Gowanus Gunk
Regardless of where you stand on the Superfund issue, everyone agrees that the Gowanus Canal needs a clean-up. In case anyone was still on the fence about it, this photo taken after this week’s rains gives a good sense of just how gross it can get. “Pretty disgusting, no?” asks Pardon Me For Asking, which ran this photo and a few others this morning. On the bright side: At least folks in Gowanus are practicing safe sex.
My impression is that the big argument against the Superfund status is that once given it the cleanup has to be coordinated by the EPA, and the city won’t have control over the timing, and the EPA will be able to veto city rezoning plans.
Living close to the canal I’d love to see it cleaned up, but have no idea which of the two paths (city vs. epa superfund) would be the best option.
Or as I’d say to Joe the Bummer: that last proclamation was mad nasty, yo.
as my niece would say, that canal looks mad nasty, yo.
Waterfront? there’s water in that?
the last muffin I passed ended up in the canal
It looks a bit like a condom laid out upon a tar roof.
The idea of “waterfront condos” and an esplanade along the canal is about as ridiculous as the pleasant outdoor/cafe seating that sprouts up all over midtown Manhattan’s packed, congested and filthy streets every summer. Mmmmmmm, pass the muffins please!
I stand corrected. and for the record, if I’m going to die from e-coli and hepatitis, I’m going to have some fun doing it. hey wait…did someone say “roof-deck?”
joe…you can die quicker from exposure to E. coli & hepatitis than you can from mercury, lead & PCBs.
true – according to wikipedia, the canal “has 13 sewer overflow points”, which will be further strained by the atlantic yards project. but poop doesn’t give you cancer. I’m really talking more about murcury, lead, and PCBs.