Anonymous Group Sends Slick Anti-Gowanus Superfund Mailer To Local Residents
Dear Reader,If you live in the Gowanus/Carroll Gardens neighborhood, you have most probably received the above mailer in your mailbox on Saturday from an organization called 'CleanUpGowanusNow.'
Who is this mysterious organization? Who can tell. There are no names attached to the flier, nor are there any names on the web site. Only Debbie Scotto, a local developer who is fiercely opposed to the EPA Superfund designation for the Gowanus Canal, is quoted on the flier.
However, this 'mysterious' organization is most likely funded by developers such as the Toll Brothers who are more interested in lining their own pockets than in a thorough cleaning of the Gowanus Canal before they build their projects.
The flier and the website is full of misinformation about the Superfund. Using scare tactics, it just proves that developers will do anything to get what they want. After all, they have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to lobby our elected officials and have hired P.R. firms to help spread their message.
Those lobbying dollars so far have had little effect on the Pro-Superfund sentiments of local residents, a majority "made up of people who welcome the intervention of the federal government after decades of city neglect." (Mike McLaughlin, The Brooklyn Paper Friday, May 29th, 2009)
Which makes me wonder why our City Councilman Bill De Blasio and Assemblywoman Joan Millman aren't representing this majority instead of representing the interests of developers.
As a local resident stated
"It is becoming clear that the reason that Bill and Joan put in a request for an extension on Superfund comment period was, not to allow the city time to put together an alt-plan, but to all the public relation firm (probably Toll's) to put together a campaign against Superfund."
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22 comments:
Slick is right! Toll, Scotto, and anti-Superfund/pro-development folk got DEEP pocket$! And what is it getting them? Contrast with what the Pro-Superfund people have been able to do - their campaign with website, buttons, posters, TV Show, etc. was done ON A DIME. And a LOT OF ENTHUSIASTIC PEOPLE'S ENERGIES! Priceless!!!
It seems everyone in CB 6 got i. Which, Debby Scotto is a board member of btw. But it is clearly developer financed and not the voice of the real people. The developers do not realize just HOW SICK BROOKLYNITES ARE OF THEIR EYESORES! They seem to have no idea that this is not what people feel the need to defend. Probrably about 10 people will take the time to contact their elected on that list, many of them who are pro-superfund anyway.
The only people who are anti superfund are people who have lobbied and lined the politicians pockets for support. Wake up and smell the coffee, it's over, we are in a recession and local residents are NOT going to be penalized! They city cant' afford squat right now and people are definitely not going to voluntary say "im a polluter" and finance the city's plan, which, is basically the same as the EPA's but much more complicated and contrary to their scare tactics will be steeped in way more litigaton and take longer than the EPA's PROFESSIONAL plan.
Debby, it's time to calm down and accept the facts. Your developments and your reputation would be more palatable if your weren't so goddamn greedy and indignant. You DO realize that this is how you are coming off, don't you?
People are wondering - This flyer came by mail. How did they get all the addresses? Debby Scotto quote. Isn't she on CB6 Land Use Committee? Did they use CB6 database to send out the flyer, is that legit?
I'm glad to have received this list of phone numbers to call. It will make life simpler as I call one or two each day this week and ask them to SUPPORT SUPERFUND FOR GOWANUS!
Dear allies!
Anyone can buy a list of registered voters -- which is what I am sure was used in this case -- and use it for mailings.
The community has to ensure that VOTERS get an alternate message -- the message of "Superfund It!"
You know that Josh Skaller has been standing on the right side of this issue! The developers don't want Skaller to win. Let's prove them wrong. Petition signature collection starts on Tuesday, June 9. If you want to send that clear, correct message, email Bobby Carroll (b.carroll@skaller09.com) and join the Skaller volunteer effort!
From Cleangowanusnow.org (ANTI-SUPERFUND)
"If you agree with us, we encourage you to send us your name and address for inclusion on our petition to the elected officials listed at the bottom of this page..."
