Thursday, May 28, 2009

New Letter of Support for SUPERFUND and New Documentary Film!! for SUPERFUNDGOWANUS.org

The very first Superfund Gowanus.org video is now available at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5mRDOwMyxw
This video has been described as being very "FROGG centric" and created with the "goal to get people to go to the website www.superfundgowanus.org and sign the Superfund Gowanus petition."

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.blogspot.com. This way you will be sure to get all the latest news and communications from CORD.

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/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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


Finally, for a good read:

Brooklyn's Lavender Lake Needs Superfund by Joshua S. Verleun May 26, 2009

http://www.gothamgazette.com/article//20090526/255/2925

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

CORD Poll!

Several CORD members had the opportunity to participate in organizing the "Dazzle Me Forum" (4/25/2009) and as a result, were part of a group that spoke with each of the candidates for the 39th district City Council race individually after the forum.

Out of these events it became clear to these CORD members that of all the candidates running for Councilman Bill DeBlasio's seat, one candidate stood out as representative of the kind of respectful development ideals that CORD was founded upon.

That candidate is Josh Skaller.

CORD has never endorsed a candidiate before. We would like to know how you, the Cord membership, feel, i.e., those of you who have participated in our petition signings, our letter writing campaigns, our attendance at public hearings, etc.

How do you feel about CORD coming out and endorsing Josh Skaller for our next City Councilman. in the 39th District?

Here is our email address: cgcord@gmail.com

TO keep things simple we ask that you send an email and simply write a "YES" or "NO" answer.

YES = "I agree and stand behind a CORD endorsement of Josh Skaller for City Council".

NO = "I do not wish to see CORD take a position at this time".

We will be tallying your emails until Thursday June 4rth midnght.

Thank you.

CORD

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Project Connect Students interested in Gowanus Superfund!

Gowanus Superfund

Project Connect students (See their blog at: http://newhorizonsprojectconnect.blogspot.com) had the opportunity to meet with community organizers from local organizations: FROGG (Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus) and CORD (Coalition for Respectful Development) to discuss the Gowanus Superfund. They talked about how polluted the canal is and what they can do to help make a change.

Check out the story of the interview at PMFA:
http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2009/05/miiddle-school-students-at-new-horizon.html

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Thurs. May 14 Contextual Re-Zoning Meeting!

NewsFlash: Thurs. May 14 Contextual Re-Zoning Meeting! Please attend!

CORD is forwarding the following Thursday May 14 meeting info from CB 6:

"Greetings!

In anticipation of a projected certification of the Greetings!

In anticipation of a projected certification of the Carroll
Gardens/Columbia Street Contextual Rezoning application in June, we have
invited the Department of City Planning (DCP) to present their proposal to
our Landmarks/Land Use Committee prior to certification at an Informational
Meeting scheduled for 6:30pm on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at P.S. 58, 330
Smith Street, Brooklyn.

Since this application will ultimately be subject to a vote by the full
Community Board, this will be a good opportunity for all board members and
the public to hear DCP's presentation and ask questions prior to our public
hearing and the start of our formal 60-day review period under ULURP.

Meeting details are available by clicking here, or at the following link:
http://www.brooklyncb6.org/calendar

Best, Craig"

Craig R. Hammerman
District Manager
Brooklyn Community Board 6
250 Baltic Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201-6401

t. 718.643.3027
f. 718.624.8410
w. www.BrooklynCB6.org
e. districtmanager@...

Serving the neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens/South Brooklyn, Cobble Hill,
Columbia Street District, Gowanus, Park Slope and Red Hook



application in June, we have
invited the Department of City Planning (DCP) to present their proposal to
our Landmarks/Land Use Committee prior to certification at an Informational
Meeting scheduled for 6:30pm on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at P.S. 58, 330
Smith Street, Brooklyn.

Since this application will ultimately be subject to a vote by the full
Community Board, this will be a good opportunity for all board members and
the public to hear DCP's presentation and ask questions prior to our public
hearing and the start of our formal 60-day review period under ULURP.

Meeting details are available by clicking here, or at the following link:
http://www.brooklyncb6.org/calendar

Best, Craig

Craig R. Hammerman
District Manager
Brooklyn Community Board 6
250 Baltic Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201-6401

t. 718.643.3027
f. 718.624.8410
w. www.BrooklynCB6.org
e. districtmanager@...

Serving the neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens/South Brooklyn, Cobble Hill,
Columbia Street District, Gowanus, Park Slope and Red Hook

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

New Letter to the EPA from a Carroll Gardens/Gowanus Resident

Tuesday May 12, 2009

New Letter to the EPA from a Carroll Gardens/Gowanus Resident

We at CORD are very grateful to have the following letter to the EPA from one of our neighbors 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.blogspot.com. This way you will be sure to get all the latest news and communications from CORD.

Thank you.
CORD



To: superfund.docket@epa.gov
Subject: HQ SSUND 2009-0063
Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 13:13:35 -0400

To the US EPA Representative:

My name is Patricia Constantino and I am a 30 plus year resident of Carroll Gardens. I am a property owner and live a few blocks from the Gowanus Canal.

The Canal is extremely toxic and is a hazard to the community. Since I can remember there has been talk about and some attempts to clean up this heavily contaminated canal. There are developers and politicians who favor a site by site cleanup. This piecemeal approach to clean up the Canal is not in the best interest of the people who live here. We need to have a comprehensive cleanup of the whole 1.5 mile waterway.

I am pleased that the EPA is giving us the opportunity to have this once thriving waterway restored. I am for the designation of the Gowanus Canal as a Superfundsite and to have full control of the effort turned over to the EPA.

Your consideration of this urgent matter is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Patricia Constantino
40 Third Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231

Monday, May 4, 2009

New Letter to the EPA from a Carroll Gardens/Gowanus Resident

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

We at CORD are very grateful to have the following letter to the EPA from one of our neighbors to publish as a template for others who wish to write as well. 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.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:

Re: HQ SSUND 2009-0063
To the US EPA Representative:

"I am a resident of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, located within a few blocks of the Gowanus Canal.
This once thriving estuary is today a toxic hazard that has suffered neglect for decades until recent grassroots initiatives to clean it.

These initiatives are being thwarted by residential developers who are not local residents and wrongly claim that the waterway is fine as it is.

Today is our best chance to revive this waterway by including it as a Superfundsite and turning over control of the effort to the EPA. This is the best and possibly the only chance we have for its rehabilitation.

I appreciate your consideration of this urgent matter."

Sincerely yours,

xxxxxxx




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