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Update October 27, 2014 7:09 AM Mt. Lebanon residents, commissioners dig into turf war
But David Brumfield, Mt. Lebanon Ward 4 commissioner, said the NBC report used anecdotal evidence from what some soccer players may have thought caused their cancer in place of actual scientific evidence. He also said that football players spend more time than anyone on turf, and there have been no complaints about the artificial turf used at the Mt. Lebanon High School football field. He said the artificial turf will increase the number of events and time of year the field can be used.
Update October 27, 2014 3:27 PM Lots of publicity! Thanks!
Not a little late; the municipality started a little early. They were supposed to wait three weeks after the permit was issued. The permit was issued on Thursday and construction started the following Monday.
25 comments:
Yes, I would like to echo thanks to the other organizers -- Dean, Suzy, and Elaine -- and the great speakers: Jeff, Adrian, and Kelly.
I think it is important that from here on out, Kelly should not rely on her necklace alone for strength. We need to work with our only elected leader who understands what it means to be responsive and considerate to the people they serve.
I was struck by the cross-section of the 70-75 people in the crowd... younger people, older people, citizens with kids, citizens without kids. It was also clearly cross-party. Perhaps this is the beginning of the non-partisan movement for transparent and responsive government in Mt. Lebanon that many of us have been talking about for some time...
On what may or may not be a side note, I was also struck by the manager/operator of the local Max & Erma's on Cochran, who came up to me after the rally to offer her restaurant to host meetings for us with free appetizers any time we want. If there's one thing I have learned about movements like these, never say no to potato skins!
And finally, for those who asked, the twins are napping well right now...
- Jason Margolis
75 people. nice protest. Methinks you protest too much.
I was surprised to learn that the Coach from U of Washington e-mailed one of the speakers. Wow! We are receiving national attention!
Bravo!
When you realize that only about 20-30% of the eligible voters of Mt Lebanon even bother to show up to vote in any given election, getting 75 people to show up at a rally on a Sunday morning is no small accomplishment. Especially when the local government is not at all responsive to opposing viewpoints.
Commissioner Fraasch spoke about the MSDS. Here is a link to the data posted on July 2, 2014.
Material Safety Data Sheet and metal testing for artificial turf from low bidder posted
"We don't know. We're not experts."
Elaine
Best rally!!!!!!!!!!! New to the movement.
I had never seen or heard the Council person before but she rocks!!!!!!!!!!!
3:28, methinks one ball on your new field is more than you have in your sack. Why not sign your name?
Where was Brumfield! Mr. Bully... Wasn't that Dan Smith's car on Crystal Drive? Why aren't people speaking out on a MILLION dollars being spent/wasted so Brumfield's kid will get a scholarship to Duke? We just had someone hit Uptown and appears that the driver was NOT impaired he did NOT see her. We need to improve our crosswalks! Hint think lawsuit! Now the rumor is that right after the Nov elections our wonderful DEMOCRAT commissioners will roll out their need for another tax increase. Included in that tax increase is the additional money needed to complete the turfing. There's still talk about the stupid indoor complex too! Luckily my boss is talking about leaving this area if Wolf is elected so we might luck out and move out of here.
Dan Smith?
Tax increase will also include our bloodthirsty dictator's deer killing. That exciting news is tomorrow night. We have had three pedestrians hit in two weeks, but deer are the real threat here.
Elaine
10:39 At least, three people have been hit by cars in Mt Lebanon in the last 3 weeks. Two were hit and runs (one driver still not found) and the other person hit was in a crosswalk. The streets where the accidents occurred were McNeilly, Washington Road, and Mt Lebo Boulevard.
See the police blotter.
But the walking school district and community has prioritized synthetic turf.... "it's safer".
I am struggling with the tire thing and how I, as a parent, have to pay extra for my child to play on a field made of hazardous materials, when the state says this about tires:
Section 101. Short title of chapter.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Waste Tire Recycling Act.
Section 102. Legislative findings.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) An estimated 36,000,000 waste tires are stockpiled in Pennsylvania.
(2) Waste tires and stockpiled tires continue to be an environmental threat to this Commonwealth.
(3) Approximately 12,000,000 waste tires are generated in Pennsylvania each year.
(4) Stockpiled tires create environmental hazards such as tire fires and heavy mosquito infestations.
(5) Landfilled whole tires and tire piles use valuable and productive land space.
(6) Financial incentives need to be created to help stimulate waste tire markets.
Section 103. Purpose.
It is the purpose of this act:
(1) To ensure that whole used and waste tires are collected and put to beneficial use or properly disposed.
(2) To provide for the abatement of whole used and waste tire dumps and their associated threats to public health and welfare.
(3) To encourage qualified investments by private companies to rehabilitate, expand or improve manufacturing processes, facilities, buildings and land to promote the use and recycling of waste tires.
