possible done, further bolsters our confidence that this is the way to proceed.

We are not concerned about the length of time this process will take. It is too important to rush. We are not at all concerned about our property values. The ultimate goal here is a clean, healthy canal and waterfront area. Once accomplished, all in proximity are lifted in value and more importantly, by the healthier environment. Achieving resolution of the canal’s pollution and executing measures to address and improve the inadequate infrastructure whether that be by the implementation of retention basins, treatment stations, separation of sewers from CSO’s, a combination of these, or some other method, is the priority. In our opinion, all else is secondary.

We absolutely and enthusiastically support the nomination of the Gowanus Canal to the National Priorities List and its designation as a Superfund site.

Let us finally move forward and reclaim this unique waterway and surrounding area. Let’s proceed to respectfully develop it to its full potential, and leave something truly valuable to our children, our grandchildren and for all generations to come.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Lucy DeCarlo 13 Second Street

Rita Miller

Triada Samaras

CORD cgcord@gmail.com

Brooklyn, NY 11231

You may submit your comments on-line to:
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=SubmitComment&o=090000648094b7d2
or via email at:
superfund.docket@epa.gov
For questions contact Dennis Munhall 2 NPL Co-Ordinator at: munhall.dennis@epa.gov
Tel. 212-637-4343

Friday, April 24, 2009

Candidate's Forum Tomorrow! Reserve a seat NOW!

CORD/SOBNA DAZZLE ME FORUM!!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU RESERVE A SEAT ASAP. YOU MAY DO SO BY USING EITHER THE EMAIL ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE NUMBER BELOW:

CORD in conjunction with the South Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance (SoBNA)

Are very pleased to announce and request your presence at

THE VERY FIRST 39TH COUNCIL DISTRICT

*DAZZLE ME*

FORUM

COME, MEET AND PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERVIEW with the candidates who are hoping to fill the seat of councilman Bill DeBlasio and become our next representative on the NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL ………

WHEN: SATURDAY APRIL 25TH, 2009

TIME: Begins at 10:30 am PROMPT! Ends at 1:00 pm

WHERE: CARROLL GARDENS LIBRARY AUDITORIUM 396 Clinton St. @ Union St. Brooklyn, NY 11231

PLEASE USE THE UNION STREET ENTRANCE (HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE)

SPACE IS LIMITED - SEE BELOW FOR SEAT RESERVATION INFORMATION!

These men all want to work FOR US as our representative on the NYC Council. DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS you would like to ask? DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS and want to choose the BEST PERSON POSSIBLE for this job? Here is your opportunity!!

We are no longer taking any questions however there is still time to reserve a seat! If you want to do so please write to us at:

Via email: CGCORD@GMAIL.COM or via phone: 347-661-8819

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

COUNCILMAN BILL DEBLASIO: A Public betrayal of the worst possible kind; No public advocate here to be found!

Today, on Earth Day, no less, Bill DeBlasio, finally answered the question posed on the blog, Pardon Me for Asking, ..’What is Bill DeBlasio Advocating for the Gowanus Canal?’

His answer appears today, (see link for full story) in a Daily News article by Erin Durkin…and guess what?

The man who would (wants to really badly) be PUBLIC ADVOCATE for the entire City Of New York, thinks that it is just dandy to keep the federal government, the ONLY ones who have the resources to do this job right, out of the picture.

His reasoning? ….”the Feds will just get in the way…”

How? With the 600,000,000 (yes, MILLION) EXTRA DOLLARS, that has recently been allocated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009? The following is directly from the EPA website—see the entire post at www.epa.gov/superfund/eparecovery/index.html)

“EPA will use the $600 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“Recovery Act”) to help clean up Superfund sites across the nation. The funding will accelerate ongoing cleanup activities or initiate new construction projects at 50 Superfund sites, boosting local economies by creating and maintaining jobs while also protecting human health and the environment. “

Let’s not forget that those monies, which may be available only to already listed sites, are in addition to what is already available in that Superfund “pot”. Not only is that NOT an obstruction---it’s a darned good start.

