Dear Walter,
My husband and I are Carroll Gardens homeowners living just a few blocks from the Canal.
We discussed what we would like to say to you regarding the pending agreement between EPA and NYC at great length.
Should we express our frustration? Anger? Dismay? Disappointment? Outrage?
Should we shrug and say- well, at least the clean up plan is still a go-we suppose it will eventually be finished.
Does it really matter to us that it will be a multi year delay, be much more expensive and have to be re cleaned at further taxpayer expense?
Is the seizure of someone else's private property our problem? Are the losses of businesses and jobs that are not our own really significant?
Will the recontamination of the Canal due to the delayed timing (which by your own estimate can be anywhere from 2-8 years) of the retention tank construction/installation post capping and cleaning really make the Canal that dirty?
And then it hit us.
When the Canal was nominated to the NPL there were many people, some business owners and residents as well as local organizations who loudly protested. They claimed the Superfund status was not needed.
They screamed it would take too long, cost too much, endanger property and business and send jobs packing.
Our then Councilman, now Mayor DeBlasio was quoted as saying " the Canal is dirty but it is not that dirty."
The EPA submitted a timeline to the community, began its work and continued to prove those naysayers wrong on each and every one of their points.
So, what we wish to say to you today is that this agreement, coincidentally (?) supported by many of the same people and organizations who opposed the NPL listing--provides us with EXACTLY what the City of New York and the naysayers predicted.
This clean up will now take longer, cost taxpayers much more money, properties will be seized and lost to those owners, jobs will be lost and businesses will be sent packing.
And in the end, Bill DeBlasio's statement will be true--the Canal will be dirty but not that dirty.
We hope that you will reconsider. Don't sign the agreement. Please defend and enforce the original ROD.
Respectfully,
Rita and Gerry Miller
103 2 Place
Brooklyn, NY 11231
