After seeing a PowerPoint presented by those affected by the toxins released from the Cabot-Koppers Superfund site, the Gainesville City Commission took action Thursday night.
The commission motioned that the intergovernmental team overseeing the site’s cleanup appoint a staff liaison to efficiently communicate with those living in the Stephen Foster neighborhood. It also motioned to identify organizations that could help facilitate a cleanup.
Some residents were happy to hear the commission take action. Others wished they would go even further and create an entire committee that dealt with their concerns.
Other outspoken Stephen Foster neighborhood residents like Maria Parsons and Sandra Watts Kennedy were not satisfied with the commission’s initiative.
“We don’t trust you or any of those entities that try to help,” Watts Kennedy said to the commission. “All you want is a cosmetic change instead of a real cleanup.”
Contact Adrianna Paidas at apaidas@alligator.org.