Did we all not hear Walter Mugdan, of the EPA, tell us at the meeting and on Brian Leher’s radio show the following morning that the United States Environmental Protection Agency considers the Gowanus Canal the highest of priorities? That they would really like to pursue this?

So then, we can only assume that the thought of all of that money piled up that high is blocking Mr. DeBlasio’s view of the Federal Government’s program. However, you would still think that our local Councilman, gifted with superior height, would be able to stand on tippy toe and see well enough that the conditions of the entire area require COMPREHENSIVE attention; not, however well intentioned (or rapid), piecemeal pea shots when the big guns are what we really need.

Reason #2---“We, locally, have gotten our act together….”

Translation: Our Councilman, the Bloomberg Administration, the Toll Brothers and whoever else wants that development (and whatever else may be in the works that we don’t know about yet) at any and all costs---- are going to say that the city can handle this without the Feds. This administration has had very close to eight years. There has been a ton of money spent on what basically offers the equivalent of a drop in the bucket to addressing the enormously putrid stew that is the Gowanus Canal. What could they possibly come up with, especially in these economically strapped times, that is going to be better than what the Feds and their many, many, many millions can offer?

Locally, they are content to do a partial, cosmetic remediation that does not address the great scope of the problem. They have decided that they will say, “No, thank-you” to the one program that does. ……. plus, they are willing to say it loudly enough to drown out the voices of science, academia and just plain old common sense.

No one is ungrateful or unappreciative of all of the efforts---it is just hideously apparent that they have been and are inadequate. Even the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has thrown up its hands and admits that neither it nor a combination of state and city resources is enough to correctly address this situation. That is why DEC’s, Commissioner Grannis made the decision to finally request that the site be put on the National Priorities List.

Reason #3----“You don’t want to drink out of it, you don’t want to eat fish out of it, but it is not a danger to live near it.”

This one almost takes your breath away……What kind of representative of any constituency advocates for literally, sweeping the dioxins, toxins, carcinogens, pathogens and fecal matter under the rug when there is an entire pantry full of tools that Uncle Sam has at his disposal and he is standing there offering to help?

You would think that one would DEMAND that proper measures to correct the problem, AT ITS SOURCE, accepting absolutely NOTHING SHORT OF THAT, before placing residents on the banks of it, would be one’s response. You would think, that one would embrace with both arms and legs anyone willing to take on such a task.

Apparenty, not our guy.

Reason #4----“We are being sold a bill of goods”.

A Ha! Something that rings true. The situation according to Councilman DeBlasio, as we understand it:

 It is not important to take on the entire problem and address it at its source.
 We don’t need you, Uncle Sam, your hundreds of millions of dollars, your tools, your expertise, or your experience. Go away! We have it totally under control.
 The fact that the most hazardous waste materials lurk in and around that canal is no reason why people should not live there. Let’s populate it now!
 We are planning to dredge 1000 whole feet of 10,000 feet of contaminated waterway. What more do you want?
 We are going to get that pumping/flushing station working again—it won’t be perfect, it will not address the ooze of contamination that will continue to leak into the water from all of the other upland sites, but it will visibly push that filth around…once we get it going, of course. So what’s wrong with that?
 Look, it has taken over 100 years of industrial waste and neglect to get that canal in the shape it is today. It is not worth the time to do it right. We want to do a minimal amount of work, on the sections we like the best, as quickly as possible. We will throw some paint and perfume on that pig and introduce it is a swan. Isn’t that what everybody really wants?

Congratulations, Councilman, on your appointment as Head Bill of Goods Salesman.

You have disappointed this community before, Sir, but this is a betrayal of the worst possible kind.

