-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Nov. 14, 1996
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------

4 inches of toxic sludge

"Clean up Boston's Love Canal!"

By Stevan Kirschbaum, Vice president, Steel Workers Local 8751, Boston

Over 150 angry residents jammed into the Roslindale Community Center Nov. 4 to demand justice in the wake of a toxic sewage flood that had engulfed their neighborhood.

For over two hours the standing-room- only crowd fired questions and demands at city, state and federal officials.

The meeting was organized by African American, Haitian, Latino and white neighbors who had united into the newly formed Archdale/Roslindale Coalition-a community group built on militant union principles.

It was the first time since the flood that all authorities responsible for dealing with the disaster had assembled in one room to face the community. Officials were present from the mayor's office, Boston Water and Sewer Commission, Mass Water Resources Authority, and Federal Emergency Management Administration.

Lost all they had

On Oct. 20, the multinational working-class community had turned into a toxic-dump nightmare. A river of untreated raw sewage, storm water, home-heating oil from burst tanks, household chemicals, diesel fuel, and an undetermined mix of other toxins blanketed a 10-street area.

Street by street, in public as well as private housing, basements, living rooms and kitchens filled with a deadly stew. It crested over seven feet in some areas.

Cars were destroyed. Families lost their entire life savings in furniture, clothing, food and appliances.

"I've lost my living room, kitchen, my car and my son's room, which was flooded to the ceiling. But worst of all is this photo," Antonio Martinez said, showing the hopelessly damaged only photo of his deceased sister.

That night all utilities were turned off in the area. Archdale Public Housing remained without utilities and heat for three days. Other families had no utilities for over two weeks.

After the waters receded, sewage-soaked debris and four inches of sludge covered the community.

Official negligence

The city, the mayor, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission and the Mass Water Resources Authority initially said the flood was caused by a storm and was therefore an act of god.

But the community charges that this tragedy resulted from negligence on the part of the agencies responsible for water and sewage.

All authorities had been alerted to the crisis early on Sunday morning, Oct. 20. But the urgent appeals of scores of residents were not answered.

Before 10 a.m. Sunday morning, when the storm was just beginning, sewage was already backing up through the sewer covers. No effort was made to open every available exit route for the toxic flood water until nearly 28 hours later. By that time the damage was done.

Adding insult to injury, city and state officials told the community the disaster was not the government's fault so it was the residents' responsibility to pump out and clean up.

An ad hoc committee of residents speaking Creole, Spanish and English mobilized block by block. Hour by hour, they alerted residents to the dangerous toxins and gained support for the demand that the city pump and clean up every inch of the neighborhood.

The committee organized literally on the street after being locked out of the local city-run community center. Three major street rallies per day were held in the first week.

By Monday evening the city and state changed their position and started pumping out the houses and backyards, repairing and replacing electrical and heating systems. Flying squads from the committee moved to the hardest-hit areas to make sure those homes were pumped.

Every step of the way the community has had to fight. After pumping out the water, the city refused to have professionals remove the hazardous toxic-soaked debris. They even cynically organized City Year, a city-run youth group, to perform some of the cleanup. The community stood firm.

Within a day a professional waste-removal firm began the cleanup of houses. But the toxic sludge still blankets the neighborhood.

Scores of people have suffered sewage-related illnesses, including diarrhea, nausea, headaches, persistent severe skin rashes and eye infections.

Idola Pierre-Louis has blotches the size of silver dollars covering her body. John Hanula has carbon-monoxide poisoning from the fumes remaining in his home.

An elderly resident suffered a heart attack after trying to clean up the toxins himself.

For days children were literally swimming in what they thought was storm water but was toxic waste. To date no full, accurate public-health alert has been issued to the residents.

The coalition has demanded an analysis of water and soil.

It is clear to the coalition that if four inches of toxic sludge were to coat the wealthy, white Beacon Hill or Back Bay sections of Boston, they would be cleaned immediately.

Demand independent inquiry

Archdale/Roslindale mainly contains housing projects and working-class family homes. Most residents are African American, Latino, Haitian and/ or immigrant.

It is still unclear exactly what caused the disaster and which agency or combination was at fault. The coalition has called for an independent commission of inquiry.

In a storm, do the authorities decide which neighborhood gets the system backflush? Did they choose this area? Why was no public health alert issued? Why was there no timely response to this disaster?

The community suspects racism.

At the meeting the officials passed the buck, pointed fingers at others and ducked responsibility. But they all had to come.

The Archdale/Roslindale Coalition, with over 250 families now in its ranks, made clear to them that as a united neighborhood they are prepared to fight until every inch of the community is cleaned up and full compensation is made to every resident for all losses.

[Stevan Kirschbaum's home in Roslindale was flooded. He's a member of the Coordinating Committee of the new coalition.]

- END -

(Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted if source is cited. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: ww@wwpublish.com. For subscription info send message to: ww-info@wwpublish.com. Web: http://www.workers.org)

Copyright © 1996 workers.org