Dear Mt. Lebanon Commissioners and School Board members,
Please "unvote" the ill-fated Wildcat Field artificial turf project. Today, I received the following press release, CONSUMER GROUP WARNS SCHOOLS AND TOWNS OF NEW QUESTIONS SURROUNDING ARTIFICIAL TURF SAFETY University of Washington assistant soccer coach, Amy Griffin reported that 13 Washington soccer players on her recruiting list have been diagnosed with rare cancers and 11 of those are goal keepers. That is horrible news!
The Artificial Turf Project, or as you like to call it, "Field Enhancement Project" has been a problem since Day 1. Lack of transparency concerning funds, the secret Turf Project Task Force meetings, intimidation tactics used at the Not For The General Public public meeting, the official statements from the Parks Advisory Board and the Environmental Sustainability Board who are in opposition to the project, an "unbiased" presentation at Mellon Middle School with Dr. McNitt - who has his private consulting business and partnership with FieldTurf, the deficiencies identified by the PA Department of Environmental Protection and Allegheny County Conservation District, the fabrication that personal donations are at risk while knowing that contracts clearly state that the donations are nonrefundable and will be used for future field improvements, the Commission President's "misrepresentation" of the ESB's position, the Commission's tunnel vision in regard to the health, safety, and environmental issues as presented by residents, and the use of municipal staff for raising non-municipal funds.
PLEASE take the time to read the 09.15.14 Press Release linked in the first paragraph. PLEASE consider the new questions surrounding the safety of artificial turf. PLEASE unvote the Wildcat and Middle Artificial Turf Project.
Elaine Gillen
5 comments:
Well, there goes Commissioner Brumfield's argument that there isn't any negative information on artificial turf.
Although I suppose he could cling to that position by refusing to read the warning.
They won't
The commission and field sports leadership have convinced a good number of people in this community that they should be "embarrassed" by the field conditions. Due to the brainwashing, and their responsibility for it, I do not see this being "unvoted".
I played soccer throughout my youth and I was never embarrassed by a field condition of my own or disgusted by another team's. I saw a wide variety of fields, across seasons and weather conditions. Never once did I hear a coach, parent, teammate or athlete complain about a field. There was a focus on the game, not the field.
But now, as an adult, I am embarrassed that my community thinks field conditions are a big deal. The vanity, pretentiousness and consumerism are very unappealing. I'd rather my kids play on bare dirt -- rain or no rain - than deal with this ridiculous artificial turf battle.
Typical response from the school board and commission. Not a word. Not only did I post this letter on the blog, but I also emailed it to the commissioners and school board directors. You would think that when you send an email to fourteen people, you would get a response from someone. Knowing the connection that Elaine Cappucci has with Mt. Lebanon Lacrosse, I understand why she backed out of the Environmental Sustainability Board. I also see why she is in favor of artificial turf. Ugh!
Elaine
The official position is "Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil" unless of course you can pin it on someone that questions the governing body's postion/agenda or spending.
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