CORD

"NO MORE BAND AIDS! NO MORE FUZZY LOGIC OR FUZZY MATH! NO MORE SLIGHT-OF-HAND MANEUVERS!" Hoyt St. Alliance Member Speaks Out

CORD is featuring some of the comments submitted to the EPA regarding the nomination of the Gowanus Canal to a be Superfund Site. If you would like to submit a comment to the EPA please see the top right of this blog. If you would like us to feature your comment, send us a copy to cgcord@gmail.com
Thank you. CORD

NYN000206222

"In the 10 years that I have lived a block away from the Gowanus Canal, I have been struck both by its beauty and its deformities. Any body of water in an urban setting is attractive under a blue sky and bright sun, sky being one of the contributors to the beauty, for you can see plenty of it from any point along the canal. You can also see huge potential for improvement: removal of the garbage from the banks and from the water; removal of chain link fences, graded grass and pavement pathways, weeping willow trees on the banks, some low-rise houses, cafes, wine bars, galleries, music venues, illuminated pathways at night; benches to view the rich birdlife, maybe even the occasional fish rippling the water’s surface, even a small marina. I wouldn’t want it to be say, a destination neighborhood like the Village, not that many people, not that intense, more low-key.

The warehouses fit into my vision too, their architecture is not unattractive, it’s the right scale, the buildings are brick and the evening sun casts some of them in a warm glow that fills me with cheer. View this stunning photo on the “Pardon Me For Asking” blogspot. http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2009/04/official-gowanus-superfund-comment-by.html

It’s an area of early industrial architecture that ought to be preserved, in my view. These buildings house small-scale manufacturing, and should retain the zoning that permits them to thrive.

I don’t know why my vision for the Gowanus doesn’t hold as much merit as that of some of the loud voices in the Community allied with the large-scale developers. It was really our bad luck that a large-scale luxury home developer came along instead of more small-scale developers who maintain the low-rise neighborhood character, though some of their architectural decisions could be questioned (Satori, for one).

Views aside, no-one’s ideal can be fulfilled without cleaning the polluted waters of the canal. Or without addressing the sewer overflows and storm water run-offs. For decades, the city and state applied band-aides to the myriad of problems in and along the canal and it was always confusing who was doing what, who was responsible for what, what progress was being made, what was accomplished, what constituted success and what right the community had to be informed. There have been lots of studies, but what became of them? Did anyone act on them? Did the Mayor, who’s suddenly so interested, ever read any of them? I doubt it. It’s been a despicable state of affairs for one of the most polluted waterways in New York State.

For the first time last week, I heard from competent professionals, the EPA. Never before had I heard the Canal’s problems laid out in a comprehensive way. Never before did I hear that these problems could be tackled strategically, not piece-meal. That’s the only way it makes any sense for most big challenges in life. If you don’t step back and see the big picture, you cannot develop a strategy and a solution. You just waste resources and opportunities."

"NO MORE BAND AIDS.

NO MORE FUZZY LOGIC OR FUZZY MATH.

NO MORE SLIGHT-OF-HAND MANEUVERS"

"BRING IN THE EPA AND LET’S GET THE CANAL CLEANED AND HEAR THE FROGS CROAKING IN DELIGHT!"


Mary Hedge,
Hoyt Street Alliance

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Frogg CoFounder Speaks Out on EPA Nomination of Gowanus Canal

Here is a comment made to the EPA by Frogg member, Margaret Maugenest.

An FYI on FROGG and a recent FROGG award follows this letter. To write to the EPA see the top right-hand section of this CORD blog. Thank you. CORD












Document ID EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063-001
Document Title National Priorities List; Proposed Rule No. 50

I have been a Gowanus resident since 1984. The EPA nomination of the Gowanus Canal for
Superfund clean up is the best and most welcome news. YES! PLEASE put the Gowanus on the Superfund list. And please take over complete control of the clean up.

