CG CORD/ Carroll Gardens Coalition for Respectful Development

EPA to present Gowanus Canal Feasibility Study Tuesday

2012-01-21T18:01:00.001-05:00

Hello from CORD!

Today we are borrowing lines from the prolific and informative PMFA blog to remind you all to PLEASE come and listen to the EPA this Tuesday!

"As many of you may already know, the Environmental Protection Agency released the Feasibility Study (FS) for the Gowanus Canal right on schedule at the end of 2011. http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/gowanus/fs_docs.html
The purpose of the FS is to "develops and evaluates remedial alternatives for Gowanus Canal sediments that will reduce or eliminate unacceptable risks to human health and the environment from exposure to contaminated sediment and surface water in the canal. The 550 page document can be accessed online here.
The EPA will hold a public information meeting on the FS on Tuesday, January 24th at 7 PM in the auditorium of Public School 58, 330 Smith Street.

The meeting is open to everyone."
From: http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2012/01/epa-to-present-gowanus-canal.html

CORD
www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com

WIKIPEDIA went dark today

2012-01-18T08:25:00.001-05:00

Hello from CORD!

For those of you who do not already know, WIKIPEDIA went dark today.

See

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

for details.

From the Wikipedia page:

"Call your elected officials."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CongressLookup?zip=11231

Tell them you are their constituent, and you oppose SOPA and PIPA.

Why?

SOPA and PIPA put the burden on website owners to police user-contributed material and call for the unnecessary blocking of entire sites. Small sites won't have sufficient resources to defend themselves. Big media companies may seek to cut off funding sources for their foreign competitors, even if copyright isn't being infringed. Foreign sites will be blacklisted, which means they won't show up in major search engines. SOPA and PIPA build a framework for future restrictions and suppression.

In a world in which politicians regulate the Internet based on the influence of big money, Wikipedia — and sites like it — cannot survive.

Congress says it's trying to protect the rights of copyright owners, but the "cure" that SOPA and PIPA represent is worse than the disease. SOPA and PIPA are not the answer: they will fatally damage the free and open Internet."

CORD

Happy New Year from CORD!

2012-01-08T13:47:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year from CORD!

The following important dates pertain to the Gowanus Canal CAG/Community Advisory Group. Meetings are open to the public and we encourage all to attend! If you have any questions please write to us at cgcord@gmail.com

Brightest blessings for a peaceful and joyous 2012!
Warmest wishes,
CORD
www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com

Jan. 24 EPA Public Meeting (CAG organizational representatives: please announce this to your members): The EPA public information meeting for the Feasibility Study will be on Tuesday January 24, at 7 PM. The location will be the auditorium of P.S. 58, 330 Smith Street.

National Grid meeting: We are postponing the January 10 National Grid meeting and the new date is to be determined. There was very little response in terms of RSVPs and it appears that with so much happening right now with the Feasibility Study, and the need for the CAG to obtain/develop technical capacity, it would be best to first get through the upcoming Water Quality/Technical Committee meeting on the 16^th, the EPA public meeting on the 24^th, and the CAG meeting on the 30^th, all of which will be focusing on the Feasibility Study.

Jan. 30 CAG General Meeting, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., location TBD: EPA will be attending, including Christos Tsiamis, so that the CAG can ask questions that might not have been addressed at the Jan. 24 public meeting, and to go into greater depth on the details. As time permits, we will cover other CAG business including membership, technical assistance, committee updates, and CAG procedures. Members of the public are welcome to attend, but for space reasons should rsvp to edelstein@psouth.net.

FYI Contact:

Jeff Edelstein, P.E.

Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group Facilitator

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

General CAG meeting: Brooklyn Historical Society Dec 5th/ SUMMARY

2011-12-07T21:03:00.002-05:00

Hello from CORD!

December's general CAG meeting was held at the Brooklyn Historical Society on Monday., Dec 5th.

The well attended meeting was first treated to two Gowanus Canal themed short films brought to the group by EPA Project Manager Christos Tsiamis and Attorney Brian Carr.

Following the presentation, the EPA team members made themselves available to answer questions regarding the ongoing process including the upcoming Feasibility Study, site specific information, etc. Representatives from the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation were also on hand to fill in some of the blanks.

Although the Q&A session took up most of the meeting, some cag business was addressed. Nathan Elbogen introduced a proposal related to the Whole Food's upcoming (Tues., Dec 13th) Board of Standards and Appeals hearing. After some discussion, it was decided that the CAG would request that the BSA postpone the hearing until the EPA has issued a Record of Decision to determine whether the Whole Foods plan is compatible with the cleanup process. The CAG approved. A second proposal was introduced and approved whereby the CAG would request that Whole Foods come before the CAG and present their plan.

Also, an additional proposal, also approved by the CAG was introduced requesting that the NYC Department of Environmental Protection install water flow meters on several of the Canal's outfalls.

National Grid representatives, also on hand, reminded the group that they would be repeating the presentation they made to the EPA C STAG committee last month for any interested community members. This presentation would include a great deal of the data this PRP gathered during their own remedial investigation.

This will be held at National Grid's offices located at 1 Metrotech Center on Monday, Dec, 12th from 6PM to 9PM.

CORD

Magnificat Gowanus: Environmental Toxic Sound Piece Recently Completed

2011-11-06T12:07:00.004-05:00

Hello from CORD!

This just in:

Interdisciplinary/Communty Engaged Artist: Susan Handler and Sound Artist: Gian Luigi Diana have recently completed their interdisciplinary piece called:

"Magnificat Gowanus: Environmental Toxic Sound" inspired by the Gowanus Canal toxic contamination

They write:

"The Gowanus Canal, an EPA SuperFund Site directly across the East River from Wall Street in NYC, is one of America's Most Toxic Waterways right in the heart of Brooklyn."

This frankly provocative piece can be viewed/heard at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syBxPMJOC7o&feature=player_embedded#!

As some of you might be remember, Susan and I co-created the Airborne Contaminants Mask Project/Workshop (Fall 2009) at the former, Starting Artists, after school location on Smith Street addressing the Gowanus Canal contamination;

and the Scarring Our Water Project (Spring 2010) outdoor multi-media artwork inspired by the overall, New York waterways pollution, and was installed on Governors Island by CORD volunteers in the Found on Governors Island Exhibition.

Enjoy!

Triada Samaras

SUMMARY: CAG General Meeting October 25,2011

2011-11-05T10:11:00.005-04:00

Hello from CORD!

The following, excellent summary of the recent CAG (Gowanus Canal Citizens Advisory Committee), written and submitted by one of our very own CORD co-founders, will hopefully give those of you who could not make it to that meeting it a good idea as to what transpired there.

CAG General Meeting October 25,2011

Held at Brooklyn Historical Society

Committee Reports:

ARCHEOLOGY COMMITTEE:

EPA will begin the development of the Archeological component of the Feasibility Study. The public was asked to submit any documents, maps, or other data or materials they may have which would enhance the study. Contact EPA Archeologist at Vetter.John@epamail.epa.gov.

Look for Angela Kramer Murphy’s new book on “The History of the Gowanus Canal.”

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE:

For anyone interested in joining the CAG :

Persons may contact CAG Facilitator directly who will direct member to gowanuscagop@gmail.com to obtain an application form . This form may also be obtained and filled independently. Upon submission of completed form the Administrative Committee will review and submit to the general CAG for review.

OUTREACH COMMITTEE:

National Grid and EPA are making every effort to keep the community involved in the progress of the clean up. There is consideration of a future CAG website and/or newsletter to reach out to the residents of the community who are not attending members of CAG.

WATER QUALITY AND TECHNICAL COMMITTEE:

National Grid has provided a power point presentation to this committee. A site map has been posted at Public Place showing the areas of test wells and contamination results. More info can be found at http://www.citizensmapsite.com/. National Grid will be offering walking tours of Public Place in the near future.

The General Public is encouraged to attend the DEP Annual Meeting on Green Infrastructure. The DEP will show how the city manages and improves NY Waterways by retaining rainwater to reduce storm water overflows. Questions and recommendations from the public are encouraged. Check out the DEP website at www.nyc.gov/dep/greeninfrastuctue. Meeting will be at St. Francis College,180 Remsen St. on November 1^st from 6 to 8 PM. Please make every effort to attend this important meeting.

National Grid Clean Up of Public Place:

Since all agencies, EPA, DEC, and DEP have agreed to work collaboratively , it is expected that work will proceed and a faster rate. The scheduled clean up proposed by National Grid is to replace the soil 8 feet below the surface; at the 6ft.level a plastic barrier will provide a shield then be topped with 2 feet of soil. A metal barrier of 50 ft. will separate Public Place and the Canal .

These recommendations did not sit well with most members of CAG. A discussion ensued but no decisions were made. The CAG and the surrounding community want this one time opportunity for a clean up to be accomplished in a proper and professional manner; to the highest degree achievable.

CORD

Congratulations to the FROGGS for their Grant Award from the Preservation League!

2011-10-23T12:47:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to all the FROGGS!!

As written at the PMFA blog last Wednesday:

"Congratulations to Friends and Residents Of Greater Gowanus. The non-for-profit group will be presented with a grant award from The Preservation League of New York State on Wednesday, October 26th at 12 noon until 2 p.m. at The Old American Can Factory."

"The grant award will be used to conduct a survey of The Gowanus Canal Corridor for the Nomination to The National Register of Historic Places as an Urban Industrial District."

"The Old American Can Factory is located at 232 3rd Street at the corner of 3rd Avenue.

Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

Well done, Friends!" (PMFA)

http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2011/10/congratulations-to-frogg-on-grant-award.html

CORD

WALL STREET RALLY WEDNESDAY 4:30 PM

2011-10-04T10:57:00.001-04:00

Hello!

This just in to CORD

"These are the moments that the American Dream Movement was built to uplift, which we can do right here in New York, by showing the other 99% that we share their frustration, that we stand with them—that we are them too. This Wednesday, join thousands from unions, community groups, and the American Dream Movement in a march from City Hall to Wall Street in solidarity with the other 99% protesters". moveon.org

When: Wednesday, October 5, 4:30 p.m.
Where: From City Hall (250 Broadway),
marching to Zuccotti Park in Liberty Plaza

http://front.moveon.org/

Please pass this email along to others.

CORD

Wall Street Protests continuing (as reported today by the NY Times)

2011-09-30T23:22:00.001-04:00

Hello from CORD

Today the NY Times is reporting on the on-going Wall Street Protests

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/protests-stir-up-voices-on-the-web/

September 30, 2011, 10:35 PM

Protests Stir Up Voices on the Web

By JILLIAN DUNHAM

"As the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York cycled through their 14th day, with a surge of attention and confusion over a Radiohead show that wasn’t, an overwhelming amount of information continued to flood the Internet, from snarky Tweets to informational Web sites to blogs representing individual experiences during the economic crisis."

The protests were in many ways born on the Web, with calls to action on multiple organizing sites, including Adbusters and NYC General Assembly. Anonymous, an Internet hacking group that has taken a leadership role in the movement, continues to spread information through its blog and Twitter feeds.

The organization Occupy Wall Street has been using its Web site to spread news to supporters and the news media. As controversy over the P olice Department’s use of pepper spray intensified, Occupy Wall Street posted videos of the episode and published the name of the deputy inspector involved, Anthony Bologna. Inspector Bologna was later taken to task on “The Daily Show” by its host, Jon Stewart, and the actor Christopher Meloni, a former star of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”..... see the NY Times for more coverage

Community Disappointment with the DEP

2011-09-30T15:17:00.002-04:00

Hello from CORD!

Wednesday, September 28, was the first annual CAG meeting helped at PS 58 in Carroll Gardens. This meeting was free and open to the public. As most people know by now, CAG stands for the Community Advisory Committee.

The CAG meeting for September was held at PS 58 on Tuesday September 27th with a presentation by the Commissioner Carter Strickland and his associates from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. The main focus of the discussion was two fold:

Water Quality and Its Components
Green Infrastructure

According to the DEP presentation:

Water quality deals with the conveyance system of moving stagnant Cana water through tubular tunnel pipes and oxygenating it. The DEP is currently upgrading the flushing tunnel and pumps that will increase the flow and capacity of water. When completed in 2013, the new pumping stations will reduce the CSO's, the combined sewer overflows by 34 per cent and improve the water quality. Three new pumps are being installed to replace the existing one to cover any anticipated breakdowns in the system. The new tunnel is made to work during both high and low water levels in the canal. This action will increase oxygen levels and reduce floatables (solid sewage waste) by 78%. The DEP agency will be responsible for cleaning and inspection of storm sewers and their upkeep.

