Toxic cover ups
Excellent article in the Miami New Times about the toxic chemicals in Coconut Grove parks and other areas. It seems that they recently found arsenic in a small patch of soil outside City Hall including petroleum residue, assumed to be there from the Pan Am days in the 1930s.
While the city plays it down, it's been shown that rates of pancreatic cancer in and around Coconut Grove are higher than they should be, possibly due to drinking water from private wells.
As for all this artificial grass, the Astroturf we have been seeing lately, it seems that it is being used to cover up the messes. They are using it to "cap" the toxins. Blache Park has had the turf for quite a while now and an athletic field in Armbrister Park is being given over $200,000 as a gift of Astroturf by the builder of the controversial trolley garage in Village West, Astor Development.
Old Smokey, the old incinerator next to Armbrister Park in Village West was discovered to have all types of toxins. It tested positive for arsenic, lead, cadmium and a lot more toxins. It's been thought that the local government has known about this for years, yet daily, school kids, sports teams and all sorts of events take place in the park. I was recently at an event in that park.
University of Miami student Zach Lipshultz uncovered this innocently enough when he got involved in the trolley mess in Village West, one thing led to another and as it turns out, the contaminated areas all were exposed. Zach is part of the Village West's pro bono legal group fighting the Coral Gables trolley garage/maintenance facility in Coconut Grove's Village West.
While the city plays it down, it's been shown that rates of pancreatic cancer in and around Coconut Grove are higher than they should be, possibly due to drinking water from private wells.
 |
| Old Smokey site today |
Old Smokey, the old incinerator next to Armbrister Park in Village West was discovered to have all types of toxins. It tested positive for arsenic, lead, cadmium and a lot more toxins. It's been thought that the local government has known about this for years, yet daily, school kids, sports teams and all sorts of events take place in the park. I was recently at an event in that park.
University of Miami student Zach Lipshultz uncovered this innocently enough when he got involved in the trolley mess in Village West, one thing led to another and as it turns out, the contaminated areas all were exposed. Zach is part of the Village West's pro bono legal group fighting the Coral Gables trolley garage/maintenance facility in Coconut Grove's Village West.
posted by Tom Falco at 6:00 AM
YOU MAY NOT LIFT THE PHOTOS & TEXT. IT'S COPYRIGHTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. YOU CAN HOWEVER SHARE A STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY USING THE LINKS HERE.
For linking to this one story, just click on the time it was posted & just this story will open for sharing - only through social media. Not copying and pasting.
6 Comments:
It seems highly unlikely that Armbrister Field will be getting its $200,000.
Allegedly corrupt Commissioner Marc D. Sarnoff told the residents at the Trolleygate Dog and Pony Show [documented on my blog] that if there was opposition to the government vehicle maintenance facility, the bribe -- err, sorry, not a bribe, just a cash offer to push the project through -- would likely be withdrawn.
Since that building will never be a government vehicle maintenance facility, the developer is, presumably, under no obligation to restore Armbrister Field.
However, back to the topic of toxic soil: Isn't it interesting how fast the Marc D. Sarnoff Memorial Dog Park received attention, when the city has known for years about other toxic hot spots? But those other areas are *NOT* across the street from Sarnoff's house and, furthermore, are in minority neighbourhoods.
Some things never change.
All the taxes, bonds and promises of quality of life. This makes me sick.
Ironically the City hall is toxic and contaminated according to the excellent New Times article.
Arsenic at City Hall? That's the first good argument I've ever heard for keeping City Hall where it is.
Why is no one addressing the Coconut Grove Cancer Cluster? Also they are tearing down the Convention Center to build a Park and that land is also contaminated!
what cancer cluster
Post a Comment
<< Home