As some of you probably already know, there is a plan moving forward to build an affordable housing complex on a site contaminated with lead, acetone, PCB, manganese, and a host of other harmful and toxic chemicals. What is worse is that both the developer and Ithaca city officials knew of the contamination as early as 2012 but did not disclose it to the public or on the funding applications they submitted to the Ithaca Urban Redevelopment Agency or to HUD. After much outcry from concerned citizens, the developer, INHS submitted a mitigation plan to the DEC which will result in only minimal clean up and no further testing on the site to determine the full extent of the contamination, particularly in and under the building that will be demolished. Yesterday, HUD weighed in, requiring the city to re-do their Environmental Assessment. See todays article in the Ithaca Voice: ithacavoice/2014/08/feds-say-ithacas-low-income-housing-developers-failed-disclose-toxic-contamination/ That is real progress, but it is not enough. The contamination will only be cleaned up if we keep the pressure on. And to do that, we need your help. If you have not already done so, please read and consider signing the petition that those of us who live in the neighborhood have put together. It asks the mayor to withhold final approval for the project until the entire site has been tested and all the contamination mitigated to the highest level possible. You can read more about the issue and find the petition here: spencerroad.org/ Together, we can help to ensure that all housing built in Ithaca is safe and healthy housing. Thanks for your consideration,
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:40:19 +0000