Palmer Events Center
It's About Protecting the Health of Children
RECEIVED Wed., Sept. 2, 2009
Dear Editor,
Re: “Cast Away” [News, Aug. 28]: Andy Edgerton, owner of Pure Castings, failed to acknowledge that his facility uses hazardous chemicals across the street from where children ages 5 to 11 spend most of their day. Dr. Neil Carman has stated, “I think it’s totally unacceptable, unethical, and immoral for schoolchildren to have to breathe these emissions.”
It’s not about the land; it’s about the protection of the health of children of color – free from exposure to toxic chemicals. The use of the land for affordable housing is an alternative to a polluting facility. Pure Castings is a case of environmental racism – I was told by a West Austin resident, “AISD and the City Council would never have allowed Pure Castings to be sited across the street from Casis or Mathews Elementary School.” Good article, but it failed to mention environmental racism – Pure Castings is not so pure!
Re: “Cast Away” [News, Aug. 28]: Andy Edgerton, owner of Pure Castings, failed to acknowledge that his facility uses hazardous chemicals across the street from where children ages 5 to 11 spend most of their day. Dr. Neil Carman has stated, “I think it’s totally unacceptable, unethical, and immoral for schoolchildren to have to breathe these emissions.”
It’s not about the land; it’s about the protection of the health of children of color – free from exposure to toxic chemicals. The use of the land for affordable housing is an alternative to a polluting facility. Pure Castings is a case of environmental racism – I was told by a West Austin resident, “AISD and the City Council would never have allowed Pure Castings to be sited across the street from Casis or Mathews Elementary School.” Good article, but it failed to mention environmental racism – Pure Castings is not so pure!
Susana Almanza,
Co-Director, PODER
Co-Director, PODER