Another victim of NYC's decision to close its only landfill, Fresh Kills, Elizabeth citizens complain of hundreds of eighteen-wheelers lining their streets with "black diesel fumes." Parrish charges WMI with causing epidemics of asthma, setting off a "political charade," spreading "stenching smells and its concomitant viruses, bacteria, fungi, and well, guess what else ... raccoons and rats." On December 1st, members of St. John's chased a first ever seen raccoon from their downtown cemetery.
Claiming that WMI responsible for starting "the closest to one of the plagues (roaches instead of locusts) of Old Testament Egypt yet witnessed, Parrish provided all listeners with an eloquent " Environmental Update - December 9, 1999" and declared Elizabeth "neither safe nor healthful due to the huge new import of mountains of putrescent garbage from New York City."
The Mickey Walker Community Center is located just one block from the transfer station where trucks arrive from NYC. Then trash is packed for long haul to Virginia or Pennsylvania. At a community meeting (1/13/00) at the center, residents complained of damage to backyard fences and banging of bins cracking house foundations along with trucks all over and traveling illegal routes.At the meeting Elizabeth Mayor Bollwage agreed with many of the citizen complaints. He announced that he had talked to WMI about using the transfer station at the Meadowlands. Parrish had almost cynically suggested the transfer station in Trenton, Governor Christy Whitman's residence.
The suggestion of the use of other transfer stations are not the only short term plans. NYC Mayor Giuliani had suggested barging the trash to Newark and Carteret with the customary userfee bribe, but New Yorkers and NJ residents of these two cities protested. In addition, Parrish and the community have complained to the State environmental and health leaders. Little action has resulted. But there is a "glimmer of hope," reports Parrish. Linden, the city south of Elizabeth, has just approved a barge/Conrail plan with BFI which at least would stop the increase of trash collected at Elizabeth.
With 1/3rd of New York City's exported waste going to Elizabeth and more possibly coming with the final closing of Fresh Kills landfill in December 2001, One can only determine that racism is alive and well and the least powerful get trashed.