At the April 13 EPA meeting, Mr. Mugdan of the EPA made it very clear to the community that if the Gowanus is EVER to be cleaned up, then this is the BEST and ONLY way that it will get
done. That was good enough for me. Mr. Mugdan explained that Congress gave Superfund
powerful tools. You have the scientific data; you know how complex the water/land toxicity
interaction/history is. You know that it will take ALL the tools available to remediate the canal as much as possible. Settling for a Superfund alternative, such as was suggested by Dan Walsh of the Mayor’s Office, takes away some of those powerful tools Mr. Mugdan explained. And please do not settle for alternative clean-ups suggested by those who are impatient because their agenda is to make profit from the Gowanus as quickly as possible.

The developer Toll Bros. has spent $350,000 to get the spot rezoning to build 450 residential
units on the canal. Groups like the Gowanus Conservancy and The Gowanus Community
Development Corporation (headed by the same individual) have been instrumental in
encouraging dense, and high, residential development. When the community expressed outrage and concern about putting dense residential development along the toxic canal, their response was that it would take large numbers of people living along the canal to put enough pressure on the government to clean it up. Now that the EPA has come, these same people are saying that the canal is clean enough as it is for residential development. Toll Bros. has been quoted as saying that the “canal isn’t really that dirty.”

These same people are also saying that the private sector can do a better job of cleaning the
canal. Given that they don’t think it is that dirty, how can they be trusted? They don’t have the
tools. They don’t have the intention.

Toll Bros. has hired lawyers and a PR firm to fight against Superfund. There is an intensive
effort to get local residents angry and afraid, saying that Superfund will put a stigma on the
neighborhood, lower their property values. But as Mr. Mugdan pointed out, the Gowanus is
already a de facto Superfund because of the Brownfield programs. Cleaning up the canal must precede any other action along the canal. I thought Mr. Mugdan did a very good job of reassuring the community that Superfund will remediate according to the intended use of the land.

City Planning put out a Gowanus rezoning knowing full well what the reality was here as far as
the toxicity of the water and land. Mayor Bloomberg NEVER made public any plan to address
the problem. So if the problem were left to the city and state, we’d still be nowhere. That’s why
we need the Federal Government to make things right. Because according to Mr. Mugdan, you already have enough science and facts, and I feel confident that the EPA will do the right thing.

Gratefully,
Margaret Maugenest

PS I am one of the founding members of FROGG. FROGG will also be submitting a more
comprehensive comment.


FROGG e-group FYI

"Sponsored by FROGG, Friends and Residents of the Greater Gowanus, this egroup will enable the free exchange of information and ideas about the Gowanus.

We are a community based grass-roots organization advocating for environmentally sound community planning for the Gowanus Canal neighborhoods.

The Gowanus Canal is a very unique resource for our community and all of New York. It has long historal significant as a pre-industrial and industrial transportation waterway in addition to playing a significant roll in the Battle of Brooklyn. This natural tidal estuary connects our urban world to the waters that surround us and opens our city to the natural habitat it was built upon. Even today, it provides an open sky, early industrial/estuary landscape that can not be matched anywhere in our city.

With extensive urban Brownfields and an Aquatic Brownfield standing, we work to see this water way brought back to life with water quality standards that sincerely meet state standards for fishable and contact use; not only for the community but also for local wildlife. "

Please join us. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FROGG/

Frogg was honored by the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID) recently!

Environment: FROGG (Friends and Residents of the Greater Gowanus) were honored for their work on advocating for two very obvious things: 1.) that the Gowanus canal should be cleaned up BEFORE development occurs there (and anyone who has seen the canal on a bad day knows that clean up is desperately needed), and 2.) that increased development density should not happen until the city can upgrade our infrastructure like sewers (we ALREADY have widespread problems with sewage backups into homes BEFORE all this development). These are simple things, yet our city government and developers ignore the need for environmental cleanup and infrastructure needs before development. Our crowded roads, inadequate sewer system, inadequate fire house coverage (cut back by Bloomberg repeatedly!), inadequate schools, etc. cannot handle the development our government pushes for. FROGG is one of the few organizations advocating common sense on these issues.

