Mayor Bloomberg continues to fight the Superfund designation of the Gowanus canal despite the fact that the city has only $15 million to devote to it's cleanup—pocket lint to the billionaire exec. The money, which cover a cleanup of only 10 percent of the canal, would dredge three feet of sewage and debris but none of the additional layers industrial waste accumulated over the last century and beyond.
The latest "plan" from the Bloomberg administration is asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a handout—a portion of the $150 million it will cost to totally dredge the canal. The rest of the money from this
asinine excuse for an agenda is to ask the polluting companies to voluntarily pay for the cleanup—something that Superfund designation would demand, using the judicial system. That's right, they're going to ask some other people to clean it up instead of a Federal handout that will guarantee a clean waterway.EPA Emergency and Remidial Response Director Walter Mugdan doubts that the city will get enough money from the Army Corps. During a time of bonus freezing and pay cuts, what company doles out millions as a friendly gesture to angry Brooklynites? In the end, Bloomberg only cares about the $400 million in potential developer money in Carroll Gardens and Gowanus—neighborhoods that have been bathed in toxic pollutants for years.
