Friday, April 20, 2018

Contractor dumped lead contaminated soil near Middle Village school

Photo by Christopher Barca/Queens Chronicle
From the Queens Chronicle:

A $22 million sewer main project in Middle Village that was nearing completion suddenly stalled in December, and no one in the community knew exactly why.

There was some talk among area leaders that workers were transferred to another job site or that they had various problems digging into the ground.

But on Tuesday, Councilman Bob Holden (D-Middle Village) said the real reason for the project’s halting was much scarier.

“The Department of Design and Construction sent four representatives to my office on Friday and they told me the project stopped because of contaminants in the soil,” Holden said. “I asked one gentleman what were the contaminents in the soil.

“He said high levels of lead.”

As if that wasn’t a big enough issue, the lawmaker said that problematic soil that had been excavated during the Penelope Avenue sewer work is sitting in a yard leased by CAC Industries — the project contractor — across the street from PS/IS 128, a K-8 school in Middle Village.

The massive mounds of dirt had been sitting uncovered at the site, possibly for months, as a tarp wasn’t placed over them until this week.

And at both a press conference and Community Education Council District 24’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, Holden said the person who spoke about the high lead levels — a senior DDC project manager based in the immediate area — was contradicted by his colleagues over how dangerous the soil was and if it was covered.

The lawmaker added he visited the site last Friday and noticed the massive mound of soil was uncovered. But on Monday, he claimed, DDC Acting Commissioner Ana Barrio falsely told him it had been covered the entire time and that the agency project manager “misspoke” regarding lead levels.

14 comments:

JQ LLC said...

Childish lying ("I misspoke") about lead is basic protocol for de Faustio's admininstration/confederacy of dunces.

Apparently, It is not at all limited to NYCHA. Who knows what else other administrative heads in other departments are lying about, although there might be a clue and it might be in our reservoirs or in the ether because of the rampant out of scale overdevelopment in the past 5 years. (Various public schools are showing alarming high amounts)

https://www.progressqueens.com/news/2016/9/25/nyc-water-tests-from-the-last-four-years-show-increased-rates-of-results-that-exceed-15-ppb

http://www.businessinsider.com/lead-poisoning-lurks-in-new-york-areas-2017-11

Holden's persistence is very encouraging. You got a good politician there, Middle Village. This would not even be an issue if the honorable Crowley was still farting around.

Joe Moretti said...

Are we surprised anymore with shit like this. Our public servants are so far removed from what a public servant is supposed to be and none have the balls or spine to stand up for what is right. This fucking city is a MESS from top to bottom and had become so unraveled that the only thing for decent folks to do is leave and then watch form the sidelines as this shitty city falls into complete utter chaos filled with only the 1%, the poor, illegal immigrants, homeless from all over, criminals and clueless hipsters.

NYC government has completely failed the people, not that the USA government is any better, but some cities are much better than others and NYC is on the bottom of the list.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, middle Queens is a dump for practically everything that would not be tolerated in the precious privileged northeast.

Anonymous said...

Let's go back a bit in time...
CAC Industries is run by Michael Capasso. Name sound familiar? Back in the 1980's Carl "Andy" Capasso was in all the gossip columns with his girlfriend Bess Myerson the former Miss America who was 20+ years older than him Eventually Capasso was charged with various crimes and sent to jail. Myerson got into troube for influencing the judge who was handling Carl's divorce.

Let's review. CAC are the late Capasso's initials and his son was named Michael. Carl was in the construction business doing a lot of sewer work. Michael is also in the construction business doing a lot of sewer work.

Coincidence?? Nah.

Anonymous said...

Based on the turnout in the photo ,people in the neighborhood just don't care. Way to go queens.

Anonymous said...

Good chance the soil they were digging up was old landfill. The area they were working on was a swamp filled in years ago. When that occurred no one was testing soil for contaminants.

Anonymous said...

Good job Holden, he will kick ass in the council. Please keep on supporting the loyal opposition Crappie!

Anonymous said...

"Based on the turnout in the photo ,people in the neighborhood just don't care. Way to go queens."

It was a press conference to reveal the situation, not a rally.

Anonymous said...

Joe Moretti said...
Clueless hipsters ? Like the ones that pay $6.00 for a cup of coffee and $1,000.00 for a "Smart" phone ?

Anonymous said...

So that's why when they started dumping the dirt at th site, every truck that left the area was HOSED DOWN. I knew something was up when I saw that, reminded me of the days after the 9/11 attacks and they did the same at ground zero.

Joe Moretti said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Joe Moretti said...
Clueless hipsters ? Like the ones that pay $6.00 for a cup of coffee and $1,000.00 for a "Smart" phone ?

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

You mean like the one WHO CANNOT pay $6 for a cup of coffee and $1000 for a Smart Phone, but do anyway, hey that is what credit cards and mommy & daddy are for. This crowd is totally oblivious on what is going on and what is considered a CRISIS is Starbucks closing for a day or not having a new phone come out every other week. HOLLOW CONSUMERS.

Anonymous said...

Extend a tongue of JVB district to the location - problem solved.

With what is in the soil on LIC this is child's play.

Anonymous said...

Not a hipsters , ex Queens resident. Get out now. 45 years in MV was enought.

Anonymous said...

@Joe Moretti said...
Remember "An Educated Consumer is our Best Customer". ?
What happened to this current generation ? So sad to see what's going on in the world but as long they have a cell/smart phone in hand all is fine in the world.