AHA, THEY will add your names to the petition - Where is the transparency here? And why would ANYONE send personal information to a group that does not even IDENTIFY WHO IT IS?!?!
I am a registered voter and don't think I'm on the CB6 mailing list. I have not received a flyer. Maybe mine will arrive in Monday's mail.
As a CB6 member, Debbie Scotto does not lose her right to voice her opinions, but since she is the only person quoted doesn't she have a responsibility to the public to identify who interviewed her? I don't want to make false accusations about conflict of interest or misuse of public funds (if the CB6 mailing list were used to lobby), but am asking for transparency.
Who is the appropriate agency or person to carry out an investigation? I don't trust our local officials, so perhaps it's time to call in the State Attorney General's Office.
Mystery Solved -
http://www.gothamgazette.com/article//20090526/255/2926
...Clean Gowanus Now! Coalition - a group of two-dozen developers and property owners along the canal. †Toll Brothers received ULURP approval for a zoning change for a mixed-use project along the canal from the City Council earlier this year. The project will include 450 market rate and inclusionary housing units.
I didn't get one. Maybe tomorrow.
I wonder if whomever is submitting this "petition" will collect and add names even if the writer is in favor of the superfund.
First we get anonymous fear mongering fliers stuffed in mailboxes, then the City hands out information at the CB6 meeting but doesn't use letterhead or anything that would indicate it is from the City, and now we have a slick and expensive anonymous mailing.
My guess is that this is Toll and assorted sundry others. Perhaps even one or two of our politicians.
I received your flyer in the mail. Who are you? And why are you against Superfund. Where are you getting your information from? You say you are community residents, but your flyer is very expensive. I don't know of any community residents group that has that kind of money. I read that you are probably made up of developers.
You are asking me to send you my name to add to your petition. But 1. what does the petition say? 2. how do I know what else you might do with my name and information? How can you assure me that you are on the up and up with this.
I would really appreciate a reply. I will then pass it to my neighbors and other residents who have received your flyer.
And how did you get my name?
5:40PM,
Did you click on the Clean Gowanus Now link in the Gotham Gazette? It goes to Toll's Gowanus website.
just what i figured...
Katia, I have just finished writing to each and every one of those electeds on the flyer to tell them the words: Gowanus Canal/Superfund ME!
Tomorrow I will call them too!
I hope everyone else will do the same. At least they made it easy for us to get the names, etc.
Now how do I get on that "DO NOT SPAM ME" snail mail list?
All that paper and ink is a big waste of money and nature.
Athough I too am leaning towards the superfund, I know people who do not support it and they are not "lining the ...politicians'pockets" and are not developers. I don't see why we need to demonize those with different points of view.
Having said that, I take a dim view of unsigned unknown "community residents"
The facts are clear and supported by an objective community of scientists, environmentalists and government agencies.
This flyer is very subjective and is hardly transparent. I disagree that superfund supporters are 'demonizing' those with different points of views. Having witnessed first hand how our local politicians and very private business interests have circumvented the fears and safety concerns of the community for so long, it is appropriate how they now feel: isolated and marginalized.
We must simply ask, how are these voices of opposition vested in this outcome...is it financial (and on personal levels)? If so, how can anyone expect to accept this flyer as honest and working to support the interest of OUR community. It is reprehensible and shameful to attempt to trump safety and health for PERSONAL financial interests.
I am disgusted. I am a capitalist, a veteran and family man. These folks have lost their souls.
4:29 Anti-Superfund people are not being demonized. Those MISREPRESENTING themselves as common residents whose interest are the same as ours are being outed. "As residents and property owners in Gowanus" the flyer says. Who are the residents of Gowanus this flyer is coming from? Scotto is not a Gowanus resident. And why does it not clearly state that this group represents developers? Developers and property owners of Superfund sites have a different agenda than your common everyday residents. One difference is that the EPA will not go after common residents/home owners. They might go after property owners who knew what they were getting when they purchased the land.