Also according to the DEP presentation:

The Green Infrastructure Plan involves the installation of storm water controls, anything that involves catching the rainwater before it reaches the canal, such as catch basins, water absorbing plants, rooftop gardens, and oxygenating trees. Grants will be available in the near future for nearby residents to apply.

The Community Response:

The Community at large is appreciative of the well deserved and long awaited clean up by the joined efforts of EPA Superfund and the DEP.

Nonetheless we feel it is a travesty to this community which has endured the troublesome, Gowanus Canal for years, to find that improper and outdated water level estimates were used to determine the needs for maintaining acceptable water clean up. With the future in mind, it stands to reason that the higher rain levels and the increase in housing development should be factored into the water plan. This community will not allow $400,000,000 to be spent wantonly, without regard for the future.

Let us do it right!!!

warmly, CORD

For more information on this extremely important issue please see:

PMFA blog

http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2011/09/community-to-deps-commissioner.html Community to DEP's Commissioner Strickland: Water Quality Improvement Plan Doesn't Go Far Enough

Violence on Wall Street as Protests Escalate

2011-09-26T01:23:00.009-04:00

Hello from CORD!

There is chilling news from ABC re: Wall Street this weekend. Indeed, the Police and the Wall Street Protesters got into violent scuffles this weekend.

By ABC News 'Occupy Wall Street' Protests Turn Violent; Video Shows Police Macing Women

Sep 25, 2011 1:03pm

(Tina Fineberg/AP Photo)

ABC News’ Olivia Katrandjian reports:

Video posted by the group Occupy Wall St from the eighth day of protests against corporations show police using Tasers and mace to control the crowd, which the group says has only made it more committed to keep up the demonstrations in lower Manhattan for the long haul.

A New York Police Department spokeswoman today confirmed the group’s claim that approximately 80 people were arrested Saturday, mainly for disorderly conduct and obstructing vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

“One person was arrested for assaulting a police officer,” she said.

She added that no arrests have been made today.

The spokeswoman could not confirm whether police officers are using mace, Tasers or netting against protesters.

Among the video clips on the Occupy Wall Street website is one that shows a police officer macing a group of young women penned in by orange netting.

http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/201139/7649/Occupy-Wall-Street-protest-turns-chaotic-and-violent-Roundup?page=2

Another video has circulated of a police officer throwing a protester to the ground, though it is not clear why. The video shows the man standing in what seems to be a non-threatening manner before the incident.

Another video shows police officers pushing male and female protesters off the street, and using a large orange net to move the crowd.

Last night, a group of protesters marched from Zuccotti Park to One Police Plaza and then to the 5th Precinct in Chinatown, in search of their friends who had been arrested earlier on Saturday.

“You can still leave without being arrested. Leave this corner,” police told demonstrators. But several were arrested.

Cristina Gonzalez, 25, was among those arrested last night. She spoke to ABC station WABC-TV when she called her sister from the back of a police van.

“We haven’t been charged, we don’t know what happened,” Gonzalez said. “We are at One Police Plaza, there’s 16 of us in the back of a van and we’re sweating. And there’s a man back here in who needs medical attention. He’s bleeding from his head and his handcuffs are too tight.”

The group claimed on its website that several arrested protestors were locked inside a police van Saturday morning, one with a “possibly life-threatening” concussion.

The website reported at least one protestor was arrested for taking photographs. An NYPD spokesman told ABC News Saturday that police were not targeting those with cameras.

The protests began on Sept. 17, when hundreds of protestors gathered at Bowling Green Park in Manhattan, home of the iconic charging bull in New York’s Financial District, as they prepared to “take the bull by the horns,” as a flyer advertising the event said.

“The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%,” said a statement on the website Occupy Wall Street ......"

For the rest of this article please go to http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/09/occupy-wall-street-protests-turn-violent-video-shows-police-macing-women/

Our very own ZONE A, the "ZONE OF ANXIETY"

2011-09-01T14:12:00.002-04:00

Ahoy there from CORD!

The latest AM NY "ZONE OF ANXIETY" article (See below) mirrors our sentiments exactly. And we wonder: Why would the City want to build MORE in ZONE A? (A KNOWN FLOOD ZONE) anyhow? Zone A includes the entire stretch along the toxic Gowanus Canal that was evacuated last weekend. We at CORD feel this is is a premonition of events to come, perhaps far more serious.

8/31/11By Graham Wood: "Hurricane Irene floods have some NYers eyeing a new nabe"

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/hurricane-irene-floods-have-some-nyers-eyeing-a-new-nabe-1.3136400

excerpt: Unnerved after being forced to take refuge at a friend’s place on the Upper East Side while the East River swelled and imperiled her block at Wall and Water streets, Melillo said “it doesn’t feel quite as safe anymore” in the Financial District. As Irene exposed neighborhoods that are most vulnerable during natural disasters, New Yorkers have a fresh concern when deciding where to live: Am I safe here if this happens again?

Indeed, the areas most affected by Irene — from Battery Park City to Williamsburg and Long Island City — could be hit by a flood of people seeking permanent shelter elsewhere, at least in Irene’s immediate aftermath, real estate observers told am NewYork" (Wood, AM NY)

CORD wonders (Again and Again): Why build ANY NEW BUILDINGS (of any kind) in ANY ZONE A including the Gowanus Canal Corridor, anyhow? Isn't this the most obviously DUMB idea on the planet? Why put MORE people in MORE harm's way? Will not the City of NY, and the insurers and lawyers from seas far and wide, be flooded with foam filled, desperate phone calls from these terrible decisions? It will cause a deluge of problems for sure.

To make matters even worse, we seem to have an evacuation route from this neighborhood that also FLOODS becasue it takes us over the canal, that is through the flood zone to get out of the flood. Does this alarm anyone besides us?

Some of the the Gowanus CANAL Area Redevelopment ideas floated by NYC place thousands more innocent residents and others on the banks of the Gowanus...a flood zone and in obvious harm's way.

Monday, August 29, 2011

"Do Carroll Gardens and Gowanus have a viable evacuation route in case of emergency?"

http://carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com/2011/08/do-carroll-gardens-and-gowanus-have.html

We at CORD wonder: What are the Mayor Bloomberg and his administration thinking when they propose planning to develop more buildings in an already dangerous flood zone? Perhaps Mayor Bloomberg will take this up with Mother Nature?

PMF covered this well on the weekend:

Sunday, August 28, 2011

"Hey, Mayor Bloomberg! Remind Us Again Why We Should Allow New Buildings In A Flood Zone"

http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2011/08/hey-mayor-bloomberg-remind-us-again-why.html

We urge you to let us know your thoughts at cgcord@gmail.com and/or to telephone your local representatives and or Mayor Bloomberg's office. Carroll Gardens and Gowanus deserve better! We need a proper evacuation route discussion ASAP and a sane plan for the future ZONE A.

CORD

Do Carroll Gardens and Gowanus have a viable evacuation route in case of emergency?

2011-08-29T00:16:00.000-04:00

Do Carroll Gardens and Gowanus have a viable evacuation route in case of emergency?

CORD has been pondering this very question this weekend.

According to several startling pictures shown on the PMFA blog, the Third Street planned "evacuation route" floods easily in ANY large storm, let alone a hurricane!

This would seem to be a very dangerous way to try and evacuate thousands of people in a hurricane OR other emergency situation. With two major weather events in the past week, an the anniversary of a major terror attack around the corner, it does not seem to be unreasonable to us to imagine that one day, thousands of people might need to be evacuated from our area too.

How will residents in the hundreds or thousands leave our area safely, over a flooded Gowanus Canal and a flooded Third Street/ Bond Street intersection? Furthermore, the City is still thinking about adding thousands more residents here, adding to the problem we now have, even without them. Where is the planning in all of this?

We are hoping that our readers will begin to ponder this same question and to ask themselves: What will happen IF....???

We think most will agree it is better to be safe than sorry.

Isn't it up to us as a united community to demand answers to these vital questions regarding our own health and safety?

http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2011/08/gowanus-flooding-and-park-slope-tree.html

http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2011/08/hurricane-irene-likely-to-cause-big.html

CORD

How did our local Superfunded Gowanus Canal fare during Hurricane Irene?

2011-08-28T13:17:00.014-04:00

Hello from CORD!

We at CORD have been very concerned about the impacts of Hurricane Irene last night and this morning. While the worst is now over, the Gowanus Canal was clearly flooded early this morning at 8:30 AM when a local resident took these pictures. We are very grateful the flooding was not worse as the highly contaminated brew of this water makes it a very toxic, and unwelcome guest on our streets, in our basements, and on our property. We were extremely fortunate that the strength of this hurricane was considerably lessened when it reached Brooklyn, however we might not be so lucky next time.....

We have maintained from the outset that the very real potential of a Hurricane or Tornado or Tropical Storm or Earthquake on the Gowanus Canal or in the Zone A/lower Zone B area has an especially harmful human health potential effect. Does our city completely understand these risks and will steps be taken to safeguard citizens in the next storm, we wonder?

Please send us any pictures of this area if you have them from the past 24 hours. We are saving them in a photo archive. Thank you.

CORD

E-mail: cgcord@gmail.com

ALSO Please see related stories at:

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2011

Hey, Mayor Bloomberg! Remind Us Again Why We Should Allow New Buildings In A Flood Zonehttp://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2011/08/hey-mayor-bloomberg-remind-us-again-why.html After Hurricane (Tropical Storm) Irene, some serious basement pumping is going on over at Third And Bond, Hudson Companies' Inc new condo building. It was built right in a flood zone, one block away from the Gowanus Canal.
One has to feel bad for those new owners. This will be an ongoing problem for them. ......
AND
Update on Gowanus Canal...
http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2011/08/update-on-gowanus-canal-after-high-tide.html

CORD

Zone A Evacuation!!

2011-08-26T15:08:00.001-04:00

This just in from Maria Pagano at the CGNA blog:

Attention Everyone!

Senator Squadron's office just phoned with the official notice from the Mayor's Office:

ZONE A RESIDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES BY 5:00pm TOMORROW
(Friday, Aug. 27, 2011).

This is important!

Please circulate this information among your neighbors, family and friends in ZONE A.

Let's take care of each other! We're all in this together.

Maria

PS (Zone A is the area along the Gowanus Canal). CORD

IMPORTANT MEETING! RE: PUBLIC SAFETY/ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION/PERMITS/LICENSES

2011-08-25T14:49:00.001-04:00

Hello from CORD!

TO:MEMBERS OF THE PUB SAFETY/ENV PROT/PERMITS & LICENSES COMMITTEE, ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

SUBJECT: PUBLIC SAFETY/ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION/PERMITS/LICENSES

DATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2011

TIME: 6:30 PM

PLACE:
ST. MARY'S STAR OF THE SEA
41 FIRST STREET
(BETWEEN HOYT/BOND STS)
BROOKLYN, NY 11231

A G E N D A

- Update and presentation by representative for National Grid and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on the development of remediation plans for the Public Place aka Citizen's manufactured gas plant site at the southeast corner of Smith and 5th Streets.

TERRY ALEXANDER, CO-CHAIR, PUBLIC SAFETY

MARTHA KENTON, CO-CHAIR, PUBLIC SAFETY

GARY REILLY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

MARK SHAMES, PERMITS & LICENSES

CORD

Email: cgcord@gmail.com
Website: www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com

General CAG Meeting News

2011-07-29T00:56:00.002-04:00

Hello from CORD!

A meeting of the general Gowanus CAG was held on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 6:30 PM, at the Brooklyn Historical Society on Pierrepont Street in Brooklyn Heights.

Despite the fact that we are in the midst of summer, a combination of twenty three (23) organizations and at large members were in attendance as well as several members of the general public, city and state agency personnel and elected officials' representatives.

Facilitator Jeff Edelstein handed out brief synopses of committee meeting events/discussions as well as a list of the committees who have created mission statements, as required by the Charter, for several of the existing committees, including, Administrative, Archaeology Water Quality, Technical and Outreach.

For the first time in a quite a while, the general group had the opportunity to share information regarding the various committee activities and to catch up on what has been going on, at Committee level on each of the above sub groups. Present Committee members gave a brief update on each of their committee's activities and plans.

