YET ANOTHER UNIROYAL/LANXESS STORY IN THE K-W RECORD

I'm really quite perplexed regarding the latest story by Leah Gerber, titled "Recovery can take years". On the one hand any public distribution of the truth about that site is always good news. Sentences like "The property is contaminated after decades of inappropriate toxic waste disposal ..." and "For decades past owners of the property dumped tens of thousands of gallons of toxic wastes per day from the production of DDT, Agent Orange and other pesticides and herbicides." are truthful and it is very appropriate that that history not be forgotten. For that I thank you Leah Gerber and the Record. .......................................................................................................................... But....Oh my God that article goes beyond hypothetical, I hope. It appears to be talking about a day when the Uniroyal/Lanxess property has been rezoned residential from its current industrial zoning. There is also a brief mention of "...the east side...". Presumably Linda Dickson of TAG is referring to the Stroh property or is she referring to Uniroyal/Lanxess's former waste pits and ponds on the property line between themselves and the Stroh property? In fact after reading the article two or three times I'm not sure if some of the people speaking aren't referring to different properties simultaneously. .............................................................................................................................. The apparent confidence in and reliance upon Woolwich Township's zoning bylaws and Official Plan amendments are naive in the extreme. I have yet to see any written guidance documents, legislation or procedural documents that can not be grossly misinterpreted, undermined and perverted when the will for such exists. Does anybody think that corrupt governments or leaders actually put in print that for example racism, genocide and mass murder are just fine and dandy? Of course not but our world is and always has had its share of megalomaniacs, dictators and tyrants who happily engage in those practices while hiding behind their own laws and practices. .................................................................................................................................. Is this article no more than a glimpse into the future? A future whereby contaminated sites and their toxins will be allowed to leak and migrate off site for decades all the while bravely advising the public not to fear, that at some indefinite time in the future planning principles and practices will save and protect us all? Alleged studies demanding environmental cleanups after the toxins have literally spread for miles in the air, ground and surface water and soils are ridiculous. This is just one more corollary of the theme of externalizing a company's costs onto the taxpayers back. ............................................................................................................ The reality is that that future is here and has been for decades. This article unfortunately could be interpreted as a justification for the non-cleanup of both Uniroyal Chemical's property in Elmira as well as the non-cleanup of the rest of Elmira's air, water and soils. I don't believe that was its intent.