I am from NJ, and I am going to tell you the truth about getting on the Superfund list. (we got a lot of sites on the list in NJ)
They are right when they say it will cost local residents money. But this is a good thing, and here is how & why....
After the clean up, property values will increase and it is likely that taxes will too, because that is just how it works. And who wouldn't really want that? Who wouldn't want the value of their home to double?
The alternative is that nothing gets cleaned up, things get worse, property values fall even more, residents get totally fed up with it and sell out to get out before their homes are totally worthless and their children grow up and give birth to a generation of genetic mutants. Then developers can pick up the properties dirt cheap.
Then after they acquire the land, they finally agree that it should be a Superfund site, they get on the list, the clean up takes place and they make a killing off the increase in property values.
Residents have nothing to fear with regards to lawsuits. The only ones that will get sued are the polluters that made the mess. If you didn't cause the problem, you have nothing to fear. If you did cause the problem you will be forced to take responsibility for your careless disregard for the environment. It is only right that you should. If you made the mess you should be made to pay for the clean up, at least in part. They don't go after home owners. They go after the big companies that made the mess, the ones that have been poisoning you, your children, and your community.
Additionally, things are picking up speed with the existing Superfund sites, with money pouring in from the federal government, to put people to work and clean them up faster. This is part of the current stimulus package.
New Jersey is getting over $100 million in stimulus money to clean up 8 Superfund sites.
You guys deserve to have some of that too. You deserve to live in a clean safe community. You deserve to not lose the value of your homes. You deserve the jobs the cleanup will create.
You deserve it, not the developers that seek to steal your homes out from under you for pennies of what the properties will eventually be worth.
Bravo, App!
Thanks for your insight. And thanks for your encouragement.
I am so glad you wrote in.
This is how it worked with Ikea. Ikea hired one of the top fundraisers/lobbyists for all the local political campaigns as their lobbyist, Joni Yoswein. Politicians then support the development because "Joni" will otherwise "run" a candidate against them for office. It is simple political blackmail. I heard it from the horse's mouth. Works all the time. Given the hot city council races, no one can expect help from the big dogs in the running who are dependent on this woman's help, nor incumbants that want to run again. Believe it or not, term limits enpower lobbysts, not the people.
I could not find who Toll Bros hired recently, as the NYC database is likely slow to post for current engagements. Does anyone know who is on board for them?
We need to start handing out SUPERFUND NOW fliers! The Gowanus businesses have had their fun for 300 years and now it's time to make them pay!
Who cares if people lose jobs or if the manufacturing sector is pushed out of Brooklyn because the EPA sues them or the property owner - we need Superfund!
9:30 Don't take this personally, but you sound like a psychopath. Superfund won't push manufacturing out. Try another scare tactic. This one don't work.
To 4:54 - Quick Googling - Toll Brothers has hired the Geto/Demilly PR firm to campaign against the possible Superfund designation of the Gowanus Canal. The firm specializes in representing real estate interests. In 2007, they ranked 9 in NYC's top ten lobbyists, right before Yoswein you mention being instrumental for IKEA.
Info about them on: http://www.cityhallnews.com/news/127/ARTICLE/1218/2007-07-16.html
"Geto is a lobbyist who works with leading real estate development firms like Bruce Ratner's Forest City Ratner...He's also a .. frequent political advisor. He's worked on campaigns for George McGovern, Robert Abrams, and Howard Dean." "Prior to becoming a lobbyist. Michele DeMilly was press secretary for the Empire State Development Corporation. she feels that her experience there largely shaped the firm’s client list, which includes some of the city’s largest developers."
The Empire State Development Corp this name should ring a bell for those who followed Atlantic Yards. Empire State was instrumental in setting up the controversial sweet deals for Ratner. From Wikepedia: "Empire State Development Corporation is a public authority of the state of New York in the United States that has financed and operated several ambitious state projects by issuing tax exempt bonds. It has the power of eminent domain, is exempt from many of the restrictions that apply to regular government agencies and can issue bonds without formal Legislature or voter approval." So all this sounds like Toll is paying for some pretty powerful backing and company!
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