Highlights of these committee activities included: the Water Quality Committee inviting DEP to the September general CAG meeting and developing a fact sheet in cooperation with the Outreach Committee. Outreach will be working on internal website for communication among CAG members and exploring the idea of a CAG public website as well as how to engage area school children in Canal discussions. The Administrative Committee is still compiling the results of the Membership Status Check, working on a record keeping system to track attendance and creating a database/directory of contact information for each active CAG member that will be handed over to the Outreach Committee for their use. Archaeology is developing a walking tour to be done with the EPA sometime in the Fall as well as developing a slide show about the history of the Canal. And the Technical Committee's activities included discussions about the upland sites, TASC and the state health risk assessement study. (Please read on to see how that committee's discussions has prompted action by the CAG)

As required by the Charter, many of the above sub committees accomplished the task of creating mission statements. These were reviewed by the entire group and adopted by the group via vote. (the specific adopted mission statements for each of the committees will soon be available along with each meetings official minutes on the EPA website---[PLACE LINK HERE] )

It was revealed that a community group has requested TASC assistance from the EPA. TASC is an EPA funded program which provides a technical expert (chosen by the EPA) to explain the very complicated technical information revealed through the Remedial Investigation the Health Risk Assessement, etc.

Should the EPA grant the TASC request and provide that technical expert, the general CAG will provide the input as to exactly which areas the community would like the technical expert to address. CORD will, of course, keep you updated on this issue and as always, requests your questions and concerns to be directed to us through our email, CGCORD@GMAIL.COM, so that we may bring your issues to the CAG for discussion and your clarification.

A discussion regarding the cleanup of the three uplands manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites, which is currently under the purview of the New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) brownfield program followed. The group discussed the benefits/drawbacks of the EPA taking over the supervision of these sites as part of the Gowanus Superfund. Most agreed that a more streamlined process which allowed for one agency to have control over the entire area, rather than a more parsed approach as it now stands, would be beneficial to all.

A proposal to inform the EPA that the CAG would like to see the EPA expand the parameters of the current Superfund site to include the three MGP uplands sites as part of the Gowanus Superfund was introduced, voted upon and vigorously approved by a vote of 19 yes- 1 no and 1 abstention. Members representing Gowanus Green and Fifth Avenue Committee, both with substantial financial interest in one of the sites, (Public Place), recused themselves from the vote as required by the Charter, under the Conflict of Interest clause. Both organizations were of course, permitted to participate in the conversation and although disallowed a vote on the issue, they both supported any move that would streamline the Superfund process.

It was agreed that Facilitator, Jeff Edelstein would contact the EPA via email regarding the approved CAG proposal, and ask the EPA to come and speak with us regarding their position and ability to either comply with this request/recommendation or not.

Lastly, New York State does its own health risk assessment study under the acronym, ATSDR. It was agreed upon by the CAG that the Facilitiator would request methodology information from New York State regarding this study so that the CAG could understand exactly what this study means to the community....stay tuned.

Once again, if you have any questions or concerns that you would like CORD to bring up at any of the sub committee or general meetings, please send them in to CGCORD@GMAIL.COM .

We will bring your issues to the group and advise you of their response as we move forward. This is a very complicated, very expensive project and we are only going to get one shot at getting this clean up right. Let's all keep active and interested in what is going on, literally, under our noses-----

CORD

CORD on location at Goddard College

2011-07-27T15:54:00.009-04:00

The 'Indignant Citizens Movment' in Greece/Europe, Part Three

"You got the disease we got the solution: Revolution"

Photos of the 'Greek Indignants' by Triada Samaras (2011) taken in Syntagma Sqaure, Greece, home of the Greek Parliament Building. (Syntagma means "Constitution").

As I have been wondering aloud this summer, "What might we citizens of Brooklyn learn from the "Indignant Citizens" movement currently taking place in Greece/Europe that might be useful to us here in Brooklyn, NY?"

See:

http://carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com/2011/07/indignant-citizens-movement-in-greece.html

At Goddard College yesterday, where I am in my final semester in the Goddard College MFA/IA program , I gave a formal presentation on this topic called, "Revolution" in Greece 2011- A Prototype?". The Goddard Residency schedule has my presentation description as follows:

Workshop Description:
The 'common' people of Greece are in the midst of making history (again) in this present moment using the tried and true means of engaged art/s practices. This large group is proving, clearly and powerfully, that the basic creative forms: art, music, poetry, dance, are indeed, effective weapons in the 'war' to communicate one's truth.

Artist/Activist, Triada Samaras, G5, now in Athens for her second visit since her Goddard Practicum in Greece last summer is documenting and observing this protest movement with great interest, understanding its fundamental relation to her artist/activist work in Brooklyn with others.

As Co-Founder of CORD/Coalition for Respectful Development, she, too, has utilized artistic means to 'speak' truths emanating from the common people, not the hierarchy, regarding issues vital to the her Brooklyn community such as the cleanup of the highly contaminated, Gowanus Canal.

In this workshop, she will share what she has learned in Greece via slides and discussions."

In the meantime, yesterday the BBC reported that the Spanish Indignants (who inspired the Greek Indignants) are now marching to Brussels on foot from Spain.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14302607

From the above BBC link:

"Spanish activists, known as "the Indignants", have set off from Madrid on a long march to Brussels. They are protesting against what they see as governments bowing to financial markets and ignoring the needs of their own people in the economic crisis. As they head north, the protesters plan to hold meetings, collecting complaints and proposals as they go. Since the movement began in Madrid two months ago, similar groups have sprung up across Europe. The Indignants have added a new chant to their repertoire: "To Brussels!" they sing. "

Triada Samaras

CORD Co-Founder

The 'Indignant Citizens Movment' in Greece/Europe, Part Two

2011-07-15T01:21:00.013-04:00

"Greece is Not for Sale! Our Politicans Are!" Photo by Triada Samaras (2011) taken in Syntagma Sqaure, Greece, home of the Greek Parliament Building. (Syntagma means "Constitution")

Liberty Leading the People
Artist: Eugène Delacroix
1830
Oil on canvas Dimensions 260 cm × 325 cm (102.4 in × 128.0 in)
Location Louvre, Paris

As I wondered aloud a few days ago,

"What might we citizens of Brooklyn learn from the "Indignant Citizens" movement currently taking place in Greece/Europe that might be useful to us here in Brooklyn, NY?"
See: http://carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com/2011/07/indignant-citizens-movement-in-greece.html

As a CORD Co-Founder, an 'artist/activist' since 2007, and as a Greek-American, I was very struck recently by what I encountered on my travels to Greece, where I captured many images
of the 'Indignant Citizens" at Syntagma Square. See: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2011/06/25/recent-study-shows-strong-support-for-indignant-citizens-movement/

I promised to features some of these photographs with my English translations, as I am sure that many of you will find these images and words to be not only poignant, but inspiring.

I also said I will be featuring some wise words from Mr. Yianni Zaglaris, mathematician and philosopher, who lives in Athens next to Syntagma Square. These too, have been translated from their original Greek. Below is a brief article recently submitted to CORD by Mr. Zaglaris about the current situation in Greece.

Enjoy!

Triada Samaras

CORD Co-Founder

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GREECE TODAY?

What is happening in Greece today, is not something different from what has happened many times in the past, not only in Greece but also in many other countries. People are fighting for more freedom against governmental measures imposing more slavery. Since the barbarians who rule the world have established an inhuman equivalent between freedom and money, people’s fighting for more freedom means fighting for more money.

From time to time, various governments the world over have shown directly this inhuman face to the people they rule over. They have minimized payments  -except those provided for their own pockets- increasing at the same time all kinds of taxes strangling the market. With this attitude they achieved two aims: They spread terror to the folk, so that no one dared to raise the standard of revolt against their injustice; and they proved that there is only one rule in the market: Money. No other rules are accepted.

Some time thereafter, governments have returned to the previous situation showing a more human face. They have granted several financial facilities, subsidies, loans, etc. and they have held elections. The people have felt flattered. They may even have voted for the party of their own preference. So life has continued to go on.

Now the big question is this: Will life continue to go on towards the same way, without reversal, after what is happening in Greece today?

(Translated from Greek Athens, July 4, 2011
by Triada Samaras) by John G. Zaglaris

John G. Zaglaris was born in Tsaritsani / Larissa, Greece on June 13, 1941. He is an undergraduate mathematician of the Zurich University and a graduate marketer of the Institute of Marketing / Maidenhead, England. Since his primary education John Zaglaris has devoted himself to a life work attending to the hour to come, when he would reconstruct mathematically
the existence of a fantastic “perpetuum mobile”. A specific political vision unifying the whole world in order to have one global government and one global currency. The drachma.

THE INDIGNANT CITIZENS MOVEMENT IN GREECE AND WHAT WE MIGHT LEARN FROM IT

2011-07-12T19:15:00.016-04:00

Above: "A dream for Greece...If you want to change the world, change yourself."

Hello from CORD!

What might we learn from the "Indignant Citizens" movement currently taking place in Greece/Europe that might be useful to us here in Brooklyn, NY?

As a CORD Co-Founder, an 'artist/activist' since 2007, when CORD and the "Democracy Wall"
were born here in Carroll Gardens as a citizen response to the many urgent issues facing our community, and as a Greek-American, I was very struck recently by what I encountered on my travels to Greece.

By Greece, I mean specifically Syntagma Square, which is the home of the Parliament Building in Athens. There in the square whose name means "Constitution",

σύνταγμα	/syntagma=	constitution

I witnessed and photographed a fascinating protest movement during the month of June called the "Indignant Citizens". The Greek Reporter, on June 25, 2011 stated:

"More than two thirds of Greeks are supportive of the ‘Indignant Citizens’ Movement’ that has now been protesting virtually non-stop outside the Greek Parliament since May 25, according to a new survey conducted by the Athens University of Economics statistics department unveiled on Friday." See: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2011/06/25/recent-study-shows-strong-support-for-indignant-citizens-movement/

Where did all of this organized citizens energy come from? It was evidently sparked by the 2011 Spanish protests of the same name, and these demonstrations were organized entirely using social networking sites. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%932011_Greek_protests

For my part, I saw Greeks of all ages and types gathered peacefully in Syntagma Square day after day voicing theirs opinions, often loudly! To my great interest, they often used various art forms to communicate, especially, hand painted banners and homemade songs/slogans. I even saw ordinary kitchen utensils like pots and pans used to draw attention. The 'Indignant Citizens' stated they were 'peaceful' and 'non-political', although, unfortunately, some of the protests became violent, indeed, in June when the Greek police arrived in the thousands. See:http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/tear-gas-fired-greek-police-clash-athens-protesters-2011-06-29

However, from my personal point of view, it was the citizen activism, and raw enthusiasm/energy, not the violence, that fascinated and captivated me the most. The LA Times, in an article recently called this the 'Greek Spring' and stated it appeared to be gathering momentum.
"Protesters, calling themselves aganaktismenoi, or the indignant, have been gathering daily in Athens since May, venting their rage at politicians, whom they've dubbed kleftes, or thieves. Protests have spread to 50 cities."

And poignantly, "We are the cradle of democracy," Nikos Chaniotis said at a recent gathering in Athens' Syntagma Square. "We're reclaiming our heritage, trying to redefine the spirit of a political system that our ancestors invented and which Greek politicians, have disgraced."
See: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/24/world/la-fg-greece-square-20110625

I believe that no matter what side of the political spectrum one is one, one can not help but be struck by the passion and the enthusiasm of these Greek citizens at this moment in time. The unified actions of these people is a reminder to us all of the great need for WE the PEOPLE, in any democracy, to speak up. When citizens of any number come together for a good cause, and stick together through thick and thin, their voices can be heard.

I wonder if we might have a 'Brooklyn Spring' (Summer?) one of these days???

Is it too much to hope for the 'Indignant Citizens of Brooklyn' to rise up and speak up loudly to the powers that be: our very own electeds here in NYC, especially when we feel they are ignoring our us and our beloved communities?

This summer, here at the CORD blog and elsewhere, I will be featuring some of my photos of the 'Indignant Citizens" at Syntagma Square with my English translations. I am sure that many of you will find these images and words to be not only poignant, but inspiring.

In addition, I will be featuring some wise words from Mr. Yianni Zaglaris, mathematician and philosopher, who lives in Athens next to Syntagma Square. These too, shall be translated from their original Greek. Enjoy!

Triada Samaras
CORD Co-Founder

Notes from the Recent CAG Meeting

2011-07-01T11:54:00.000-04:00

Hello from CORD/Coalition for Respectful Development!