http://www.dailygotham.com/mole333/blog/cbidannualdinner:_aroundupofprogressivecauses

FYI: The Gowanus Canal

Gowanus Canal

http://epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/gowanus/


The Gowanus Canal, is located in Brooklyn, New York, and is bounded by several Brooklyn communities including Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and Red Hook. The canal empties into New York Harbor. Completed in 1869, the Gowanus Canal was once a major transportation route for the then separate cities of Brooklyn and New York. Manufactured gas plants, mills, tanneries, and chemical plants are among the many facilities that operated along the canal.

As a result of years of discharges, storm water runoff, sewer outflows and industrial pollutants the Gowanus Canal has become one of the nation's most extensively contaminated water bodies. Contaminants impacting the canal include PCBs, coal tar wastes, heavy metals and volatile organics. The contamination of the canal poses a threat to the nearby residents who use the canal for fishing and recreation.

EPA has proposed to add the Gowanus Canal to the Agency’s Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). The proposed listing would allow the Agency to further investigate contamination at the site and develop an approach to address this contamination. With the proposal of this site to the NPL, a 60-day comment period will begin during which EPA solicits public input regarding this action. For instructions to submit comments go to http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/pubcom.htm or contact Dennis Munhall, Region 2 NPL Coordinator at (212) 637-4343 or munhall.dennis@epa.gov. Once the site is placed on the NPL, EPA will expand its investigations to further define the nature and extent of contamination.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

"Bloomberg Says No to Gowanus Cleanup" = PR Nightmare....

The following comment appeared after a post at http://www.nypress.com/blog-3909-bloomberg-says-no-to-gowanus-cleanup.html
entitled, "Bloomberg Says No to Gowanus Cleanup" that begins with:

"Mayor Bloomberg is setting himself up for a PR nightmare as his office opposes the EPA's proposal to add the Gowanus Canal to the list of Superfund sites."

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/superfund-status-for-gowanus-canal-is-opposed/

This is one of the many new posts that have appeared since the recent announcement that the DEC requested that the Gowanus Canal be nominated to the National Priorities List and designated as a Superfund site.

Jane Doe Comment:
"The desire for and expectation of clean water instead of a carcinogenic, pathogen filled cesspool is not exactly a political agenda. As a resident of the Carroll Gardens/Gowanus area, I consider myself a winner once the water is clean. I don't see a developer-driven, half-baked attempt by the City and State of New York to clean Gowanus Canal as something that will acheive my desire and expectation. Only the big guns of the Federal Government have these types of resources and can get this job done."

Meanwhile the NY DAILY NEWS reports:

EPA weighs in on Gowanus Canal Superfund designation, saying Gowanus needs federal help

Thursday, April 16th 2009, 4:00 AM

"As controversy builds over a plan to designate the Gowanus Canal a federal Superfund site, EPA officials insisted the waterway is dangerously dirty - and only the feds have the money to clean it up.

"There cannot really be any rational debate about the need to clean up," Walter Mugdan, director of the EPA's Emergency and Remedial Response Division, said at a public meeting Tuesday night. "The only way this canal is likely ever to get cleaned up is by becoming a ... Superfund site."

Mugdan said investigators found high levels of cancer-causing PCBs and metals such as mercury and arsenic in the canal. He also said that while contaminants at many hazardous waste sites are measured in parts per million, levels of coal tar over four parts per hundred were found in Gowanus Canal sediments......."

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2009/04/16/2009-04-16_epa_weighs_in_on_gowanus_canal_superfund_designation_saying_gowanus_needs_federa.html

SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF THE GOWANUS CANAL TO THE NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST AS A SUPERFUND SITE

CORD Analysis:

"The Gowanus canal is severely contaminated and the science presented earlier this week by the EPA proves this point beyond the shadow of a doubt. In fact, The EPA stopped just short of calling the situation DANGEROUS, and neither the City nor the State of NY are in any position to handle the massive clean-up of all the contaminants that is clearly required of this site before it can be developed for any SAFE residential (or other) use.

