Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend the D.E.C. hearing held last night but a friend filled me on on the particulars…
This was a public hearing regarding two of the toxic parcels of land at Garvies Point: Doxey and Captain’s Cove. People keep saying “Captain’s Cove,” but make no mistake, this is a Federal Superfund Site. Although a lot of work has been done to remediate this land (using federal dollars and grants) the land here is by no means clean.
At the meeting attendees were told by D.E.C. officials multiple times that “this meeting is solely for discussion of the clean-up efforts at Doxey and Captain’s Cove, it is not about the development.”
Got it. But then why were city workers present holding large signs supporting RXR’s proposed development?
Let’s break this down: this is a public hearing where citizens of Glen Cove and surrounding towns show up to voice concerns about the health of their children – topics included things like cancer clusters, tetrachloroethylene and “[toxin] vapor barriers,” and Mayor Spinello decides to politicize this, having City of Glen Cove workers show up carrying large signs which support the RXR development plan. Real classy. Apparently one attendee even called them out on it!
Of course my first question was were these workers – paid by City of Glen Cove tax dollars – on the clock last night as they stood there with their protest signs? Probably not, but you can bet when their boss asked them to attend, dressed in their official uniforms, they felt pressure to do so. The mayor and his cronies had their own city workers weigh their livelihoods against the decision to show up with signs.
What does this tell us about Mayor Spinello, his government and the major supporters behind this proposed mega-development? Why would they politicize a meeting billed solely about the public health?
Desperation? Fear? A complete lack of integrity? Take your pick.
In a larger sense, it’s just more evidence that the mayor is hell-bent on forcing this project upon us – no matter what steps have to be taken. It’s like Machiavelli (minus the shrewd mind).
And, to be honest, I feel terrible for the workers who stood their with their pro-Garvies Point development signs. Did they read the Site Plan? If they had, they would have seen the plans for large temporary housing of migrant labor that would be used to build this. If they had, they would see that RXR promises to use a small amount of local labor. And “local” in this sense doesn’t mean Glen Cove – all of Nassau or perhaps all of Long Island could be considered local labor for a project of this scope. Do these workers think that RXR / Glen Isle would be hiring union workers to build this monstrosity? That’s laughable.
And these workers are among the most likely to get get sick from the toxins which still remain at Captain’s Cove.
So, just as the mayor seems to misrepresent so many points to the public, even his own workforce is something to be used as patsies in this shell game.
Dear Mayor Spinello: Last night, we were concerned about the health of our families for generations to come, not scoring pithy political points. Shame on you and this callous display.