The Gowanus Canal CAG general meeting was held at 209 Joralemon
Street on Tuesday, June 28th. Although CAG member attendance was sparse,
there was a great deal of old and some new (to us) information imparted
by the evening's guest speaker, Gardiner Cross, of the NYS Department
of Environmental Conservation. (DEC)

The DEC is in charge of remediating the contaminated parcels of
land formerly used as manufactured gas plant sites, also known as MGPs.
There are three sites which are currently being remediated by the DEC.
The site that was most animatedly discussed was the former Citizens
site, now known as Public Place.

Mr Cross gave a detailed explanation of how these sites used to
manufacture the gas that was needed to light and heat our homes decades
ago as well as explaining how this gas manufacturing produced a nasty by
product, the infamous, coal tar.

It is the coal tar, an extremely hazardous material, embedded
in the uplands (and the Canal sediment--but that is under the purview of
the EPA) at widely varying depths and concentrations, which needs to be
removed and safely disposed of before the Public Place site (or any of
these sites) is fit to be used. Furthermore, the sites must cease any
further leaking or leeching of any of this dangerous substance into the
Gowanus Canal.

Truly an engineering and environmental challenge--

Mr Cross shared some of the DEC Public Place plan as to how they are preparing to approach this huge, complicated task.

As mentioned above, some of the information was a rehash of what we
had heard before. Part of the "new" information was, that in spite of
the advent of the EPA and the designation of the Gowanus Canal as a
Superfund site and all of the additional testing that has been done,
the DEC remediation plan has not changed at all.

A few facts presented surprised some of the attendees.

For example, many of us were completely unaware that there was a
Community Board meeting held several years ago, where this DEC
remediation plan was discussed and a public comment period actually
initiated, which has, of course, long since closed

CAG members were not only surprised that this had taken place, but
were dismayed to discover that the (relatively new) EPA presence alone
combined with whatever additional findings their remedial
investigation may have revealed would not automatically initiate another
public comment period regarding the DEC clean up plan.

Hasn't one of the main discoveries of the EPA Remedial
Investigation been that the canal and surrounding uplands (both mgp
sites and other parcels) were even more contaminated than originally
believed?

CAG members asked for a recap of some of the details regarding the plan:

-- To what depth will they be digging in order to "remove" the coal tar? (still eight whole feet)

-- What type of barrier would they be using to keep the coal tar
out of the water? (if i understood this correctly, it would basically be
a barrier wall sunk into the canal between it and the upland banks--it
would have "wing shaped" ends above ground to collect whatever rainfall
or runoff was naturally produced in order to contain and collect it in
order to prevent it from leeching into the canal--there would
also be coal tar collection wells placed along the wall, (spaced along
the proposed green path, [for lack of a better term]) at various points
to continue catching the remaining highly toxic coal tar still moving on
the site

-- What type of barrier, if any, would they be using to keep the
gooey substance contained within the Public Place site area? (just that
single barrier wall along the Canal)

-- How could we be sure that the coal tar could not be diverted
and make its way under our (existing) homes since only a uni sided
barrier is to be employed? (this was a bit confusing since coal tar
can and does move, but perhaps not very far (?). Since there is no plan
to completely surround the site with a barrier wall, although that is a
method that has been employed at other sites for whatever reasons, must
we assume that the coal tar will just inherently know not to cross smith
or fifth streets??? do we know for certain that it has not?

Mr Cross listened and answered each question and informed the
attendees that "many of the same questions" brought up at the CAG
meeting were brought up years ago as well, but that did little to
assuage the concerns of the group.

Another surprising fact Mr Cross announced was that the wells
installed on the Public Place site had already yielded more than four
thousand (4000) gallons of coal tar! Many of us were completely
unaware that there was anything more than continued testing going on at
that site at this point.

A National Grid employee mentioned that activity at the Public Place site could be found at their website (http://www.citizensmgpsite.com/)

The CAG members asked if the DEC would be willing to attend a CAG
committee meeting at a future date--and both Mr Cross and Mr Ryan, the
Director of Remedial Bureau C, graciously agreed.

Clearly there is still a great deal of concern among many CAG
members coupled with a great deal of uncertainty as to how effective
this remediation will be--not only for those who may eventually reside
on the remediated properties, but questions about what type of
consequences may befall the surrounding, existing residences as a result
of the cleanup close by.

CAG members are busy preparing their questions now. CORD invites
you to send your questions and concerns as well. You may reach us at cgcord@gmail.com.
We will be happy to share your thoughts with the DEC when they attend
the next CAG general or committee meeting if you cannot attend yourself.

In spite of the sparse turnout, it was a very lively meeting. CORD
certainly looks forward to another question and answer session with the
DEC as well as continued progress reports on those old gas sites.

Respectfully yours,

CORD
www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com
cgcord@gmail.com

EPA Project Manager Addresses Community

2011-06-07T14:32:00.000-04:00

GREETINGS FROM CORD!

On Tuesday evening, May 31 at the PS 58 auditorium, the community was addressed by EPA Project Manager, Christos Tsiamis and our Community Coordinator, Natalie Loney. Christos spoke about the next phase of the Superfund cleanup of the canal, the Feasibility Study. This phase begins after the Remedial Investigation is completed and presented as was done back in February of this year.Then, the EPA takes those findings and begins to explore possible avenues of remediation. Chistos spent the time conversing with the community about some of those possibilities and informed us that the actual Feasibility Study Report will probably be issued at the end of 2011. (See PMFA blog for more details).

In a relaxed, informal style, encouraging questions from the audience, and remarkably, calling on most of us by name, Christos began by informing us of the EPA's meetings with PRP National Grid, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, the Army Corps of Engineers and NY State Department of Environmental Conservation. He repeatedly reminded the audience of the size, scope and difficulty with cleaning our little Canal--and that this task will require the cooperation of all of those agencies, as well as the ideas of some of our local organizations. Christos pointed out the Gowanus Canal Conservancy's recent grant through Rep Nydia Velasquez for the Sponge Park as an example of something worth watching-- one small innovative measure that could possibly make a dent in some of the problems we face.

He went on to explain that the EPA's task is to reduce and/or eliminate the risks to Public Health and the environment as revealed by the Remedial Investigation. There are three means by which to do this:Treatment, Containment and Disposal.

As a Chemical Engineer, Christos explained that he would love to chemically alter the carcinogenic compounds (a "treatment" method) in the canal deposited chiefly by the remnants of the old gassification sites--into neutralized harmless nothingness---but, the levels of contamination are too severe for that type of treatment to be successful, although thermal (heat) treatment would be good for the organic compounds, which also contribute to the problem. So, it looks like containment, using various methods of capping--appropriately designed for each different segment of the canal, (our Project Manager assures us he will be looking to use the newest and best in technologically advanced methods and capping products) and the legal and safe disposal of the nastiest of the muck will be the way to go.

One of the major concerns in the canal cleanup is the probability of recontamination of the canal post cleanup---apparently a common occurence at most superfund (waterway) sites. The Gowanus is plagued by not only the "tar" remnants left by the manufactured gas plant sites which bubble up, but by the CSO's which allow the raw sewage to pour into the canal, the solids from the CSO'S which themselves absorb the other toxins in the water and then sit at the bottom in the sediment, the storm water runoff which picks up all means of contaminants as it makes its way to the canal and the ten to twelve (10-12) existing sites which are still oozing contaminants into the canal. There is also some groundwater contamination but that apparently is fairly low level since it has been significantly dissolved by the time it reaches the canal.

Community members expressed concern about the Public Place, Whole Foods and Lowe's sites---especially when it was pointed out that both the Lowe's site as well as what was to be the Toll Brothers site were both more contaminated than originally thought---and that the cleanup measures used at Lowe's and the proposed cleanup measure for the now defunct Toll Brothers site, were just not adequate in the opinion of the EPA.

Neighborhood residents expressed their concerns about the measures to be taken at the Public Place site to not only insure the safety of the residents who will eventually live on that site, but if the proposed measures to be taken to prevent the recontamination of the canal by the toxins in the Public Place uplands will actually cause those toxins to be diverted towards the current residents homes. The "uplands" fall under the jurisdiction of New York State, not the EPA. Christos expressed his opinion, that so far, the proposed Public Place site measures seem inadequate.

This of course, led to a discussion and the expression of the concerns of the residents who now rightfully have diminished faith in the city and state agencies that apparently either approved or were ready to green light projects that were just not up to par---- How can we as residents now feel comfortable knowing that these same agencies are in charge of projects as significant to our health as the Public Place site?

This cleanup is clearly a Herculean task---one that will require not only the best that science and technology have to offer, and the determination of the horde of engineers and laborers that will be used by the EPA for their portion of the job--but our determination and involvement as a community as well.

CORD has always expressed our belief that a comprehensive cleanup is the only way to go. A clean up that costs half a billion dollars and only solves one portion of the problem does not make sense. This is an historic opportunity to do something extraordinary--Our community must stand together and demand that this cleanup be the best there is--not one that is just good enough.

Listening to the EPA Project Manager, we hear a voice that cares very deeply about giving us the best. But, we also hear that the EPA cannot do it alone---that we need to remain engaged and active. We must not ever settle.

We must insist that our health and the health of our environment remain the number one priority. How fast this can be done may be a concern to some--how expensive and difficult a reality.......but how thorough and how effective a healthy, permanent result is achieved is important to everyone in our community--with no exception---and in this case, cost is no reason to settle for less.

We are only learning now of the hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars this city has spent on consultants for projects that either don't work or go nowhere---it seems to us that the EPA is perfectly capable and willing to lend its expertise to the city and state of New York in a manner that will benefit not only the residents of our community today but well into the future---They are here right now and it is just plain foolish to squander this opportunity.

As always, we encourage you to write to us with your questions and/or concerns at cgcord@gmail.com. We will bring those directly to the EPA for answers. Please try to come to CAG meetings. There is a general meeting held once a month. The next one will be June 28th--location to be announced. There are regular committee meetings which are open to the public. The next three are on June 6 (water quality) June 7 (real estate) and June 9 (administrative). June 6ht and 7th will be held at the Fifth Ave Committee 621 Degraw St and June 9th at the CB6 Conference Room, 250 Baltic St. Each meeting begins at 6:30 PM. If you cannot attend, you can still keep up with our blog and/or newsletter and please encourage your friends and neighbors to sign up to our newsletter as well.

CORD

www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com

PUBLIC PLACE, sight of future housing, is HIGHLY contaminated!

2011-06-07T14:29:00.001-04:00

Hello from CORD!

Below is a recent post from the Brownstoner Blog indicating what CORD has known all along: that Public Place, the site of future housing, is HIGHLY contaminated!

From the Brownstoner Blog:

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2011/06/epa-gowanus-sit/

"The Post and Daily News have stories about how the Environmental Protection Agency has sounded an alarm about the levels of pollution at a few properties in Gowanus, including the site off Smith and 5th where a development involving more than 750 units of housing is planned. According to the article in the Post, the cleanup plan for the land that’s supposed to one day be home to the Gowanus Green project (old rendering above), with 774 residential units, is “superficial.” The cleanup, which is being undertaken by National Grid, involves digging eight feet into the soil in most spots to remove coal tar, but a rep for the EPA says the gas company should be going down at least 30 feet “to remove contaminated soil and guarantee the tar doesn’t continue seeping into the canal and nearby properties.” However, the Department of Environmental Conservation, which is monitoring the cleanup, says it’s satisfied with National Grid’s plan. Meanwhile, the Daily News reports that the EPA has also found that “site of a Lowe’s home improvement store is still leaking pollution into the canal even though a state-monitored cleanup was supposedly finished before the store opened seven years ago” and the property where Toll Brothers intended to build a big project was more contaminated than the developer’s investigation showed."

HONORING AND SAYING FAREWELL TO A LONGTIME, DEVOTED, CARROLL GARDENS COMMUNITY ACTIVIST!

2011-05-31T13:34:00.000-04:00

HELLO FROM CORD!

This coming month, our neighbor and neighborhood historian Vincent Favorito and his lovely wife, Angela, will be leaving us and moving to the burbs and closer to their children. Although we are happy for them, and wish them the best of health and good fortune, we will miss Vincent's presence and listening to his many recounts of Carroll Gardens' history.

We wanted to take a little time and introduce some of Vincent's own history and recount some of his contributions to our neighborhood.

On April 12, 1941, Vincent J Favorito was welcomed by his parents, Joseph and Grace at Long Island College Hospital. He was taken home to 168 President Street and was baptized at Sacred Heart & St Stephen's Church.