There are countless informative pieces on this issue and the EPA's proposal to nominate the canal as a Superfund site (*See below).

We at CORD firmly believe in encouraging the Federal Government to do its job with federal dollars. This makes good sense and will benefit EVERYONE in the long run. Patience is required however.

The ENVIRONMENT belongs to ALL of us: it is our common, public space and we all suffer when it is contaminated the way the Gowanus Canal is." CG C.O.R.D.

CORD ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF THE GOWANUS CANAL TO THE NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST AS A SUPERFUND SITE BY WRITING TO THE EPA AND TELLING THEM SO! It is very important that CG residents voice their opinion to the EPA. The 60 day comment period ends on June 6th, 2009 so residents should have their comments into the EPA by then.
Please CC (or copy) CORD at cgcord@gmail.com your comments if you would like us to feature them on our blog as we would be happy to publish them for you!

You may submit your comments on-line to:
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=SubmitComment&o=090000648094b7d2
or via email at:

superfund.docket@epa.gov
(Note Docket #EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063)

The addresses above came from:
The Campaign for Community Based Planning: Planning for All New Yorkers
http://communitybasedplanning.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/gowanus-canal-may-get-superfund-status-community-meeting-tuesday/

*For More Information on the Gowanus Canal Contamination and Clean-Up Issues please go to:

Podcast: Superfund for Gowanus
/ Brain Lehrer Show

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/2009/04/15/segments/128659
Walter Mugdan, Director of the Emergency and Remedial Response Division for the EPA's region 2 office (NY. NJ, PR and the USVI), talks about the probable superfund designation of the Gowanus Canal and Robert Spiegel, executive director of the Edison Wetlands Association, talks about what superfund designation meant for several sites in New Jersey.

Mayor Bloomberg, Your Band-Aid Solution to Gowanus Clean-Up NO Solution
http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2009/04/mayor-bloomberg-your-band-aid-approach.html


EPA's Walter Mugdan on NPR's Brian Lehrer about Gowanus Canal
http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2009/04/epas-walter-mugdan-speaks-to-brian.html

Gowanus Canal Superfund Meeting Re-Cap
http://www.foundinbrooklyn.blogspot.com/

Monday, April 13, 2009

A Carroll Gardens Community Member Writes

Monday is now our day to feature a letter from the Carroll Gardens community.

We at CORD are very grateful to have the following powerful and clear letter from one of our neighbors to publish for others to read as well.

We encourage more people to do the same! Please send us your thoughts, concerns, memories, of Carroll Gardens etc., so that we could 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.blogspot.com. This way you will be sure to get all the latest news and communications from CORD.

Thank you.
CORD


A Carroll Gardens Community Member Writes:

"My husband and I have lived in Carroll Gardens for 23 years. We've seen many changes and we've loved living here. We've lived in three homes in Carroll Gardens -- an apartment on Carroll Street, a beautiful single family home on 2nd Place, and now a sunny and beautiful apartment on Union Street. We raised our son, now 18, in this neighborhood. There are many things we love about Carroll Gardens: the quiet, the sky, the light, how friendly everyone is, the wonderful small stores on Court Street, the proximity to other wonderful neighborhood and to Manhattan, the low crime rate.
We've thoroughly enjoyed the development of new businesses, i.e. more restaurants and stores. We are opposed to the chain stores and chain restaurants that have moved into the neighborhood. They destroy the heart and character of the neighborhood. They lack soul and they lack beauty. They don't employ people who care about the neighborhood and the people who live here. We also strongly oppose the building development that is underway. New buildings should remain the same height and character of existing buildings. We especially oppose the development on 2nd Place and Smith Street, and on Union and Court Streets. We will continue to do what we can to preserve the beauty and integrity of this neighborhood."
Maura McGratH

Thursday, April 9, 2009

High Priority! Gowanus Canal Superfund Nomination Meeting!!