(4) To reuse the current supply of waste tires generated each year in this Commonwealth.
Can somebody end this nightmare, please? Why are we putting hazardous waste on beautiful land in Mt Lebanon and inviting children to play on it? This IS stupid!!!
I went to the field today for the rally -- thanks for organizing it. My son was surprised by the sign stating that the field was only for children 12 and under, and softball. We don't recall ever seeing that sign. Can someone please share their observations of when/why it was placed? The sign is included in one of the photos on this blog entry.
Dan Smith was meeting with his little buddy on how to stop the bleeding! How dare the media turn on them... Wait till after the election and then all this will be made public. Along with the increase to the Income Tax to new taxes on garbage, water, gas and electricity. And wait till the new teacher's contract is out... What's another thousand or two in property taxes? Remember It's NOT about the kids!
Who is Dan Smith?
Do you mean Dan Miller? Matt Smith?
11:26 PM, I was curious about that sign, as well.
Also, the bronze plaque of Ken Hildebrand says clearly that anyone who wanted to play, would play. That may be true with no cuts, but how about the kids who want to play but have latex allergies, or don't want to be subjected to carcinogens?
Elaine
Sorry inside joke directed at Brumfield since he does NOT read this blog. Right Brummie?
I see another Crystal/Gypsy resident has posted. Dan Miller / Matt Smith is seen as one such the name "Dan Smith". Either way both are Brumfield's buddies and are giving him political advice. Guess you can say they plot together. That's why so many have lost faith in them. I've lived here since that early 60's and have never seen things so disrespectful. I've seen neighbors turn on another neighbor without knowing any facts. I was even told that I better support them or else. What has Mt Lebanon become? Sad isn't it. But if a group gets together to help stop the mess these commissioners are creating I'd be honored to join.
2:04 AM, you could always organize another rally for next weekend and aim for 150 people. I'd promote here. We already know that the media thrives on this sort of thing, now that we are getting national attention. I keep telling everyone that this blog is read both inside and outside of the bubble, just not by the commissioners or school board.
Elaine
I updated this post with "Brummie's" thoughts as written in the PG article.
Elaine
11:26, Middle and Wildcat oppose each other. If Hank Aaron and Willie Mays play on opposing fields that close together, the fielders on one field would run into the batters on the other.
Keeping the age down helps to keep the games within the confines of the smaller fields.
There is also a sign that says only one of the two fields can be in use at a time. I'm guessing the combination of the two signs helps avoid a conflict.
If the turf project does not change the geometry, the same restrictions would still be in place. Even if they can play in the rain on turf, both fields can't be used at the same time. This has been a problem with the new math used to calculate number of usable time slots.
It has already been stated that all varsity games, as well as lacrosse and, I believe, soccer cannot be counted as double slots. Only those three ft. tall and close to the toxic turf, with high metabolisms, and can't keep their fingers out of their mouths micro soccer players will be able to play simultaneously.
But again, according to Dave Brumfield, no complaints from the use of the high school field, even though some of these kids hadn't started walking in 2010.
Elaine
Even graffiti artists are greener than our commissioners!
How to Make Moss Graffiti
"Moss graffiti, also called eco-graffiti or green graffiti, replaces spray paint, paint-markers or other such toxic chemicals and paints with a paintbrush and a moss "paint" that can grow on its own."
Elaine
Why does the field sign say no kids under 12 when Lebo High School Baseball practices there?
They moved to Baker Elementary in USC because they thought the construction was going to start in August.
Bravo.
http://www.thealmanac.net/article/20141027/NEWS/141029950
Don't you just love the hard-charging, in-depth, investigative reporting by some of our reputable, main-stream news outlets.
The Pgh PG reporter wrote:
"Residents also believe that the money being used to finance the field, $750,000 from the municipality, could go to better use in the community’s schools or infrastructure. Mr. Brumfield said the turf won’t come out of already budgeted costs and won’t cause any tax increase."
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2014/10/27/Mt-Lebanon-residents-commissioners-dig-into-turf-war/stories/201410270026
Now then, depending on who's number you believe the "private" donations for the turf total $257,000 or $260,000.
Let's go with $260,000.
$260,000 + $750,000 = $1,010,000.
Now then according to The Trib on July 9, 2014 the commissioners approved bids on the turf project of $1.05 million.
http://triblive.com/mobile/msports/
Now I'm no rocket scientist, and I certainly didn't go through the MTLSD new math program, but I figure they're--- at a minimum-- short $40,000! And that's before the water filtration requirements needed by the DEP.
Great investigation Pittsburgh Post Gazette! We knew we could count on you to dig deep for the facts.
Bill Labovitz was on Steve Silverman's campaign team, he is just looking out for his pro-turf commissioner buddy.
Sorry, Bill, your tweet is misguided. Maybe you are getting a legal gig from the turf project given your profession?
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