Little Vincent attended school at Sacred Heart/St Stephen's from 1946-1958 where he met Sacred Heart/St Stephen classmate and alumna, little Angela Sgro, in the first grade. Vincent then went on to earn a B.S. in Chemistry in 1962 from St John's University Brooklyn campus, which was then located at 96 Schermerhorn Street. That same year he married his classmate and sweetheart, Angela Sgro at their lifelong parish, Sacred Heart/St Stephen's Church.

On November 4, 1963, Vincent and Angela were blessed with a son, Joseph, followed by son, Stephen on Oct 26, 1966 and then Christopher on July 16, 1974.

Angela, a 1966 grad of St John's University School of Education and Vincent resided in an apartment in her family's building at 432 Clinton Street from 1965-1972. In '65, Vincent graduated from St John's University Brooklyn School of Law.

Vincent worked for many years as a lawyer for JC Penney. For a while he and the family lived out of state and then came back to Brooklyn and lived in Marine Park. Vincent's and Angela's families were still in the neighborhood during those years so their lives were filled with frequent trips to Carroll Gardens. Eventually, Vincent and Angela moved back to 432 Clinton Street. Angela taught at PS 58 for ten years. The couple remained at the Clinton Street address until now.

Vincent was a very active participant in organizations in Carroll Gardens throughout his life--something that no doubt added to his wealth of information about neighborhood history. His many activities included:

Member of the Knights of Columbus, Loretto Council, First Place, 4th Degree from 1966 to 1985.

Member of the Brooklyn Democratic Club-Congressman Rooney Council, Clinton and Kane Streets from 1960 to 1995.

Asst. US Attorney, Eastern District NY, US Attorney' s Office, Tillary Street, Brooklyn, NY from 1968 to 1973.

Founding Member of the Court Street Merchants Association 1975 to 1980.

And of course, his tenure on the Executive Committee of the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association where he regaled many residents with his books filled with articles, photos and stories about our neighborhood.

We have learned that a great deal of Vincent's historical documentation has been lost in the pending move. But Vincent has assured us that at least some of the information is preserved on his computer---we look forward to his retrieving as much of this valuable history as possible and hope that he shares this with us for publication right here.

This Friday, June 3, at 7 PM, at CALPURNIA, located on the corner of Court Street and First Place, there will be an opportunity for you to come and bid farewell to Vincent Favorito. Come prepared to buy yourself a glass of wine and make a toast to a neighbor, historian and friend to Carroll Gardens!

Hope to see you there!

UPCOMING CAG MEETINGS

2011-05-30T22:09:00.006-04:00

Hello from CORD!

Please note that all CAG members (GOWANUS CANAL CITIZENS ADVISORY GROUP) are eligible to join new committees at this point in time. After this next round of committee meetings, EACH CAG member will need to attend two meetings of a committee before joining, under the charter requirements as per our newly ratified charter! See link

June 6, 6:30 p.m., Water Quality Committee, 621 Degraw Street.

WQ Agenda:

1) Feasibility Study: Identify follow-up questions for EPA and issues that the committee wants to work on.

2) Riverkeeper: Philip Musegaas from Riverkeeper will attend. Philip is an expert in CSOs and will help the committee understand this issue better, so that the committee can see where there are intersections between CSOs and the Superfund process and where there are not.

3) Ongoing business: From previous meetings.

4) Committee mission and workplan: Discussion with EPA.

June 7, 6:30 p.m., Real Estate Committee, 621 Degraw Street.

RE Agenda:

1) Real estate issues raised at May 31 EPA Feasibility Study presentation

2) Bulkheads

3) Info-gathering proposal

4) Pratt studio project on the Gowanus Canal

June 9, 6:30 p.m., Administrative Committee, 250 Baltic Street.

AC Agenda:

1) Orientation 2) Discussion of Administrative Committee's responsibilities 3) Review and discussion of CAG member attendance records

June 23, 6:30 p.m., Technical Committee, location TBD.

TC Agenda:

· Identify follow-on questions for EPA about the Feasibility Study (FS)

· Identify any concerns about the FS methodology

· Identify any FS technical issues that the committee wants to work on (do research, translate to layperson language for the CAG, gather community input by working with outreach committee, etc.)

· Are there any remaining questions/issues relative to the Remedial Investigation?

· Are there technical aspects related to the work of other CAG committees that the Technical Committee could assist with?

Outreach Committee: date and location TBD

As always we urge you all to write to us with any of your questions and comments regarding the Gowanus Canal clean-up effortat cgcord@gmail.com. We will do our very best to find some answers for you! Thank you for staying involved with our community.

To us, going "Green" mean civic engagement and civic action! We are all in this together!

CORD

EPA PROJECT MANAGER TO PRESENT AT THIS WEEK'S CAG MEETING!

2011-05-30T21:57:00.000-04:00

Hello from CORD!

This month's CAG meeting is very important to attend!
It will consist of a discussion from Christos Tsiamis, USEPA Gowanus Superfund Site Project Manager, on the upcoming Feasibility Study, followed by a Q & A period. If time permits, there will be updates and/or announcements regarding CAG committees. The PUBLIC is WELCOME!

What: CAG General Meeting
When: May 31
Where: PS 58 auditorium at 330 Smith Street (entrance on First Place)
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Please arrive any time after 5:45 p.m. for informal discussion, light snacks, and refreshments.

FYI: To understand where the Feasibility Study fits within the Superfund process, here is an excerpt from the summary of the Oct. 26, 2010 CAG meeting, at which EPA described the Superfund stages:

Remedial Investigation (RI): An assessment of the nature and extent of contamination and the associated health and environmental risks. (2010)

Feasibility Study (FS): Development and analysis of the range of cleanup alternatives for the site, according to the nine evaluation criteria. (2011)

Selection of Remedy: Selection of the remedial alternative for the site. This step includes:

Proposed Plan: Identifies a preferred remedial alternative for a Superfund site and explains why it is the preferred alternative, and allows for public comment. (First Half of 2012)

Record of Decision (ROD): The official report documenting the background information on the site and describing the chosen remedy and why it was selected. (End of 2012)

Remedial Design (RD): Preparation of technical plans and specifications for implementing the chosen remedial alternative. (2015)
Remedial Action (RA): Construction or other work necessary to implement the remedial alternative. (Planned to be completed by 2020; could be 2022 depending on unanticipated circumstances. A more accurate timetable would be generated at the completion of the Remedial Design.)

Operation & Maintenance (O&M): Activities conducted at a site after a response action occurs to ensure that the cleanup methods are working properly and to ensure site remedy continues to be effective. (Ongoing following completion of Remedial Action)

A Farewell to a Longtime, Devoted, Carroll Gardens Community Activist

2011-05-26T16:02:00.000-04:00

Hello from CORD!

As you may have heard already, longtime Carroll Gardens community activist, Vinny Favorito, is leaving Carroll Gardens.

'Vinny' has been an invaluable member of, and asset to our community for many, many years. His selfless service to our beloved community has helped to make Carroll Gardens the close-knit, community activist community that it has, indeed, become!

Please do come and buy yourself a drink or two…and/or…

Just stop by and say your farewell and

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

to a fellow community member/activist: Vincent Favorito.

What say you….can you make it?

Location: Calpurnia Wine Bar at Court Street and First Place

Date: June 3, 2011 Friday

Time: Starts 7pm

We want to present him with a certificate of appreciation from all of us….if you would like to sign too, please call 917-912-6020 to do so.

Please spread the word….thanks much!

CORD

Green Gowanus Re-Envisioning an Industrial Canal

2011-05-10T21:46:00.000-04:00

Hello from CORD!

Here is a great event this weekend!

Our friends the F.R.O.G.G.S. are co-sponsoring this wonderful event.

Green Gowanus
Re-Envisioning an Industrial Canal
_______________________________________
Exhibition of Student Research Projects:
Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation,
working jointly with Columbia Engineering;
and Parsons, The New School for Design, School of Art, Media and Technology.

Saturday May 14 - Sunday May 15, 2011
Opening Reception- Saturday May 14 12-5pm
with Community Presentation at 4pm.

Location:
The Old American Can Factory
232 Third Street at Third Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(via R on 4th Ave or F train at Carroll)

RSVP email to: rrg2122@columbia.edu

Sponsors:

F.R.O.G.G. Friends & Residents of Greater Gowanus
Urban Design Lab, The Earth Institute of Columbia University
GSAPP
Columbia Engineering
The School of Art, Media and Technology within Parsons The New School for Design
Environmental Protection Agency
National Science Foundation,
Integrative Graduate Education and
Research Trainee-ship I.G.E.R.T

Gowanus Canal CAG Charter Ratified!

2011-04-28T13:00:00.002-04:00

HELLO FROM CORD!

Last night's general meeting of the Gowanus Community Advisory Group was held at National Grid's offices on Jay Street. The meeting focused on the presentation of the CAG charter that the Operating Procedures Committee has been working on for the last several months. As part of that process, the committee sent out via email to all CAG members and interested members of the public, a charter for their review and a request for comments. In addition, an open house meeting was held by the Operating Procedures Committee on Thurs, April 21st at CB6 where the committee entertained questions and comments from both CAG members and the public alike.

The committee then compiled all of the input from the first emailings and the open house, made some adjustments based on that very valuable input, redistributed the revised charter to all of the CAG members, via email prior to last night's meeting. Three of the four members of the Operating Procedures Committee* were even on hand an hour before the official meeting starting time of 6:30, for any and all CAG members who wished to discuss the charter right up to the beginning of the meeting.

After a presentation by the committee with committee member, Craig Hammerman as spokesman, a Q&A session began. At the end of that session, the attendees were asked if they were willing and prepared to take a vote to ratify the charter. The answer was yes. The vote was taken and the charter approved by a majority of greater than 4/5 of the present members.

What does this mean? Well, up until last night, the CAG was operating without any real guidelines in place. Although committee meetings have been held, they have not been able to really move forward because there was no agreed upon system in place that could determine how proposals would be made, and what level of approval would be needed to make decisions regarding those proposals. Now, with that system in place, the committees and the CAG as whole can confidently move forward.

CORD has provided both versions (the first draft charter and the revised one) to you. At last night's meeting, the fact that there were still a couple of typographical errors which needed to be corrected were openly presented and discussed, and as soon as the final version is ready, we will be posting that for all of you as well.

*Note-Operating Procedures Committee Members--Craig Hammerman, Steven Miller, Maria Pagano (absent last night), and CORD CAG representative, Rita Miller

(See our cgcord.blogspot.com for Charter in full)

CORD

NEWLY REVISED VERSION OF THE CAG CHARTER

2011-04-26T01:29:00.001-04:00

Hello from CORD! We have placed the newly revised version of the CAG Charter at our link below:

http://cgcord.blogspot.com /

We hope that you will all take a moment to read this document and to reflect upon it. At tonight's CAG meeting (see below) more questions about this charter will be answered. If you would like to participate in the on-going, public dialogue regarding this charter, and many other pressing issues regarding the GOWANUS CANAL CLEAN-UP, we urge you to write to us at cord@gmail.com with your questions and comments. Or, you might want to attend the public, CGA meeting tonight! (See below for details and info on how to RSVP. Thank you for your continued civic engagement! Together we can all build a better and healthier tomorrow! "Green" and "sustainable" mean: public action and civic engagement!

CORD

rom: Jeff Edelstein [mailto:jledelstein@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 5:59 PM
To: 'edelstein@psouth.net'
Subject: Revised CAG charter & 4/26 RSVPs still needed!

Dear CAG members,

Please see the attached newly revised version of the draft CAG charter. Based on comments received, the Operating Procedures Committee has sharpened the focus on how the CAG will function, and has clarified certain sections that may have been unclear. They will answer any questions about the changes at next Tuesday’s CAG meeting.

If you have not yet RSVP’d to me about your attendance at next Tuesday’s CAG meeting (6:30 at Metrotech), please do so ASAP.

NOTE: You are welcome to arrive on 4/26 any time after 5:30 pm for informal discussion with members of the Operating Procedures Committee about the charter. There will be light snacks and beverages.

It is my hope that we can have a good discussion about the charter for the first hour (6:30 – 7:30), resulting in a clear decision about moving forward, and be able to spend the second hour of the meeting discussing the important work that is happening in the various committees.

Please also mark your calendars for the May CAG meeting – Tuesday, May 31, 6:30 p.m. Topic: Christos Tsiamis will discuss the Feasibility Study getting underway.

