Mt. Lebanon resident and Lebo Citizens reader, Charlotte Stephenson asked me to post this email.
From: Charlotte Stephenson
Date: October 29, 2014 3:35:05 PM EDT
Subject: Mt. Lebanon Community Governance and Artificial Turf Issue
Dear Mt. Lebanon Commissioners, Gateway Project Engineer Daniel Deiseroth, State Representative Miller, State Senator Smith and Congressman Murphy,
Please be advised that opposition to the initiative of the Mt. Lebanon Commission majority to install tire crumb-based artificial turf in our main park is growing daily. Our residents, myself included, believe that this project potentially jeopardizes the health and safety of our children, the residents living within close proximity to the park, and the watershed that involves other surrounding communities. In addition to the unknown long term impact this may have on small developing children due to the lack of studies, the economic impact of this plan will be crippling for generations to come. These are only a few of the salient problems associated with this plan, but there are others.
Why is it that we seem to have trouble finding $5,000.00 to maintain our Veterans Memorial in a respectable condition, (as a Veterans Committee member our recent discussion was about a need for fundraising to maintain this), while it is perfectly acceptable to the Commission majority to spend the lion's share of our unassigned fund balance (some $750,000.00+) to turn our beautiful historic grass park into a toxic waste dump?
There has been a deliberate effort on the part of the Mt. Lebanon Commission and Public Information Office to suppress public awareness of the concerns that expert environmental toxicologists dealing with risk assessment have regarding this product. Such information was withheld during a public "forum" about this, even though the forum was originally intended to make factual information available to our residents. References to the artificial turf project became a "field enhancement" project as an attempt to reduce the stigma associated with the project. There has also been a deliberate effort on the part of the Commission to keep several relevant volunteer boards and authorities out of the process, our Environmental Sustainability Board and our Parks Advisory Board to name a few.
I contacted Congressman Murphy regarding this issue and have not heard back yet. Representative Miller's position is that this is a local issue and so he will not take any position regarding this, however he contacted the DEP as a favor to Commissioner Brumfield regarding the permit application status. I would like to hear from Senator Smith regarding his stance on the project, especially since I have copied him on numerous e-mails.
All you elected officials cannot turn a blind eye to what is brewing among your constituents. There is now talk of a massive protest in the near future so this growing opposition is not going away. Additionally, a community watchdog group has formed to direct any potential legal claims to appropriate resources in the event that injuries or illness occur with the children or fetuses of the pregnant mothers who will be exposed to the turf toxins and hard surface. Please be advised that all eyes and ears will be on this for the time to come. The roll call vote for this project will personally legally target the Commissioners who voted for this.
There are other options to improve the park area so children can enjoy playing sports. It's is up to all of you to represent all of us to the best of your ability. It's time for you to devise a better solution for our community. I look forward to hearing from you as to what alternative action you are willing to take.
Thank You,
Charlotte M. Stephenson
Mt. Lebanon
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