Wednesday, November 25, 2009

THE EPA'S UPCOMING PUBLIC INFO MEETING RE: GOWANUS CANAL ON DEC. 3!

BELOW is the flyer announcing the public information meeting that EPA
will be hosting regarding the Gowanus Canal.  If you have any questions
please feel free to contact me.

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

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

THE EPA is hosting a public information meeting about the 
Gowanus Canal
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites you to attend a public information meeting to discuss upcoming activities at the Gowanus Canal.
Thursday, December 3, 2009 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the auditorium of P.S. 32 located at 317 Hoyt Street, Brooklyn, NY
This meeting will include a formal presentation followed by a question and answer period. For more information about the meeting or other site related issues you can contact:
Natalie Loney Christos Tsiamis Community Involvement Coordinator Remedial Project Manager loney.natalie@epa.gov tsiamis.christos@epa.gov (212) 637-3639 or 1-800-346-5009 (212) 637-4257
Additional site related documents are available at: www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/gowanus/

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Community Meeting with State Senator Daniel Squadron Cancelled

The Cobble Hill Association Community Roundtable Meeting Meeting to have been held
on November 23rd with State Senator Daniel Squadron at Christ Church 
HAS BEEN CANCELLED!
No new date has been provided yet.
CORD 

Friday, November 20, 2009




An English Literature class from: H.S. 419, the Science Skills Center High School for Science, Technology, and the Creative Arts on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn recently visited the "Brooklyn Utopias?" show at the Brooklyn Historical Society.  The students of teacher, Ms. Sharon Wexler, met with artist and community activist, Triada Samaraswho is also a CORD Co-Founder, where they learned first-hand about the creative process behind Ms. Samaras's interdisciplinary artwork in this exhibition commemorating the Democracy Wall in Carroll Gardens and the Protect Our Homes Petition.
In addition, the students were given a general overview of the entire "Brooklyn Utopias?" show by Brooklyn Historical Society staff educators.  Later Ms. Samaras conducted a hands-on workshop with the students.  Students learned how to look in depth at the art works and how to critique them in their own words. At the end of the workshop, students presented their art critiques to their classmates and to Ms. Wexler and Ms. Samaras.  Ms. Wexler will be following up on the theme of a utopia/dystopia back at H.S. 419 by having the students read and critique literature exploring  the same topic such as the novel, Fahrenheit 451, (which is a dystopian novel authored by Ray Bradbury and first published in 1953).

Thursday, November 19, 2009

333 CARROLL STREET IS TOO BIG! The project that became a symbol for overdevelopment in Carroll Gardens faces news zoning regulations

Remember 333 Carroll Street?  That is the building with the steel on top on the small house on
Carroll Street. (See pics below taken from the PMFA blog)
The original plans were for something completely out of context and character.
CORD is very gratified that the 333 Carroll Street building site will have to conform to the new
contextual zoning.

See the Brooklyn Eagle for the story on the new contextual re-zoning laws here in Carroll
Gardens. http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=5&id=31603

Please see the
Mike Mclaughlin Daily News article yesterday
http://www.nydailynews.com/real_estate/2009/11/18/2009-11-18_eyesore_in_the_sky.html

A controversial Carroll Gardens luxury condo development that's been stalled for more than two years has been blocked from moving forward - but the eyesore may continue to loom over the area.

City Buildings Dept. officials stopped the owner of the building on Carroll St. from converting the 19th-century warehouse into a five-story luxury tower last week, but the unfinished rooftop steel girder skeleton could remain indefinitely. See more at the Daily News




and the Pardon Me for Asking Blog.
http://pardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2009/11/333-carroll-street-gets-stop-work-order.html

for much more on the 333 Carroll Street saga.




From PMFA:
IMG_3850




STOP WORK ORDER EXISTS ON THIS PROPERTY

Project Not Vested Under Current Zoning



That did not take long. Just days ago, I wrote about the new building permit, which has been issued for 333-335 Carroll Street, the old manufacturing building with the monstrous steel addition.
The owner, Isaac Fleischman, had given the boot to his condo conversion project's original architect, Robert Scarano, when the NYC Department of Building realized that Scarano had lied on the original application and had exceeded the allowable Floor-Area-Ratio or F.A.R.
Scarano had claiming that the cellar was a basement. Scarano intended to use the "habitable" basement for parking and had transferred the square footage onto the roof.