--Jeff

CAG Drafts Charter on behalf of the Operating Procedures Committee

2011-04-16T18:12:00.001-04:00

Hello from CORD!

Please see the message below and the blog link concerning the proposed Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group Charter. Members of the public are welcome to comment on the draft charter and/or to attend the April 21* meeting to discuss the charter (see details* below) and the general CAG meeting on April 26 at 6:30 pm at Metrotech Center in downtown Brooklyn.
RSVPs to edelstein@psouth.net are requested as space may be limited.

As always, we welcome all of our readers' questions and comments. Be assured that your comments will be brought to the meetings.

Email comments to: cgcord@gmail.com

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION....
and A SPECIAL MEETING INVITATION to tell us what you think …...

The Operating Procedures Committee of the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group (CAG) respectfully submits the attached CAG Charter draft for your approval

(Please see the draft in full at the CORD blog set up for longer documetns at http://www.cgcord.blogspot.com/)

We have crafted this charter with care and diligence. We hope you will recognize the strength of the basic structure, the thoughtful design of the overall framework and the breadth of our consideration.

The next step is yours. It is our hope that you can review our work and be ready to ratify it by the full CAG meeting on April 26. Yes, we know it is close, but please consider that while we have been working, the CAG committees have been hobbled by the absence of this charter. We are hoping that you will be ready and willing to consider its adoption at the coming meeting.

We are asking you to:

-- Scrutinize this document.
-- Present this to your assorted Memberships and/or Boards for their consideration, if necessary
-- If board/membership approval is a requirement of your organization, please advise us if anything about the timing suggested here would make it impossible to attempt a vote on April 26^th.

While reviewing keep in mind:

-- The CAG is an advisory body only, a group that has no real authority. Therefore our greatest strengths will lie in our commitment to adhering to the principles we set for ourselves as a group and our ability to publicly express our wishes from a stance of great solidarity.

-- We opted for an' inclusive of all' policy with a variety of decision making tools including consensus based decisions to demonstrate that solidarity.

-- We opted for structure that put the emphasis on the CAG as a whole instead of a hierarchy.

-- and most importantly, we took great pains to produce a living document capable, willing and expectant of change -- complete with a mechanism built into it with that specific purpose in mind.

-- We had the good fortune and ability to obtain guidance and direction from our Facilitator's wealth of experience.

-- At the end of the day, this committee has built this charter based on the shared values of community, transparency, commitment and honesty; we hope you agree.

Respectfully yours, from the Operating Procedures Committee Members:

Craig Hammerman (Community Board 6)

Rita Miller (Carroll Gardens Coalition for Respectful Development)

Steven Miller (At-Large)

Maria Pagano (Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association)

*Join us at a Special Operating Procedures Committee Meeting especially for all of you. As noted above,

RSVPs to edelstein@psouth.net are requested as space may be limited.

When: Thursday, April 21st

Where: CB6 Conference Room

250 Baltic Street

Time: 6:15 PM

We will be there to discuss the charter, provide answers to your questions and listen to your input. We are striving mightily to have an approval ready Charter for you on April 26th.

Remember your questions sent to CORD at cgcord@gmail.com will be brought to the meetings!

CORD

UPCOMING CAG MEETINGS

2011-04-15T08:14:00.003-04:00

April 21: CAG charter “open house,” 6 pm at CB6 Community Room, 250 Baltic Street. Members of the Operating Procedures Committee will be available to hear comments and answer questions about the draft CAG Charter that they have developed (draft will be distributed shortly).

April 26: CAG general meeting. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at Metrotech Center. Agenda: 1) Draft CAG Charter; 2) Proposed resolution from Water Quality Committee: The Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group supports the use of NYC DEP grant funds for green infrastructure improvements within the community of the Gowanus watershed. 3) Committee updates: water quality, real estate, archeology.

AS WE HAVE SAID IN THE PAST:

PLEASE CONTINUE TO WRITE TO US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS RE: THE CAG/THE GOWNUS CANAL CLEAN-UP AT: cgcord@gmail.com

We will do our very best to answer, or to get some answers, for you. Thank you.

CORD

Recent CAG metting Info

2011-03-16T08:17:00.000-04:00

Hello from CORD!

At the recent CAG meeting (Gowanus Canal Citizens' Advisory Group) held on Tuesday, March 8, at the Old American Can Factory in Gowanus, Brooklyn, Christos Tsiamis, EPA project manager for the Gowanus Canal Superfund Project, explained the RI in depth to the CAG members. A substantial list of questions from the CAG members was presented to Mr/ Tsiamis, who carefully and thoroughly addressed them, one by one. In meetings to come, this discussion will undoubtedly be continued as the information in the RI is extensive.

The Gowanus Canal Remedial Investigation can be found here:

http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/gowanus/gc_publicmeeting022311.pdf

You can also find more information here, in the article in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle by Mike Weiss:

"Gowanus Canal: PCBs, Heavy Metals and Sewage/EPA Explains Results of Survey At Local Meeting"

GOWANUS — "Nearly a year after the Gowanus Canal was declared a Superfund site last March, the EPA held a public meeting on Wednesday to explain the results of their yearlong investigation detailing the canal’s contaminants, known as the Remedial Investigation report"......"PA regional administrator Judith Enck opened the meeting by saying, “Unfortunately, the Gowanus Canal is heavily polluted with PAHs, PCBs, heavy metals, and sewage. There’s a lot of work to do to transition the waterway from one of urban decay to one of urban revitalization and sustainability".....(see link for article)

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=31&id=41643

The public is always welcome to attend these CAG meetings. We, at CORD, also urge you to write to us if you have any questions about either the info presented at the CAG meeting/s, or other matters of interest concerning the Gowanus Canal clean-up. We will do our best to find answers to your questions!

Please send us an email at: cgcord@gmail.com

CORD

A guest writer from Florida, who dreams of moving to NYC, speaks!

2011-02-24T09:20:00.004-05:00

Hello from CORD!

Today we are very pleased to feature a guest writer, Krista Peterson, from Florida, who is dreaming of moving to New York City one day! We include her brief bio before her piece. Enjoy!

CORD

"My name is Krista Peterson. I am currently living in Florida but dream of moving to New York. I am an aspiring writer with a passion for the health and safety of others and our environment. I am an advocate for the Go Green movement and love to help spread awareness & the benefits of this lifestyle to society. I am 23 years old & working on getting my bachelors degree. I enjoy doing hot yoga in my spare time."

"Community Preservation in the Face of Chemical Hazards"

"As workers wipe the final traces of the former HYPERLINK "http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40990993/40982943" Deutsche Bank building from the New York Skyline, residents in the Manhattan area can rejoice in the removal of this painful 9/11 reminder and continued threat. Besides reiterating the obvious global dangers our nation faces from terrorists, the presence of this building, shrouded in protective plastic, also reminded residents of the environmental dangers resting just below the surface of some of New York’s structures. Besides finding the remains of 9/11 victims scattered over the room of the damaged building, crews also found toxins like asbestos, lead and mercury, delaying the cleanup of the structure as leaders decided how to remove these toxins."

"With the HYPERLINK "http://epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/gowanus/" EPA’s addition of the Gowanus Canal to the Agency’s Superfund National Priorities List, neighboring areas might experience a similar level of protective action. Besides the well-known toxins present in the canal itself, including industrial and sewage runoff, buildings in the surrounding area present a constant threat to citizens, especially as improvements are made that can release previously contained toxins."

"Asbestos, in particular, represents a great threat when disturbed, which allows its fibers to release in the air to be inhaled or swallowed. Leading to a lethal cancer, HYPERLINK "http://www.mesotheliomasymptoms.com/mesothelioma-symptoms" mesothelioma symptoms can lie dormant for up to five decades. Furthermore, these symptoms generally appear relatively mild, mimicking other illnesses like pneumonia, which allows the disease to progress into its later stages before treatment is sought."

"Learning about the specific risks, like mesothelioma, these chemicals pose gives residents greater influence over the nature of renovation taking place in a community. In an area with such a unique character, like Carroll Gardens, preservation of those characteristics is undeniably essential to both its history and identity. However, like any successful community movement, without knowing the issues developers and leaders will use to justify their actions, the HYPERLINK "http://carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com/2009/11/another-one-of-your-neighbors-speaks.html" voice of citizens deserving the greatest share in the discussion over development will be drown out by approaching jackhammers. Indeed, city leaders and developers respect and recognize detailed petitions detailing the drawbacks of proposals and alternative suggestions."

"One useful strategy is to point out the problems brought on by the demolition of older structures, as exemplified by the Deutsche Bank building. Dangerous materials, like asbestos, can permanently be contained through enclosing or encapsulating the product, providing a permanent barrier between the toxin and the outside air. As a cheaper and safer alternative, residents can point to the numerous economic and safety benefits of renovations that seek to improve the community through minor safety adjustments that don’t threaten the unique fiber of the community. By pointing out the high rate of disease, including HYPERLINK "http://www.mesotheliomasymptoms.com/" mesothelioma symptoms, seen throughout New York after the 9/11 attacks, city legislators are sure to be open to discussions regarding how to safely restore communities while simultaneously preserving their historical integrity."

Krista Peterson

"Brooklyn Civic Alliance Coming!"

2011-02-21T00:39:00.001-05:00

This just in to CORD:

"Dear Community Member,

Our first meeting of civic groups from around Brooklyn brought a wide range of neighborhoods. I am hopeful that we can create a strong, new, independent voice to defend the homes and communities of Brooklynites. "

"If you would like more information to to attend, please email Ed Jaworski at coachedj@aol.com"

"Brooklyn Civic Alliance Coming!"

"An alliance of civic groups from across Brooklyn is forming. Following up an "exploratory" session attended by representatives of 30 neighborhood associations last month at Brooklyn College, organizers are preparing for a second meeting scheduled for February 28^th. And they're looking for even more community groups."

"We hope to significantly increase the number of groups that attend on the 28th," said Raul Rothblatt, Executive Director of the Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance, the organization which is facilitating the initial meetings. "We are interested in attracting representatives of civic groups from all of Brooklyn's neighborhoods-from the center right out to the borough's borders-to work together, when needed."

"Brooklyn is a big place, and many of our neighborhoods are facing the same challenges. An organization that lets us share skills and information, and to rally behind each other when the call goes out, that's really needed," said Jim Vogel of the Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods."

"Attendees generally considered the first meeting successful, in terms of numbers, enthusiasm, and the opportunity to see other community activists."

"Prior to our first meeting, I spoke to the president of the Queens Civic Congress, and she said that approximately 15 groups attended its first meeting over a dozen years ago. Now, it has 100 member associations," said Ed Jaworski, president of the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association. "The interest is there, so we look forward to launching a Brooklyn civic alliance before too long."

"It was a good first meeting" said activist-attorney Norman Siegel. And Sal Lentini, president of the Ditmas Park Association, said he thought that the meeting "was very informative, and in many ways, necessary. It showed that many of us are willing to work together to get more of a voice for Brooklyn."

Organizations interested in sending representatives to the meeting on Monday, February 28, 7 p.m., should contact Raul Rothblatt at rrothblatt@gmail.com, or 646-498-6093."

###

Raul Rothblatt

Executive Director,

Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance

rrothblatt@gmail.com

646-498-6093

Ed Jaworski

President,

Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association

coachedj@aol.com

718-375-9158, cell: 347-661-6960

"At our first meeting, groups from around Brooklyn agreed that this is the time to form an umbrella group. Please stay tuned for more exciting developments. "

Sincerely,

Raul Rothblatt & Ed Jaworski

***VERY IMPORTANT!! EPA INVITES PUBLIC TO HEAR GOWANUS CANAL REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT THIS WEDNESDAY!

2011-02-20T21:18:00.002-05:00

EPA invites you to a public information meeting
on the
Gowanus Canal Remedial Investigation Report

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites you to attend a public information meeting to discuss the findings of the investigation, conducted by the EPA, to determine the nature and extent of contamination in the canal. The meeting will be held on:

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
in the auditorium of
P.S. 32
located at
317 Hoyt Street, Brooklyn, NY

Copies of the remedial investigation (RI) report are available at the:

Carroll Gardens Library
396 Clinton St.
Brooklyn, NY

The RI is also available online at:

www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/gowanus/ri_docs.html

For more information about the meeting or other site related issues you can contact Natalie Loney atloney.natalie@epa.gov or (212)637 3639.

