LAST GASP: Newtown Creek Oil Watch

The Seine of north Brooklyn was particularly repulsive today. And Laura Hofmann and Christine Holowicz (who shot the above video footage) tendered the bad news to the DEC hotline. Laura has assured me that she has never before received the rude treatment she got today by the operator. The first (and last time) I called the DEP I faced an inquisition.

How do you know it is oil?

I was asked, among similar crass questions. I grew up with gearheads. In my car-owning days I never once had to pay for an oil change— a six pack of beer sufficed. I live in Greenpoint. I know petroleum when I see (or smell) it.

Regardless of what this is, it is GROSS.

Miss Heather

P.S.: On that note, here’s more reading about the Newtown Creek Experience from north Brooklyn’s very own Aaron Short.

Comments

5 Comments on LAST GASP: Newtown Creek Oil Watch

  1. SpillConspirator on Wed, 11th Nov 2009 8:11 am
  2. I consider that DEC receptionist a bump in the road. Fortunately, we were able to ride over the bump. I have to say that lately DEC has been responding to the Newtown Creek issues & working hard in an effort to find out where that oil is coming from. Mr. Austin from DEC actually came to the site in less than 15 minutes. So far they’ve been able to identify the outfall where the oil is coming from. Now it’s a matter of investigating the exact source location. In the meantime, this really sucks for the health of Newtown Creek. This flick doesn’t even do the slick justice.

  3. rutila on Wed, 11th Nov 2009 9:04 am
  4. While it’s fun to laugh at people’s colloquial conversation — see Bushism — Steve Levin is clearly saying (or at least clear enough for this copyeditor) that he lives in the neighborhood (i.e. he’s one of us, is concerned, and wants to do something like everyone else) but acknowledges that the plume and oil spill have been problems in the community for decades and will continue to be problems in the future.

  5. missheather on Wed, 11th Nov 2009 2:06 pm
  6. That flick should have come with smell-o-vision!

    […] Ms. Heather, over at NYShitty.com […]

  7. rutila on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 7:35 pm
  8. Miss H.: I was looking for your commentary about Steve Levin’s speech, and it has disappeared! Would you mind sending me your original edits? Thanks.

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