Fleischman just recently brought in Ken Fischer, the architect behind the 100 Luquer 'Finger'.
Just before the neighborhood's down-zoning went into effect on October 28th, 2009, D.O.B. issued new building permits. Apparently, the original issues were resolved. How exactly Fischer has been able to reconfigure the F.A.R. to get the project re-approved is still unclear.

However, the project still should have been stopped on October 28th by the DOB, when the Carroll Gardens re-zoning passed unanimously by the City Council on October 28th.
When new zoning laws are passed, all projects are served a stop-work-order and must be re-visited by DOB to see if they are vested, or far enough along, to receive an exemption, from the new zoning law......

See PMFA for the rest of this story



Tuesday, November 17, 2009

If you had a flood in your home which became toxic would you call a city politician to fix it?

YESTERDAY, A CG RESIDENT ASKED A VERY PENETRATING QUESTION TO REP. CLARKE:

"Deanna, if you had a flood in your home which became toxic would you call a city politician to fix it?

Congress Member Clarke is either not fully informed or doesn't understand the issues or if she does, has chosen to disregard them.
" (SEE http://carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com/2009/11/another-one-of-your-neighbors-speaks.html

HERE IS THE VOICE OF ANOTHER CARROLL GARDENS RESIDENT. THIS PERSON HAS BOTH LIVED IN, AND GENEROUSLY GIVEN MUCH OF HIS TIME TO THE BETTERMENT OF CG, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.



I am very disappointed in the response from Deanna from Rep. Clarke's office. We all know Deanna very well and we know she is very competent. But in a matter that has to do with the health and well being of her immediate constituents, those who voted to put her in office I believe we expect more than an a bread and butter letter from her office help. This matter is serious and deserves her direct and immediate attention. We need her direct intervention with the EPA Administrator. There is nothing more important to us than the Superfund Issue.
I am insulted by Congress Member Clarke's lack of sense of urgency in this matter. Given the fact that this toxic condition in the Gowanus Canal has existed for more than 100 years and more importantly the fact that we have the economic climate and opportunity for development by well funded builders like Toll Bros.Rep. Clarke should be demanding top prioity and not merely requesting it.
We expect Rep Clarke to cut through the Washington Red Tape and move this project now.
We need not remind her that her 2 year term passes quickly and she will be shortly seeking our support and votes.again. We need our Congress Member to show some steel in her spine. If she doesn't the opposition will make short work of her and her tenure maybe a short one.

Respectfully submitted;
V. Favorito
Carroll Gardens Resident
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your latest comments to our Congressional Representative keep coming in...

(SEE our LINK at http://carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com/2009/11/superfund-designation-letter-writing.html

Remember, you can always write to us at cgcord@gmail.com


THANK YOU! CORD

Monday, November 16, 2009

Another One of Your Neighbors SPEAKS OUT to Rep. Clarke!

HELLO FROM CORD

Your latest comments to our Congressional Representative keep coming in...here is another one of your neighbors speaking out...

(SEE our LINK at http://carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com/2009/11/superfund-designation-letter-writing.html

Remember, you can always write to us at cgcord@gmail.com



"Dear Deanna

While I was not able to attend the meeting I felt the response that you proffered was mostly rhetoric and reads as if Congress Member Clarke is myopically focused on procrastinating by asking questions of the EPA that actually support the arguments of the Bloomberg Administration and in no way reflects the voice or concerns of CORD and all other community organizations which is to keep politics out and to let the science speak for itself. EPA is the logical choice to address this clean-up because they are experts in the business of cleaning up toxic sites, not the city or state. We support the EPA based on science and a proven record.

Our consistent call to be added to the Superfund list is based on facts that have been explained over and over again and remain undisputed by the impartial and non political experts in this field. It appears as if Congress Member Clarke is falling right in line with all the city politicians who are attempting to drag out this process based on irrelevant information and disregard our community filled with people who actually live and work in this area. The city only began to take an interest in the Gowanus after they made their behind the scenes development deals and the Superfund investigation became public.

Even if it took the EPA 10 years, that is 10 better than it has been for the past 100 years. It is not the time frame but rather who is best suited and equipped to complete this job properly. The Superfund Project was established specifically to address sites such as the Gowanus and the issues surrounding this project could not be more on point with what the EPA's sole purpose. Let them do their job. Deanna, if you had a flood in your home which became toxic would you call a city politician to fix it?

Congress Member Clarke is either not fully informed or doesn't understand the issues or if she does, has chosen to disregard them.