Natalie Loney
Community Involvement Coordinator
212-637-3639 telephone
212-637-4445 fax

January 31 CAG Meeting

2011-02-04T02:05:00.001-05:00

Last MONDAY night the CAG (GOWANUS CANAL Citizens Advisory Group) met at the American Can Factory building for the most recent of the general meetings. Attendance was not great. There were approximately half of the current CAG members present as well as several members of the community, press and local official's representatives.

The evening included an update on the EPA's plan to present their Remedial Investigation report. We understand that the EPA will be coming to the community sometime in February via a public forum to discuss the findings included in the report. We will let you know of the exact date, time and place as soon as that information is made available to us. The Remedial Investigation report will be a detailed account of all of the EPA's testing and is therefore the blueprint by which they base their cleanup procedural plan.

EPA’s Public Meeting on the RI will be Wednesday, February 23, from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at PS 32.

The RI is in the process of being posted on EPA’s website along with a fact sheet about the RI. Volume 1 is already up, but it may take a little while for the appendices and fact sheet to be posted, so check back.

For RI documents go to: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/gowanus/

The CAG spent a good deal of time looking over some of the committee work that has been going on in the last month. For example, the Operating Procedures Committee's framework draft was presented to the CAG for their review. The Operating Procedures Committee has been working toward developing what Facilitator Jeff Edelstein referred to as the "constitution" governing the CAG.

CAG members were and are encouraged to offer any and all suggestions that they may have to improve the draft document. From that draft document and the suggestions made by the CAG members, the constitution will be more fleshed out and the CAG will then have the mechanisms and procedures in place necessary for their work to continue.

A discussion regarding voting procedures was part of the conversation. Members were asked to think about the pros and cons of voting versus consensus. What is best for a group such as the CAG which serves in an advisory capacity only?

The Real Estate Committee's Information Gathering Proposal was discussed in a rather lively manner. After all was said and done, it was decided that the whole proposal should go back to the Real Estate Committee for further discussion before any action is taken.

There was also a discussion regarding the development and dissemination of a Frequently Asked Questions document to answer some of the questions that the community is asking regarding the Superfund process. A list of preliminary questions were distributed and a charge to each committee to come up with questions pertaining to their areas was put forth.

CORD wants to hear from you! Help us ask the questions that YOU want the answers to.

What are your questions about the Superfund? Do you have any concerns regarding the cleanup? Do you have any questions about the process in general?

Please feel free to submit them to CGCORD@gmail.com

We will not identify you unless you wish us to. If you wish your general address to be mentioned as part of the question and nothing more, we will do so.

What is important is not WHO asks the question but the question or concern itself. If something is bothering you or you are just plain curious....ASK AWAY!

As we have said so many times before....the CAG allows everyone in the community an opportunity to participate in this important event----

Come to the meetings when you can...and when you can't....please stay involved via this newsletter....talk to us via email....we WILL bring your questions, comments, concerns and opinions to the meetings for you.

We are always happy to hear from you.

CORD

Brooklyn-wide Civic Alliance is taking place on Mon., Jan. 31

2011-01-29T16:47:00.002-05:00

Sent From Phil DePaolo to CORD:

Last Week Norman Oder wrote a great Op-Ed in The new York Times.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/complaint-box-powerless-in-brooklyn/

In looking for new way to collaborate with other civics, an exploratory meeting to form aBrooklyn-wide Civic Alliance is taking place on Mon., Jan. 31, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm, atBrooklyn College’s Student Center located on East 27th Street and Campus Road. Please put the date on your calendar, and plan to join civic leaders from throughout Brooklyn. The Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance has agreed to organize this event.

The idea is for Brooklyn civic groups to communicate with each other, and to present a large, united front when necessary. It's a concept that has surfaced occasionally; and, now seems ripe to become a reality.

Recently, I joined several civic leaders in a conference call to discuss the idea, agree on a date, place, and to initially focus on land-use issues.

We hope your civic will take part in this exciting initiative. More details will follow as we get closer.

In the meantime, in the next few days, please let us know your intention to attend by responding to me. We need an advance idea about numbers for space arrangements. Each civic group should consider sending 1 or 2 representatives—forward names, organization, emails & phones of attendees.

There are issues that we all have in common that will be resolved only if a voice louder than one person or one group raises them. This could be a first step for a large number of Brooklyn civics to raise their voices together. We look forward to learning that you will be at Brooklyn College on Jan. 31st.

Very best wishes

Phil DePaolo

347-200-2353

Directions by Train:

Take the 2 or 5 train to Brooklyn College/Flatbush Avenue. Exit near the intersection of Nostrand and Flatbush Avenue. Walk west on Hillel Place towards Campus Road. Make a right onto Campus Road. The Student Center is located on Campus Road between Amersfort Place and E 27th Street. Please, use the East entrance near Amersfort Place.

If coming from Manhattan on the Q train, get off at Avenue J. (Note: Due to MTA construction, the Stillwell Ave-bound platform at Avenue H is closed until fall 2010.) From Avenue J and E 16th Street take the B6 or B11 bus toward Flatbush. Get off the bus at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Campus Road, in front of Midwood High School. After exiting the bus, make a left onto Campus Road and walk two blocks. You will walk against the direction of traffic on this one-way street. The Student Center is located on Campus Road between Amersfort Place and East 27th Street. Please, use the East entrance near Amersfort Place.

If coming from Brighton Beach on the Q train, get off at Avenue H and walk East along Avenue H in the direction of Ocean Avenue. Cross Ocean Avenue and walk around campus along Campus Road. You will pass by the football field and the James Hall, which will be on your right. Cross Bedford Avenue and continue walking along Campus Road past E 27th St. Across the street on your left you will see the Student Center building. The Student Center is located on Campus Road between Amersfort Place and E 27th Street. Please, use the East entrance near Amersfort Place.

Directions by Bus:

Take the B41, B44, B6, B11, or Green Bus Line Q35 to the intersection of Nostrand and Flatbush Avenue. Walk west on Hillel Place towards Campus Road. Make a right onto Campus Road. The Student Center is located on Campus Road between Amersfort Place and E 27th Street. Please, use the East entrance near Amersfort Place.

Directions by Car:

From Manhattan or the Bronx: Take the Brooklyn Bridge to Boerum Place/Ct Square. Continue to follow Boerum Place. Turn left at Atlantic Avenue. Take a slight right at Flatbush Avenue. Turn right at Hillel Place, the right onto Campus Road. You will come to the fork in the road between Campus Road and Amersfort Place, the building at the fork is the Student Center.

Alternate route from Manhattan or the Bronx: Take the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to Exit 24 – Prospect Expressway. Prospect Expressway becomes Ocean Parkway. Follow Ocean Parkway and turn left onto Foster Avenue. From Foster Avenue you can either turn right at Flatbush Avenue and then follow the directions above OR turn right at Bedford Avenue and look for parking along Bedford Avenue somewhere between Foster Avenue and Avenue J.

From Queens take the Belt Parkway West; from Staten Island take the Verrazano Bridge to the Belt Parkway East. Exit the Belt Parkway at 11N – Flatbush Avenue North. Follow Flatbush Avenue and turn left onto Avenue H. Avenue H will turn into Campus Road.

Parking:

Brooklyn College has no parking lot for students or guests. If you are driving, please, keep in mind finding parking can be difficult. Arrive 15-20 minutes early and expect to park a few blocks away from campus and walk to the Student Center.

Street parking:
There are 6-hour metered spots all along Campus Road, but it is nearly impossible to get one of these spots after 8:30am. Your best bet for free street parking is Bedford Avenue anywhere between Foster Avenue and Avenue J. You can also try parking on one of the side streets around campus, but check the signs and be mindful of alternate side parking regulations.

Commercial parking lots:
The closest parking lot is located on Nostrand Avenue between Avenue H and Flatbush Junction (intersection of Nostrand Ave, Flatbush Ave, and Hillel Pl). The price for all-day parking is about $8, but you have to check what time they plan to close, as they often close up shop between 5 and 7pm.

The Target shopping center has a parking lot; the price depends on the number of hours in the lot. Enter the lot at Nostrand Ave between Avenue I and Avenue H (you should be heading north from Avenue I in order for the Target parking lot entrance to be on the right of your car).

CORD

CG Updates and Markowitz welcomes complaints!

2010-12-28T19:36:00.000-05:00

Update:

Tonight at 6 PM residents of Second Street aired on Channel 4 Local Evening News when a local oil company truck could not deliver heating oil to a house in the middle of the block due to the unplowed condition of Second Street. The landlord of the house was concerned for her tenants who have a young baby.

ALSO: From the PMFA blog:

"Just received this notice from Borough President Marty Parkowitz's office regarding the slow (read non-exisiting) plowing on Brooklyn side streets. He apparently welcomes our complaints. Great...Above are some of the unplowed streets I walked along this afternoon in Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill. Marty, can you do something about this?" PMFA

BP MARKOWITZ WELCOMES COMPLAINTS REGARDING
INADEQUATE SNOW REMOVAL IN BROOKLYN
"Residents receiving an unsatisfactory response from 311 have made concerns known to BP."

"In the aftermath of the recent storm, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz has received hundreds of calls and emails from constituents frustrated by their attempts to contact 311 and air their concerns. All complaints have been forwarded to the New York City Department of Sanitation. Brooklynites may continue to voice their concerns regarding snow removal by contacting the BP's office at 718-802-3777 or askmarty@brooklynbp.nyc.gov

CORD

Has Your Street Been Plowed Yet???

2010-12-28T17:48:00.002-05:00

Above: A Pic of unplowed Second Street today.

For those of you who might be naturally frustrated with the City's snow removal following the snowstorm here is one resource from Channel 2 News:

"Blizzard 2010: Has Your Street Been Plowed Yet?"

"NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – As you all know, a blizzard walloped the Tri-State Area over the weekend. It is now Tuesday and many people are still snowed in and several streets remain untouched.

Has your street been plowed? Were you able to commute to and from work ?

Please share your comments with us below.

Also, if you want your comment aired on WCBS Newsradio 880, call 877-987-WCBS and participate in the TALKBACK! Remember to keep your messages under 30 seconds!

And hang in there!"

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/12/28/blizzard-2010-is-your-road-plowed-commute-ok-nightmare/#comment-107759

CORD

DECEMBER 6, 2010 GOWANUS CANAL COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP (CAG) MEETING

2010-12-08T17:03:00.000-05:00

DECEMBER 6, 2010 COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP (CAG) MEETING

Hello from CORD

Last night, at the American Can Factory, most members of the CAG, several members of the community, local press and electeds' representatives gathered to discuss the ongoing events surrounding the Superfunding of the Gowanus Canal.

Our chosen facilitator, Jeff Edelstein was there to guide the group through the results of the three (3) committee meetings already held. As of last night, the Real Estate, Water Quality and Operating Procedures Committees (CORD holds a seat on all three) have met and are beginning to work out what their goals are. Some possible actions discussed by the committees were mentioned. No actions have been taken at this point in time.

During the meeting, it was reported that in the hopefully very short time it will take for the Operating Procedures Committee to formulate a framework, and eventually a Charter, our Constitution, so to speak, Jeff would be guiding us through. An offer was made to any CAG members who wished to join the Operating Procedures Committee to help with what Jeff described as a "Herculean task". The invitation has an expiration date sometime early next week, the exact date has not been established, but the Committee is eager to set up the rules and guidelines we will all operate under. A summary of yesterday's OP committee meeting will be available by close of business this Friday. If you are a CAG member and are interested in being part of the committee, it would be best to advise Jeff asap.

The highlight of the evening was the news from our true Hercules, EPA Project Manager Christos Tsiamos, that the Remedial Investigation report would be ready for public presentation sometime in January. Both Christos and our Community Coordinator, Natalie Loney, assured us that as soon as the report is in hand, and the location for the public meeting has been secured ---it will most likely be at one of the local schools----they will inform us of the date, place and time. Christos also took questions from the CAG members and the other attendees in a brief Q&A session.

That Remedial Investigation report, will include among many things, the findings of the EPA regarding the levels (if any) of toxins in the Gowanus Canal water that are a direct result of the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) system. As many of you who have been following our newsletter for a while know, the Superfund scope of work right now, includes only the cleanup of the sediment at the bottom of the Canal. It does not include addressing the raw sewage tsunamis, like the one you saw captured on the You Tube video, which take place after rainfall when the stormwater runoff and the sewage mix together and come out of the same pipes into the Canal.

http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2010/09/holly-crap-last-weeks-severe-storm.html

Although the Superfund includes preventing additional toxins from leaking into the canal from other sources, including the land along the banks and further upland, it never included the pathogens (the bacteria that the sewage which rushes into the canal includes) and therefore the EPA would not address this part of the issue.