Below is the information about the informational meeting regarding the nomination of the Canal for Superfunds
Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke
Invite you to a
A Public Information Forum with
US EPA
Regarding the Gowanus Canal Nomination for Superfund
Tuesday, April 14, 7:00 PM
PS 32 Auditorium 317 Hoyt Street (between Union & President Streets)
Bring Your Questions
US Environmental Protection Agency
Will explain how the Superfund program works and nomination process
Deanna R. Bitetti, District Representative
Office of U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke
Brooklyn District Office
123 Linden Blvd., 4th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11226
Ph: 718-287-1142 Fax: 718-287-1223

Do you have a green thumb or just like to garden?

Want to be a community gardener?
Transit Garden invites you to our Spring Meeting.
Monday April 20th 6:30 PM
Have your own planter, share a planter with a friend, or just become a visitng key member of the garden enjoying the plants, serenity, and our solar power water fountain. Membership fee $25.00
for new or returning members.

http://www.travelblog.org/Wallpaper/pix/tb_mecsek_yellow_flower.jpg

Sunday, April 5, 2009

In Memory of Bob Guskind

Fourth Ave.
(In Memory of Bob Guskind 1958-2009)
Charcoal on Paper
9" x 29 "
Triada Samaras

The drawing above was donated today to the Kentler International Drawing Space 7th Annual "100 WORKS ON PAPER BENEFIT". www.kentlergallery.org
Funds raised will help support the gallery's 2009 Exhibitions and events, The Kentler Flatfiles, and the K.I.D.S. Art Education Program. We think Bob would have liked this.
CORD

Friday, April 3, 2009

Robert Guskind Memorial Gathering: Saturday, April 4

This email below was received from Phil DePaolo. T.S./CORD


Robert Guskind Memorial Gathering: Saturday, April 4

A memorial gathering to honor the memory of Robert Guskind will be held from 2 pm to 5 pm Saturday, April 4 at the Brooklyn Lyceum, 4th Avenue between Union and President Streets in Park Slope. Senator Daniel Squadron and Assemblymember Joan Millman have sponsored a resolution to honor the life and work of Gowanus Lounge founder Bob Guskind.

I am pleased to announce that Resolution 1131 passed in both houses on Tuesday. The video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sB1mUsUNbM shows Squadron speaking on the resolution. Among the quotes: “He took this new form of communication and really took it to a new level. He was able to take community concerns, describe them, and distill them, and distribute them in ways that never could’ve happened without him. We’re going to miss him sorely.”

Please RSVP if you can, since that helps with planning for refreshments. (There is an opportunity to sign up to speak.)

Please try to arrive around 2 pm. There will be an opportunity to get seats and get refreshments before the program starts. Also, the program will not last until 5 pm, so there will be an opportunity for those attending to talk informally.

If you’d like to make donations in Bob’s memory, four charities have been designated.

Thanks to the many people volunteering their time and donating goods and services. Thanks to Juventino Avila at Get Fresh Table and Market in Park Slope and Rafael Soler of the Red Hook Vendors for generously donating food.

Thanks to Eric Richmond of the Brooklyn Lyceum for generously donating the space.

Phil

CORD HISTORY:

With the "Protect Our Homes" petition, CORD was formed in May, 2007. This petition arose as an overwhelmingly negative response to the coming of the over-sized 360 Smith Street Development at the corner of Smith Street and Second Place (Aka Oliver House; aka 131 Second Place). This petition, which had well over three thousand signatures, led to a new zoning text amendment in summer of 2008.

To: Our Elected Officials, Community Leaders, The MTA:
(MAY, 2007)

We the undersigned Carroll Gardens homeowners and residents, are appalled by the "as of right" ruling which allows owners and developers to erect buildings in our neighborhood with no regard to the impact they will present to our quality of life and the value of our homes........

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?crlgrdns