One community member with first hand knowledge of the Stroh farm, swamp, Drain etc. recently died. There are many others however who are still with us. Generally speaking they are keeping their heads down to avoid being shot - figuratively not literally I hope. Speaking from experience I can advise that there are consequences in this town for speaking out. For speaking the truth. Most especially for speaking truth to power. The big players have an exaggerated view of their own superiority and influence. Yes they have run local politics forever and not in anybody's interests but their own.
Some of these community members may honestly think that by now the Stroh swamp and accompanying Uniroyal chemicals are ancient history. In one sense they are correct. Sights and odours of a repugnant nature generally seem long gone. The bad old days as late as 1998-2000 in which the Duke St. rowdies took up arms (figuratively again) against horrible overnight emissions from Uniroyal/Crompton are gone. The Creek (Canagagigue) no longer runs in different colours depending upon which products Uniroyal are producing. Downstream cattle as far as I know are not dying as they did back in 1965 (Leander Martin's).
Our drinking water has sort of been restored via a pipeline from Waterloo to Elmira. Uniroyal/Lanxess are no longer front page news. Yes they are still fabricating feel good stories and pretending that chemical companies no longer kill people either directly or indirectly. Tell that to the residents of Elmira who passed on prematurely due to alleged natural causes. Tell that to any Stroh family members who lived for decades next to that chemical swamp and paid the price. Does any amount of money properly compensate for ill health and a shortened life? Will these knowledgeable community members step up and speak out in time ?
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