I just got word about last night’s forum on the future of Gowanus, Envisioning a Green Gowanus & Beyond. The series, presented by the Fifth Avenue Committee, hopes to ensure community participation in the Gowanus Canal Superfund and other community redevelopment processes.
Last night’s forum, Making a Splash, was held at The Old American Can Factory. Community residents, elected officials and other local leaders were there, in addition to representatives from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and members of the EPA’s Community Advisory Group (CAG).
The “Making a Splash” forum highlighted what the public can expect from the Superfund process. The forum included an educational presentation by experts from the Edison Wetlands Association about their extensive experiences with the Superfund clean-up process and the importance of on-going community participation.
A representative from the US EPA also provided details on the government agency’s role and mission to remediate the site. Local City Councilmember Brad Lander also voiced his commitment to being a part of the community discussions and efforts to encourage efficient, thoughtful clean up of the waterway and new development alongside the Canal.
There were also small group discussions facilitated by FAC and the Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) and shared questions and concerns with the group at large that will be addressed in future forums. The community’s major questions and concerns focused on the risks to the community at large associated with the existing level of contamination and the clean-up that will occur, the timeline of the Superfund clean-up, how community members can remain an informed and contributing part of the process, and how the community can hold the US EPA, the State and City of New York and other involved groups accountable to the goal of creating a clean and healthy Gowanus Canal.
This event was the first of a series of forums to be held on the future of the Gowanus, and feedback from last night will inform topics of the forums to come.
Why is FAC conducting yet another set of meetings to cover the very same material that is covered under the CAG–EPA’s Community Advisory Group? The must be some hidden agenda going on here that doesn’t come across in this report.
People in this community have real lives to live beyond attending meetings about Gowanus. Lets keep the community focus inside the CAG. Anyone can attend and should attend the CAG meetings if they have limited time for community involvement but want to stay informed and have input.
Next CAG meeting is scheduled for DEC 6th.