Lennar’s Dust Cloud Leaves Hunters Point Residents UpsetPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Jul. 10‚ 2007Yesterday, the Board of Supervisors’ Land Use Committee heard emotional testimony about dust and asbestos at the Hunters Point Shipyard, where the Lennar Corporation – under contract with the Redevelopment Agency – has excavated rock to build a massive condo complex. Health Department representatives were on hand to assure that, despite an admitted 3-month gap in monitoring, an excess in asbestos levels and Lennar’s non-compliance with dust abatement, the exposure was not toxic and there was no proof that health problems were caused by it. But plenty of residents testified that dust levels have correlated with a rise of asthma, as well as questioned allowing Lennar to continue the work without a moratorium to get an independent evaluation of the health risks involved. But as the Board considers Chris Daly’s resolution urging the Health Department to halt construction on the premises, Supervisor Sophie Maxwell reminded the crowd that they really can’t do anything – they can only ask the Mayor to do the right thing. After all, the City allowed Redevelopment to take over land use decisions in Hunters Point, paving the way for Lennar to bulldoze and excavate the ground. |