E. 100th St. Waste Transfer Issue Not Dead Yet

Candidates for City Council seat held by Councilman Lew Fidler (far left) held a forum at civic meeting last week. Dara Mormile The application for the medical waste transfer site, proposed for East 100 Street and Farragut Road, is not dead, despite what many thought was a victory. The news was announced to scores who gathered at Congregation AAA Sfard on Monday, June 22, where South Canarsie Civic Association (SCCA) president Mary Anne Sallustro updated the public on the facility, in addition to discussing other local issues.

"The owner of the property, Gershon Klein, is making it clear that he's going ahead with his lawyers to fight to get the permit to operate," Sallustro said. "Hopefully, now that State Assemblyman Nick Perry passed legislation making it illegal to operate a waste transfer site in a residential area, we'll be able to fight it."

Earlier this year, Community Board 18 District Manager Dorothy Turano said the City Department of Planning and Zoning would not allow the facility to open because the property is not zoned for manufacturing use.

"A judge visited the site and listened to the community's testimony against the facility and said our arguments aren't valid enough to deny the permit," Sallustro added.

The sale of Canarsie Cemetery was also discussed. Sallustro said the city-owned cemetery is up for sale, but because most of the property is not usable, whoever buys it will not make a substantial profit.

"Most of the cemetery is on top of what was Indian Creek," she said. "You can't sell anymore plots in the back since the land isn't stable enough. A lot of what's buried under that ground has floated away and it will cost a lot to fill that land."

A "Meet the Candidates" session followed the meeting. Several community activists are running against City Councilman Lew Fidler, who has been representing the 46th Council District for seven years.

Candidates Elias J. Weir, Carlos Bristol, Alan Sasson, Dr. Ayo Johnson, Jamanne Williams and Gene Berardelli introduced themselves, and each vowed to work closely with the community to demonstrate their passion for improving the quality of life in Canarsie.