Aaron Besecker reported this afternoon the state DEC plans to dump 75,000 tons of PCB contaminated waste at CWM in Niagara County.
I don’t know what Maziarz plans to do. He says, “….everything I can to make sure this does not happen.” How about everything he should do. Possibly what he should do is go beyond what is likely to be failed institutional bureaucratic appeals to stop any further abuse of the Niagara region.
Why not appeal to the people to write in, make calls and even especially get out on the street and stop these trucks carrying the contaminated waste from entering Niagara County and further devastation of our “world class destination.”
If Maziarz has the clout I keep hearing about why not mobilize the people. Use the community as it should be used. Invoke a populist appeal and let it be known that we’re not going to take it anymore.
If we don’t respect ourselves, who will respect us? This protest could be a national spectacle to show what is possible when a conventional politician gets out from behind the desk and the TV cameras and takes to the streets. This would be true leadership and not the ritual “representation” that we’ve all seen too much of and no longer trust.
If Maziarz can pull this off (and there’s no reason he can’t) he’s got my vote. And as far as the protest goes I’ll be on the street with George and would proudly go to jail if need be to get this done.
If whatever Maziarz has in mind works, short of what I propose, God bless him and more power to him. But I’m not holding my breath.
Let Maziarz do his job and lead us into action.
7 comments:
Lets hope he does keep his word and does something to stop it. But lets not forget that CWM has donated alot of money to his campaign
Larry,
I'm surprised you are not better digital connected – Maziarz already came out with the following statement:
Dear Friend,
You may have heard the news reports that 75,000 tons of toxic PCBs are heading our way for landfilling in Porter. This news caught everyone by surprise.
I want you to know I am strongly urging the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new, safer plan for disposing of these PCBs. There are alternatives to landfilling them in our neighborhood, and we're going to try to come up with a better solution.
You can read the full text of my letter to DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis by clicking here.
Sincerely,
George D. Maziarz
Senator, 62nd District
And the copy of his letter to Pete Grannis:
SENATOR MAZIARZ SAYS "NO" TO MORE PCBs in NIAGARA
July 11, 2008
Commissioner Pete Grannis
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-1011
Dear Commissioner Grannis:
During your long and distinguished career in the State Assembly, you were known as someone who always believed that the health and safety of a community must be first and foremost in dealing with environmental cleanup issues. That is why I was very disturbed and perplexed by an article in the July 10th edition of the Buffalo News regarding 75,000 tons of toxic PCB waste that is slated to come to Niagara County from the DEC cleanup of a former salvage yard for General Electric in Queensbury, Warren County.
According to this article, DEC initially solicited bids for contractors who would utilize thermal desorption, a process which isolates toxins using heat, for the cleanup work. But because bids were too high, that plan was scrapped and the dirtiest of the material will now be hauled in 1,500 truckloads across New York State and across most of Niagara County to a hazardous waste landfill in Porter.
Our state boasts a $123.7 billion budget and a DEC led by one of the most renowned environmentalists in the history of the State Legislature. I am appalled, therefore, that we are going to move forward with a plan that is less safe and less clean based on no more compelling reason than bids were too high.
I urge you in the strongest sense possible to delay any further work or awarding of contracts until you and I have had an opportunity to discuss this issue and explore alternatives. For example, GE owns and operates a licensed landfill in Schenectady. In light of GE’s role in creating the waste, wouldn’t the company’s private landfill be an appropriate repository for this material?
Let me be clear that I have no interest in allowing any toxic waste from the Queensbury site to be imported into Niagara County, and I plan on seeking every remedy possible to prevent it.
I look forward to discussing this matter in the immediate future.
Sincerely,
George D. Maziarz
Senator, 62nd District
My impression is he was not aware of NY State awarding this deal to CWM until we all did.
Rob and Larry,
It looks like Maziarz is working this issue - what is Assemblywoman
Francine DelMonte doing?
I have not seen anything from her publicly and she has the same amount of responsibility to the residents that she represents.
Oh I forgot, she needs to check will the downstate bosses before doing anything, so maybe we will hear something next week.
Agreed regarding Delmonte. I guess I hear so little about her I don't even expect anything as a possibility. I know this probably looks like I'm favoring the Dems and challenging the Repubs to make them look bad. But that's not my intent nor modus operandi. Maziarz is undoubtedly the strongest and capable of mobilizing. I'm glad Maziarz made the statement and I should be better attuned but I'm not. I'll work at it. Nevertheless he could play a greater role in mobilizing people. He's called for public scrutiny in the past. Why not try to call explicityly for it. Lead a popular protest of some sort. Such leverage he has and so little action. ... And yes if Delmonte is not her own person, we are all the worse off for it. .... But what about Rob's claim that Maziarz takes money from CWM. Is Maziarz letter all hot air and no action; other than maybe a token letter to DEC. Yes, I am very cynical, not because it's Maziarz but because it looks like dejavu all over again.
Well I guess I'm calling Rob Clark out becasue I just ran a Campaign Finance Disclosure Report for Maziars and CWM is NOT in the list.
In fact I can't think of any reason any elected offical would want to accept any monies from them.
ROB I'm still calling you out - put up or eat crow.
ANONYMOUS, check again. There are people listed that are in the employment of CWM.
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