Officials made a stunning announcement yesterday about the week-long water crisis at the Jacob Riis Houses on Avenue D.An update from the Mayor’s Press Secretary @Fabien_Levy on the water situation at Jacob Riis Houses in Manhattan:https://t.co/j1foCteceU pic.twitter.com/xUs2uLTRV0
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) September 9, 2022
Here's part of the statement from the city:
Today, Environmental Monitoring and Technologies — the original lab that provided the initial test results claiming there was arsenic in the water at Riis Houses issued a full retraction and released revised results, calling their initial results 'incorrect.' Worse yet, the company has now admitted to being the ones that introduced arsenic into the samples, leading to the false results.
The revelation was made last night during a tenant meeting P.S. 34 on 12th Street and Avenue D.
Per The City:
The audience erupted, with tenants shouting that they don't know what to believe after being whipsawed back and forth over eight days, beginning on the Friday night of Labor Day weekend, that left them furious and exhausted."This one week has felt like an eternity," said Riis tenant Dianna Fernandez. "Water is essential. NYCHA needs to do better. Mayor Adams: Where are you?"Adams was in Washington, D.C. trying to woo the Democratic Committee to hold its convention in New York, but NYCHA Chairman Gregory Russ was present, facing the angry crowd and quickly becoming the target of much of the room’s explosive anger.
And as NBC New York reported: "City leaders plan to explore all legal avenues while guaranteeing the end to all work with Environmental Monitoring and Technologies."Angry residents of the Jacob Riis houses at a public meeting tonight demanding answers from officials about the complex’s water. @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/mBDygvJdFi
— Thalia Perez (@ThaliaPerezTV) September 10, 2022
Regardless of the revelation last evening, officials are still asking NYCHA residents at the complex between Sixth Street and 13th Street — home to more than 2,600 residents — to continue to avoid using the water as they await additional test results.
Meanwhile, everyone seems to be demanding answers...
NEW: I, along with many of my colleagues, want answers from @NYCMayor and @NYCHA Chair Russ. Residents at Riis Houses have been through a lot. They deserve answers, transparency, accountability and compensation. We look forward to the response. pic.twitter.com/sJ7Rb0CKPH
— Harvey Epstein (@HarveyforNY) September 9, 2022
Unless you have a rural well, or live near a rice paddy, it's unheard of to have arsenic in one's water supply. Lead, asbestos, formaldehyde were all common building materials until the 1970s, but except for a very nasty insecticide, and a lovely shade of Paris Green in the 19th century, I can't imagine how arsenic would be found in a modern, urban water supply in one discrete location. All very peculiar indeed.
ReplyDeleteThe area is near the site of historical gaslight manufacturing, and arsenic emission is one of the byproducts of coal combustion.
DeleteIt's all odd.
ReplyDeleteDon't believe any of it.
Seriously folks fire all your politicians immediately
ReplyDeleteI’m in Connecticut and thought mine were bad
Good grief
Worst April Fools joke ever.
ReplyDeleteOoopsy, our bad. Nothin' to see here folks!
ReplyDeleteNow that restores my confidence. NOT.
ReplyDeleteNo one has mentioned that the city found elevated levels of arsenic and mercury in the soil of East River Park before construction started, and a lot of that dirt has been moved around and dust airborne. Could this have any relationship? It is a very nearby documented level of arsenic.
ReplyDeleteAre you serious?? The NYC water comes from aquifers dozens of miles north of us and has nothing to do with the local soil or groundwater (unless the pipes are broken)
ReplyDelete