You may have read Urban Fusion lynchpin Michele Finn's words to her peeps, as reprinted here a week ago:
Urban Fusion update: Soil remediation necessary at 707 Culbertson.
... Some have stated that we can make 707 Culbertson Ave safe quickly. I personally will not accept a quick fix. According to the University of Massachusetts Lab levels of over 300 ppm are not safe for children or pregnant women. They would be at risk for lead poisoning. The current level is 393 ppm. My children will be with me all summer and we have gardener(s) that are expecting. Even if we made the back of the lot safe, the dirt mounds around the Emery's building and the lead paint on the building itself would contaminate our clean soil. Not to mention, where would the money come from to do so? Where would the money and efforts come from to fix the Emery's building? We have lost this season's planting window already. It's time keep looking.
Previously, NABC had donated to the community garden, and Michele phoned me over the weekend, reiterating that because the 707 Culbertson site was now off the table, I had the option to withdraw the contribution ... which I'd been told would be routed to her on behalf of Urban Fusion through Keep New Albany Clean and Green -- not that Clean and Green was running the Urban Fusion show.
Yesterday I asked her to send back the money, and I will redirect it to whatever project Michele comes up with. The point in all this? From the start, Urban Fusion seemed to be Michele's baby. Meanwhile, Daniel Suddeath's newspaper report today makes no mention of Michele at all.
So, who's the organizer, anyway -- and who's in charge?
Organizers say lead contamination won’t hinder community garden in New Albany; Levels were only slightly above trigger level, officials say
NEW ALBANY — Organizers said Wednesday they will proceed with a community garden despite lead contamination being discovered on the Culbertson Avenue site.
The amount of lead found in the soil at 707 Culbertson Ave. is only slightly more than what is considered an acceptable level and measures have already been taken to guard against exposure, Keep New Albany Clean and Green Vice President Jerry Finn said.
The organization is heading the effort to open the Urban Fusion Community Garden at the site, and recently the historic Emery’s Ice Cream Shop building was moved to the property to serve as a planting and canning education center.
Hi, this is Michele Finn. I didn't get a chance to speak with Daniel before the article ran. He had tried to contact me, I had tried to call him back. It didn't work out.
ReplyDeleteThe article only touches the surface of what's in the works. Yes, I have stepped back from this site. When I first announced this I was a bit frustrated with the situation and concerned that the fix would not be up to my standards.
Jerry and I have been working together and I have told him that I need documentation of the procedures that are being used to reassure myself and the public that the project is moving forward with the health of the public put first. The documents will be provided and I truly believe that we will see positive results and I will be able to work at that site knowing it is safe for my family.
Greg Sekula plans to use the Emery's building painting as an education tool for the public. He plans on teaching ways of testing for lead and how to remove toxic paint safely once it has been found.
We are still looking at other garden sites in conjunction with this site. If you have any other questions, fire away. There are bumps with all projects and this is one is no exception.
I would like to add that I plan on working with the this project after all has been made safe. The lead content is at a level of est. 393 ppm. Not safe for pregnant women and children range is from 300-999.
ReplyDeleteFrom UMASS EXT office~
*If estimated lead totals are above 300 ppm, young children and pregnant women should avoid contact with the soil. Estimated levels of lead above 2000 ppm are considered a concern for all users and may represent a hazardous waste station.
So it's at a level safe for adults, just not expecting adults or children where the brain development is still in the works.