The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) plant, located within Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood, is the fourth largest wastewater treatment plant in New Jersey and the fifth largest in the United States.
As the state’s largest power user, it serves 48 municipalities and around 4 million customers.
PVSC reported that during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, a 12-foot storm surge flooded the treatment plant, buildings tunnels, and process area.
The resulting floods and loss of PSE&G electrical power resulted in the discharge of 840 million gallons of raw sewage into the Passaic River and Newark Bay. In response, PVSC has proposed building a 34-megawatt standby power generation facility fueled by natural gas, some of which could come from fracking.
Ironbound is densely populated, mostly with Black and brown residents, about 20% of them living in poverty. They endure that may be the worst cumulative pollution in the country from many industrial and transportation sources. When Ironbound children play outside, they’re exposed to toxic substances. One in four children has asthma. The national average is less than 10%.
Is this not an environmental justice issue? It’s time for Gov. Phil Murphy to fulfill his promise to protect public health and fight climate change. He can start by rejecting the proposed gas power plant, which is now under review, and replace it with a renewable, clean energy-based alternative.
Hanna Atlas, Cliffside Park
Murphy’s stopped caring about local flooding
In his Sept. 19 column, “New Jersey should put its infrastructure money into the sewer,” Paul Mulshine writes that Gov. Phil Murphy should be focusing on the significant flooding issues facing many towns and cities.
Instead, Murphy is talking more about windmills and controlling greenhouse gases.
He is up for reelection but, win or lose, I think Murphy is done with New Jersey. His sights are set on the national stage, where he hopes to become a major player. Responding to flooding in Cranford, Lambertville and other municipalities doesn’t play all nationally, but advocating windmill energy and reducing greenhouse gases does.
If Murphy wins — and I hope he doesn’t — we can expect many more national-policy talking points. Unfortunately, the solutions for the problems that continue to plague New Jersey residents will take a back seat.
Santi Condorelli, Verona
Ciattarelli can’t exit Trump train credibly
So, Republican candidate for governor Jack Ciattarelli states he didn’t know — despite the presence of signs to the contrary — that a post-election Donald Trump event he attended in November 2020 was a “Stop the Steal” rally, based on the false claim that Trump actually won a second term.
Also, it took Ciattarelli until Jan. 20 to congratulate President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for winning the general election.
Both actions speak loudly to Ciattarelli’s political incompetence and lack of devotion to maintaining democracy.
Did he wear ear plugs at the rally? Surely, he heard what the speakers and crowd were chanting. And, did he hold off regarding the Biden election congratulations to remain on Trump’s good side?
Gov. Phil Murphy, the Democrat seeking reelection, is absolutely right to invoke the former president’s name in campaigning against Ciattarelli.
Trump’s influence over the Republican candidate, should he become governor, will be no good for New Jersey.
Ruth Ross, West Orange
Keep that Zoom meeting option open
Like recent letter writer Tina Weishaus, we, too, were encouraged to read the Star-Ledger’s Sept. 20 editorial advocating that public-body meetings continue to be held with options for virtual attendance.
It is important to support state legislative action, as Weishaus does, but we must also direct our efforts locally.
In Elizabeth, we have been appealing to our zoning board of adjustment to reconsider its decision to return to meeting only in person because COVID-19 regulations have bee relaxed.
Hearings were to begin in August at a Zoom meeting on a very controversial development project. Many residents attended remotely to voice their opinions.
That meeting, to our disappointment, was postponed until September. Then, the zoning board announced that the September meeting would be held in person only.
Despite our appeal to remain on Zoom, the meeting was held at City Hall and many of us were shut out because of health and safety issues.
We will be sending your editorial to our zoning board members and other city officials, and hope they will listen to constituents and hold fair hearings accessible to all who wish to participate.
Paula Borenstein and David Burd, Elizabeth
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