Cobble Hill Parents Still Fighting School Construction

The parent’s fight against construction work at PS 29 in Cobble Hill came to a head last Friday, when a group of about 70 parents protested the work scheduled to begin that night. The concern revolves mainly around the asbestos abatement and the dust levels caused by construction, scheduled to happen while kids are still in school. There was a previous protest last Monday. Parents met with the the School Construction Authority three days after the first protest (involving a three-hour meeting covered in detail by the Times), at which one parent told us “a pathetic display” of responsiveness to the matter at hand was evident. Despite the meeting, the SCA planned to begin work on Friday, so parents announced another protest, and even threatened to form a human chain around the site to stop construction. Work on the asbestos abatement did not begin Friday because more prep work is needed. But some parents are filing for an injunction, while others have threatened to remove their children from school if the abatement proceeds. “It’s not only wrong, it’s criminal,” parent Michael Nigro told us, regarding the failure of the SEC and and Department of Environmental Protection to put notifications up of the aesbestos abatement seven days before work begins. He stated that the SCA had “rendered the parents powerless.” The SCA still says the work will stay on schedule. There are about 30 days left of school, with interior and exterior construction continuing into the summer. See more pictures from the protest and last Thursday’s hearing after the jump.
Rally Tonight to Halt Work at PS 29 [Brownstoner]



From the Thursday hearing.
Photos by Michael Berman + Michael Nigro