To the Editor (submitted Sept. 15 via email):
Ward 3 City Councilor Bob Reckman today submitted a proposed amendment to the landfill expansion referendum language. While I applaud the council’s effort to put this issue in front of the citizens of Northampton, there are two bullet points that very much concern me in the proposed language. One bullet point intended to illustrate a "benefit" of not expanding the landfill indicates:
"Although multiple state and independent studies have shown there is no new environmental risk, allay the concerns of some citizens about such possible risks." Similarly, another bullet point states: "(Although multiple state and independent studies have shown there is no health risk), end the concern of some citizens about possible health risks associated with living near an active landfill."
Both bullet points fail to acknowledge that the science behind the landfill expansion is very much in debate, reflecting only one pro-landfill expansion bias.
In reviewing some of the studies Reckman refers to, Dr. Robert Newton, a well respected Smith College professor and geologist, expressed some serious and valid concerns regarding new health and environmental risks posed by landfill expansion and presented those concerns in a public forum. Some city councilors chose not to attend.
Let’s be clear: allaying citizen’s concerns regarding health and environmental risks is not the benefit of not expanding the landfill. Eliminating any *potential* for new health and environmental risks is, in fact, the benefit of not expanding the landfill.
In its current form in Reckman's proposal, the referendum is more of a push-poll (a "poll" that appears to be question but really serves as a marketing piece for a particular perspective) rather than a poll. Let’s change the wording of the bullet points accordingly:
"Eliminate any possible environmental risks."
"Eliminate any possible health risks"
Let’s give the voters of Northampton real choices, not biases.
Andrew Woodland
(The Reckman proposal Woodland refers to is pasted below.)
Ordered, that
A Non-Binding Advisory Question
“Do you favor expanding the Glendale Rd. Landfill?”
The Northampton landfill on Glendale Rd. will reach capacity in 2011 and be closed. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has granted The City of Northampton a waiver to expand the landfill.
A “Yes” vote to expand the landfill will:
–Allow the City to take responsibility for its own waste stream.
–Provide the lowest disposal cost for households and businesses.
–Receive waste from our schools, the housing authority and other City operations at no cost to the taxpayer.
–Contribute approximately $750,000 per year to the general fund and generate additional income to support recycling options and programs.
A “No” vote to Close the Landfill will:
–Cause a decrease in traffic, odor and dust for landfill neighbors.
–Allay the concerns of some citizens about possible environmental risks (although multiple state and independent studies have shown there is no new environmental risk).
–Cause a reduction in financial risk associated with any large public works project.
–End the concern of some citizens about possible health risks associated with living near an active landfill (Although multiple state and independent studies have shown there is no health risk).
Through this ballot question the City Council seeks input from the electorate on whether to pursue expansion of the City’s landfill. The vote on this question will be advisory only and will not require the City Council to take any particular course of action.
_____Yes ______No