If, however, the combined sewage and storm water runoff should prove to include industrial toxins, then the EPA will be taking a look at possible solutions to the CSO problems---and that could be a very good thing for us.

We all anxiously await the results of the Remedial Investigation.....A liasion, Chris Villari, from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was introduced to the group. A spirited discussion surrounding Mr Villari's opening remarks regarding the CSO issue followed.

Like we said....we all anxiously await the results of the Remedial Investigation.

As always, it is our sincerest hope that you will stay engaged and involved in this process. Maybe it is simply by not deleting this newsletter when you see it arrive but actually reading it. It would be great if you could pass this along to some of your neighbors who are interested. Encourage them to contact us (cgcord@gmail.com) and request to be added to this newsletter list.

Hopefully, all of you will have questions and comments...maybe concerns and hopes and wishes for the Canal and the surrounding area and you will make all of those known at one of the CAG meetings.

But, if it is not possible for you to attend, please contact us through our email,CGCORD@gmail.com, and express your thoughts. Your remarks WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED unless you wish them so.

Instead, your comments, concerns, questions, hopes, etc will be communicated to the CAG at the meetings through CORD. Your identity will never be rtevealed unless you wish it to be revealed. So please, do not be afraid to speak up and tell us what answers you want or need. When it comes time for the CAG to weigh in on actual decisions regarding how the cleanup proceeds, we will need your input.

This community group is in existence for all of US. This is the way we are able to communicate our wishes, as a community, to the EPA during this process. Let's make the most of it. You are the community. YOU ARE CORD.

CORD

CAG Meetings Dec 6 and oher info

2010-12-05T22:33:00.000-05:00

Below is information regarding the Gowanus Canal CAG/Citizens Advisory Group Meetings and Other Relevant Information sent to us by Jeff Edelstein, CAG Coordinator.

As noted below, the public is welcome tomorrow morning as well as tomorrow evening!

CORD

Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2010 17:30:14 -0500
Subject: Gowanus Canal CAG - 12/6 meeting and other information
From: edelstein@psouth.net
To: edelstein@psouth.net

Greetings CAG interested parties,

The DRAFT meeting summaries from the Real Estate Committee and Water Quality Committee meetings and agenda for next Monday’s CAG meeting are now on-line at: http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/gowanus/cag.html

The CAG meeting starts formally at 6:30 p.m. on 12/6. The room will be open at 5:45 p.m. for informal discussion with snacks and refreshments. We are meeting at the Old American Can Factory at 232 3^rd Street.

The CAG Operating Procedures Committee will be meeting for the first time on Monday 12/6 from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. If you are interested in attending as a member of the public, please contact me as space is limited. This committee will be working on groundrules, internal systems of communication, and logistical issues.

--Jeff Edelstein, CAG Facilitator

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

Jeff Edelstein

Principal, Edelstein Associates

Senior Consultant, Consensus Building Institute

(207) 247-8024 (office)

(207) 632-8440 (cell)

Additional info at:

www.cbuilding.org

www.jeffedelstein.com

Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group/CAG UPDATES!!

2010-11-19T21:46:00.003-05:00

Hello from CORD...An Announcement Regarding the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group...aka, THE CAG

As you know, the CAG held its first meeting on October 26th. You may read about the event in the preceeding post here on the blog (Scroll down to reach it).

Furthermore there are both the presentations and the meeting summary at the EPA website at:
http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/gowanus/cag.html

Jeff Edelstein, the CAG's chosen Facilitator, asked CAG members to sign up for the various committees that would be formed:

"Members of the public are welcome to attend any CAG meetings, including committees, unless otherwise indicated. Because space may be limited at committee meetings, please contact Jeff Edelstein at edelstein@psouth.net or 207-632-8440 to register and receive location information."

"The schedule of upcoming CAG meetings is as follows:

Nov. 23, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Real Estate Committee

Nov. 29, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Water Quality Committee

Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Full CAG meeting, Old American Can Factory, 232 3^rd Street.

Dec. 14^th, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Outreach Committee

There will also be committees on 1) technical issues; 2) archeology; 3) jobs/workforce development; and 4) CAG operating procedures. Dates for the first meetings of these committees will be announced once they have been determined.

The agenda for the initial committee meetings will be as follows:

Discuss potential functions and goals of the committee.
What are the major issues and challenges that the committee should address?
Who else should/could be involved with the committee? In what ways?
What are the information needs?
Develop a workplan and operating procedures for the committee.
Next steps.

The draft agenda for the full CAG meeting on Dec. 6 includes: 1) reports from the real estate and water quality committees; 2) updates, if any, from EPA or other relevant agencies; 3) responses from EPA to any questions posed at the 10-26 meeting that have not already been addressed. The EPA Project Manager, Christos Tsiamis, will be in attendance."

Jeff Edelstein, CAG Facilitator

Principal, Edelstein Associates

Senior Consultant, Consensus Building Institute

(207) 247-8024 (office)

(207) 632-8440 (cell)

Additional info at:

www.cbuilding.org

www.jeffedelstein.com

CORD encourages you to do so and to stay as involved as possible in this most important community process. Once again, we encourage you to attend. We also wish to remind you to please keep in touch with us via email CGCORD@gmail.com with your questions, concerns feedback and comments.

Your correspondence with us will not be published unless you wish it so. But your general feedback will be brought back to the CAG group.

The CAG is our community's opportunity to make sure that we are heard--that our questions are answered, our concerns are addressed and our hopes and desires for community's future are presented.

Please take an active role in this process. Even if you cannot attend any of the meetings, please send us your feedback so we can take it back to the CAG. This is our time---let's take advantage of it! Thank you

CORD

First Gowanus Canal CAG/Community Advisory Group

2010-10-28T20:24:00.002-04:00

FIRST CAG MEETING HELD AT AMERICAN CAN FACTORY, Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010

The Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group, the CAG for short, held its first meeting last night. The group, which currently consists of fifty six (56) members representing various community groups, local businesses and residents were gathered together by our chosen Facilitator, Jeff Edelstein.

At the meeting, in addition to almost all of the listed members (Member List) plus Alfonse from Monadnock Construction, Triada Samaras, 2nd St resident and CORD co-founder, and Buddy Scotto representing Carroll Gardens Association, were many members of the community, local press and many of our elected officials, and/or their representatives and a few members of other government agencies.

The EPA was there. The now familiar faces of Walter Mugdan, Natalie Loney, Brian Carr and others were on hand for presentations and a question and answer segment. As always, they made the information easy to listen to and digest. Ms Loney reminded us that EPA information is always available on the EPA.gov site, including a link to a facebook page which she has set up at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=195975002808

It is important to note here that the Q&A segment was open to ALL ATTENDEES. CAG members may have been given first dibs but no one was denied the ability to ask a question or speak up with comments at the appropriate times.

Walter Mugdan explained that a first draft of the Remedial Investigation, thanks to the Herculean efforts of the site manager assigned exclusively to us by the EPA, the wonderful, Christos Tsiamos, would be ready (and in record time!) for perusal by the end of this year. (see PMFA)

The CAG members were broken up into smaller groups and encouraged to talk about their/their groups' concerns, their ideas of how the CAG could work productively. They were also asked to think about which (of a proposed group of) sub committees they would like to participate in as well as being asked for suggestions for other committees to be formed as well. Basic ground rules as well as how information will be disseminated were discussed...more on that will follow as we move along.

The discussion was lively. The atmosphere full of hope, excitement and of course, our own very special brand of "community". It seems logical to assume that discussions will become much more focused once that remedial investigation draft and whatever other data that is being compiled right now is presented to us.

As we have said to you before, this CAG is for the entire community---it is not an exclusive club for a few people or special interests groups. It is imperative that as many people as possible in the community participate. The meetings will continue to be open to the public. We understand that not everyone can attend all of the meetings. Perhaps it is difficult for you to attend ANY of the meetings. We at CORD, are committed to bringing the information, events, data and discussions to you. For now, we will do this through our blog and our newsletter. We are relying on you contacting us through our email address (cgcord@gmail.com) to keep the lines of communication open.

Although you are receiving this and therefore already on our newsletter contact list, you can feel confident that you (or anyone else who might be interested) will be able to go back and review any of these newsletter posts on our blog which is located at: www.carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com. Just keep scrolling down or search for the date until you find the post you wish to see.

If you know of others who would like to receive our newsletter and become part of our contact list, please have them forward their email address to us at: CGCORD@gmail.com. That is the only way that we can assure that they will be added.

We, in turn, would like you to email us with YOUR questions, YOUR concerns, the things YOU would like to have addressed at these meetings. When it is time to make decisions, we will want YOUR opinion. These comments, etc is what CORD will bring back to the CAG meetings.

SUPERFUND is here. These CAG meetings are not to discuss the benefits or drawbacks of superfund. Although the decision to superfund or not may have been somewhat contentious, that is over now and we are paused to begin on the next part of the journey.

This is a really exciting and historical time. We all have the opportunity to participate in something much greater than ourselves. Let's make the most of it!

We would also like to note here that a CB6 meeting which was held on Monday night at PS58 brought to the community a presentation by NYC's DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) outlining the plans to improve the Gowanus Canal flushing tunnel and pumping station and the current state of the canal as a result of the lack of flushing/pumping facility.

For more information on this, please see PMFA post linked here.

CORD

Hail Mary!! Brooklyn gets iced!

2010-10-11T22:11:00.008-04:00

What does it take for Brooklyn to get a little air time? Tonight's spectacular, and frankly, scary weather in Brooklyn seems to have flown right "under the radar" of the "major" NYC media outlets tonight (so far) altho Twitter and the Blogs are full of emotional descriptions of the 60 ? mph winds and golf ball ? sized hail we just experienced! The photos above of Smith Street and Carroll Park were taken tonight at 9:25 PM.

Some in cyberspace are calling it the "Brooklyn Apocaplypse" part two! (After our recent tornado and "poo-poo tsunami" on the Gowanus Canal) . What next? Locusts? For more see PMFA

CORD

LATEST ON THE UPCOMING FIRST CAG MEETING (COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP FOR THE GOWANUS CANAL)

2010-10-08T15:14:00.001-04:00

Hello from CORD!

Please see the information below sent to CORD by Jeffrey Edelstein, who was chosen in May by the Carroll Gardens/ Gowanus Canal Area residents as a neutral facilitator of the CAG, for more details regarding the upcoming firstCAG/Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group meeting to be held on October 26, 2010. The Public is welcome! See our CORD blog or

PMFA for more info. http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2010/10/first-gowanus-canal-community-advisory.html

Also of note is the upcoming Flushing Tunnel Presentation on Oct. 25, 2010 held by the NYC DEP. Again the public is welcome!

CAG MEETING: First Meeting: Reminder that the first CAG meeting will be Oct. 26, from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Old American Can Factory, 232 Third Street. The meeting is open to the public; please feel free to inform others. The draft agenda is at the bottom of this email.

Operating procedures and groundrules: I have attached the operating procedures and groundrules used by the Hudson River CAG, and request that we follow these until the Gowanus CAG has developed its own, particularly regarding how meetings are to be conducted. I anticipate that we will form a subcommittee to develop a draft set of procedures and groundrules that will be presented to the full CAG for consideration. In the meantime, I welcome any comments on these documents.

Flushing Tunnel presentation on Oct. 25: NYC DEP will provide a progress report on the ongoing Gowanus Canal Facilities upgrade project on Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at PS 58. This will be a meeting of the CB6 Public Safety/Environmental Protection/Permits/Licenses Committee and will be open to all members of the public."

Regards,

Jeff

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

Jeff Edelstein

Principal, Edelstein Associates

Senior Consultant, Consensus Building Institute

(207) 247-8024 (office)

(207) 632-8440 (cell)

Additional info at:

www.cbuilding.org

www.jeffedelstein.com

Draft agenda:

7:00 – 7:30 Welcome, opening remarks, and CAG member introductions

7:30 – 8:00 Superfund timeline, decision points, and CAG roles

8:00 – 8:30 Superfund site updates

8:30 – 8:45 Break

8:45 – 9:25 CAG structure – committees and operating procedures

9:25 – 9:40 Updates on Superfund-related community activities

9:40 – 9:55 Public comments

9:55 – 10:00 Next steps