Thank you,

R. S.,
Carroll Gardens Resident
"

Friday, November 13, 2009

A Poignant Comment to Rep. Clarke's Superfund Response

Hello from CORD!

You have been sending us your comments......(SEE our LINK at http://carrollgardenspetition.blogspot.com/2009/11/superfund-designation-letter-writing.html

Please read on!
What follows is a particularly thoughtful comment from one of your neighbors.
.
Remember, you can always write to us at cgcord@gmail.com


"Deanna,


I did not attend the meeting with my House Representative, Yvette Clarke, but I am concerned about her understanding of the issues as expressed in her focus on the Superfund time-frame.

The real concern that Representative Clarke should be raising is how long would an environmental cleanup take should the EPA Superfund process not be engaged now to address all the conditions here in the Gowanus?

Representative Clarke should take the time to question how long it would take the city to run a cleanup which would achieve the same level of environmental remediation as the EPA plan. To state that something will take too long requires a comparison--too long compared to what? Twenty years compared to the current course of doing nothing about the contamination in the Gowanus might be considered a brief time--especially considering that the community has been calling for action for more than a hundred years. And if the work was done in ten years, as the EPA projects, what a drop-in-the-bucket!

It has also become evident by now, to all those who have taken the time to understand what the City is offering under the city's alternative-alternative cleanup plan, that this plan is untested and riddled with processes and programs that are open to endless delays--if they were ever to get off the ground at all. There is great uncertainty that any remediation actions would ever take place under the City Plan which lacks a dedicated funding process, experience, and legal authority.

If Representative Clarke is sincerely concerned about the time-line for a Gowanus cleanup she should do all that she can to get the Superfund effort off the ground and not play along with the delay tactics that have been put into place by the city. She should do all that she can to call for full cooperation between the City and the EPA to ensure the shortest time line to get to our common goal.

Thank you,
M. Donnelly

Response to Rep. Clarke: "Frustrated Brooklynite on Third Street"‏

HELLO FROM CORD!

On Friday October 30, 2009, several pro-Superfund community residents met with legislative staff members of our Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, regarding her position (?) on the nomination of the Gowanus Canal to the National Priorities list as a Superfund site. On Friday November 6 we received a response from Rep. Clarke’s office. We were expecting more and asked you for your opinion.

Over the next days, we will be posting your comments…(Please feel free to continue to send in your comments to
cgcord@gmail.com)

Here is a response to Rep. Clarke from “Frustrated Brooklynite on Third Street”:

"I expected more from Rep. Clarke. First of all at the EPA presentation the EPA estimated that it would take 10 years from start to finish not 20. A timeline is fine. Too bad she didn't have anyone from her office at the presentation."


Frustrated Brooklynite on Third Street

Friday, November 6, 2009

A RESPONSE from Rep. Clarke?...sort of.....

Hello from CORD!
We have received the following update from Rep. Clarke's office re:



"Dear All:

I would like to thank every one that was able to attend, for coming to our office to express your concerns and issues regarding the Superfund designation of the Gowanus Canal. I apologize for the delay in responding to you, however I was out sick and the Hill has been hectic due to many Federal issues that are being addressed this week (and actually the House will be in session in to the weekend).

Congress Member Clarke did speak with EPA Administrator Jackson on Tuesday, November 3rd to discuss the on-going process. The Congress member raised serious concerns and asked some poignant question of Administrator Jackson, and raised many of the concerns brought to our attention by meeting with you.

One of the main issues raised by the Congresswoman was the sense of urgency for the clean-up of the canal. She pointed out that there is concern in the community that the Superfund process could take up to 20 years, which is unacceptable to her. She pointed out how long the community has waited for the clean-up and asked if, given the EPA’s own analysis of how polluted the canal is, could the project be listed as a priority on their agenda. Further, the Member made a request for a detailed timeline that would outline, from beginning to end, the process and target dates.

We are still awaiting the EPA’s response to the questions raised and as soon as we receive this response I will be in touch with further information.

Best,

Deanna"


Deanna R. Bitetti, District Representative
Office of U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke
Brooklyn District Office
123 Linden Blvd., 4th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11226
Ph: 718-287-1142 Fax: 718-287-1223
Email: Deanna.Bitetti@mail.house.gov



We were expecting more! Were you? Please write to us at cgcord@gmail.com.

CORD

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Superfund Designation Letter Writing Campaign Gets Results so Please Continue Writing!!‏

HELLO FROM CORD!

