Velázquez Urges Superfund Designation for Gowanus Canal And Newtown Creek

****News Flash****

“Securing a healthy environment for New York City families is the single most important factor in choosing a course of action for cleaning both the Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek."

Nydia Velázquez

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez is the latest elected official to release a pro-EPA Superfund statement for the Gowanus Canal. By doing so, she joins fellow politicians

NYS Senators Daniel Squadron and Velmanette Montgomery, as well as Assemblywoman Joan Millman, who already openly support the Superfund listing of the dangerously polluted waterway.

My thanks goes out to Representative Velázquez, Squadron, Montgomery and Millman for putting the health of their constituents above all.

Lets hope that Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, still-Councilman Bill DeBlasio, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand will follow suite.

Read Velázquez's statement below:

Velázquez Urges Superfund Designation for Gowanus, Newtown

Says EPA Has Resources, Expertise to Clean Up Polluted Waterways

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) issued the following
statement today urging the Environmental Protection Agency to complete
its review and designate the Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek as federal
Superfund sites:

“Securing a healthy environment for New York City families is the single
most important factor in choosing a course of action for cleaning both
the Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek. Superfund designation will
thoroughly remove hazards and transform these waterways into a source of
pride for our community.

“Among the most contaminated sites in the country, the Gowanus Canal and
Newtown Creek have threatened the health of New Yorkers for long enough
and kept these neighborhoods from realizing their full potential. With
nearly three decades of experience, the EPA has the expertise and
resources to carry out a comprehensive remediation of these sites,
creating a safe place for New Yorkers to live and work. Through the
EPA’s help, these local treasures will become a revitalized waterfront
for the people of Brooklyn.

“The Superfund program establishes an equitable process for restoring
accountability and invigorating the Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek.
What we have before us is a means to fully protect the well being of New
Yorkers, as well as ensure future growth and responsible development in
our neighborhoods.

“Efforts to transform Brooklyn’s waterfront have brought the community
together and have resulted in the many innovative projects underway.
Superfund designation will complement these efforts. By working together
we will fully restore both the functionality and beauty of these sites.”

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Largest Coalition Of South Brooklyn Civic Groups From Both Sides Of The Gowanus Visit Senator Schumer's Office

Photo Credit: Drew Grant

Mayor Bloomberg's political wrangling against the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund listing of the Gowanus Canal continues to muddy the waters of what should be a scientific process.

Rather than ruffle the mayor's feathers, some of our elected officials have been standing by, letting him get away with his bullying. Why a republican mayor, under a mostly democratic state leadership and a democratic presidency, should get away with shamelessly lobbying the EPA, the one federal agency that should be free of interference, is unprecedented and quite frankly, bizarre.

One elected official who could easily stop all of Mayor Bloomberg's political manoeuvering is New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who has not yet issued a position statement on the EPA's proposed listing of the Gowanus Canal as a Superfund site. By not doing so, he is either indicating that he is unwilling to ruffle Bloomberg's feathers, or that the clean-up of the Gowanus Canal is not a big enough issue for this senator.

Yesterday, the largest coalition of South Brooklyn civic groups from both sides of the canal ever assembled met with Phillip Goldfeder of Senator Schumer's office. I was part of that group.
The common mission of all those in attendance was to demonstrate that our community stands united and stands firmly behind the Superfund designation for the canal.
We conveyed that we strongly support the EPA clean-up because only the federal government has the science, know-how and the best array of tools at their disposal to clean the canal to the highest level. Nothing else will do.

It is time that Senator Schumer issue a statement for the designation of the heavily polluted canal as a Superfund. Keeping quiet would make him complicit with Mayor Bloomberg.
Sitting on a fence, waiting to see how this will all unfold is not an option.
And for an elected official who claims to be for the environment, there is only one choice and that is to let the EPA do its job.

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