STATEMENT FROM BRONX BP DIAZ
RE: City Settles PCB Light Lawsuit
“I
am glad that a settlement has been reached in the ongoing lawsuit over
PCBs in public school light fixtures. I am especially relieved the City
will remove toxic light fixtures from our public schools in three and a
half years time, rather than the previous 10-year timetable.
“There
is nothing more important than educating our children in a safe
environment, one where they will not be harmed by environmental hazards
such as PCBs. Since becoming Borough President, I have worked aggressively to voice my concerns and have urged the City to do immediate testing and clean all school buildings that may be at risk of PCB contamination.
“I
congratulate and applaud the broad coalition of activists and
organizations involved in this fight for working so diligently to make
sure our schools are safe, as well as this administration for agreeing
to move this important process forward. This deal is a victory for
students, teachers, parents and other staff that go to work every day in
our public schools,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
COMPTROLLER LIU ON SETTLEMENT
Comptroller
John C. Liu stated the following about New York City’s settlement of
the New York Communities for Change-New York Lawyers in the Public
Interest lawsuit over the toxic
PCBs in light fixtures in public schools:
“The
settlement of this suit through the City’s agreement to an accelerated
timeline for ridding our schools of toxic PCBs
is a win all around. We stand ready to work with City Hall to finance
the capital projects necessary with Green Apple Bonds, which would pay
for the rapid cleanup of these chemicals while saving taxpayers $339
million and lowering the City’s carbon footprint.
Now is the time.”
Background:
Comptroller Liu’s proposal on Green Apple Bonds:
Video of Green Apple Bonds news conference:
http://youtu.be/QcSA0Yi2cb4
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