We wanted to thank those of you who participated in the letter writing campaign to Congresswoman Yvette Clarke. Although we do not know how many of you sent the letter we posted, we do know that your efforts resulted in a meeting with members of assorted local civic organizations and Rep Clarke's staff.

On Friday, October 30th, a video teleconference took place at Rep Clarke's Brooklyn office. At that meeting, we learned that Congresswoman Clarke had arranged a meeting with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson that took place on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Attendees from local civic groups who attended the Friday meeting at Rep Clarke's office took the opportunity to express their concerns and to ask for Rep Clarke's assistance in taking out the politics in this Superfund designation process. We hoped that Rep Clarke would use her time with Administrator Jackson to stress the importance of the science rather than the political agenda(s) of any group or group(s). It is simply impossible for anyone to ignore or trivialize the percentage of toxins in that canal sediment

Deanna Bitetti, Legislative Aide to Rep Clarke assured us that a response to the letters received and an update on the meeting with Administrator Jackson would follow within a day or two.

We have not heard anything yet. We anxiously await news from our Congressional representative.

But, we did want to let you know that for those of you who took the time to cut and paste the letter, send it and then resend it when you had trouble with the official website, your efforts did make a difference.

There is a true solidarity and spirit of unity in this community that has been forged by our shared views on this most important environmental and health issue. One distinguished community member accurately describes this situation as, "the environmental challenge of our lifetime."

We must continue to let our elected officials know that we still care, that we are still very much in favor of the designation---and communicating this information through email directly to them and their staff is indeed, effective.

On that note, we ask you to continue contacting them---resend them the letter posted below---or if possible, send them one in your own words.....For your convenience, we are re posting the letter and including the email addresses of each of our electeds.

After copy and pasting, simply type in the name of the individual elected at the top , and signoff with your name and address at the bottom...Thank you all so much

CORD


Please copy past your letter and send it to the addresses listed below!

Write “ATTN SUPERFUND DESIGNATION!” in the subject.

For your convenience we have re-copied the letter we have posted at our blog. You can also write your own letter!

Please do not forget to "sign" the cut and pasted letter with your name and full address---this is very important!

Dear ________ :

We are residents of the Gowanus area. Our neighborhoods may have different names such as Carroll Gardens or Park Slope, but we are the people whose lives are touched every single day by the deplorable condition of the Gowanus Canal.

We are the people who applauded Commissioner Grannis's request to nominate this open sewer to the National Priorities List.
We are the people who signed a petition in support of that nomination. We are the people who attended the multiple meetings held in our community.

We are the people who obediently sent in our comments to the Environmental Protection Agency in the prescribed, timely manner and we are the people who have been waiting patiently for science and common sense to lead our Canal into the healthier life the Superfund designation would offer us all.

We are the people who are beginning to strongly feel that what residents want is of no importance; that the desires of those who stand to benefit financially somehow trumps the health of those who inhabit the area.

We are your constituents. Our pro designation comments represent the majority and we ask that you speak on our behalf.
The Gowanus Canal must be added to the National Priorities List. It must be designated a Superfund site. Work must begin with the sole motivation of improving public health and the environment.

No other plan, no other dream, no other ambition is more important.

No other course of action should be permitted to take precedence over the health of Gowanus area residents and our children.
The EPA indicated in those community meetings that they are ready, willing and able to proceed.

We are the people. Represent us, please. Call E.P.A. Administrator Lisa Jackson

Signed, XXXX

Address, XXXX



For Congresswoman Clarke

deanna.bitetti@mail.house.gov

For President Obama
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

For Governor Paterson
http://161.11.121.121/govemail

For Senator Schumer,
http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/contact.cfm

For Senator Gillibrand,
http://gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/

CORD HISTORY:

With the "Protect Our Homes" petition, CORD was formed in May, 2007. This petition arose as an overwhelmingly negative response to the coming of the over-sized 360 Smith Street Development at the corner of Smith Street and Second Place (Aka Oliver House; aka 131 Second Place). This petition, which had well over three thousand signatures, led to a new zoning text amendment in summer of 2008.

To: Our Elected Officials, Community Leaders, The MTA:
(MAY, 2007)

We the undersigned Carroll Gardens homeowners and residents, are appalled by the "as of right" ruling which allows owners and developers to erect buildings in our neighborhood with no regard to the impact they will present to our quality of life and the value of our homes........

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?crlgrdns