 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 7, 2009
Contact: Paul Newell, Communications Director, paul@newellnyc.org, 347-351-7285
VIDEO: PETE GLEASON EXPOSES ASBESTOS SCANDAL IN SCHOOLS
Notified elected officials two years ago.
Pete Gleason, the Environmental Attorney, former FDNY Firefighter and Arson Investigator running in next week's Democratic primary for the Lower Manhattan's 1st City Council District, exposed a major asbestos scandal in New York schools last week. Representing a Dept. of Education whistleblower, Gleason shot video proving real danger to New York schoolchildren - and a cover-up on behalf of the DoE.
WABC 7-TV aired some of the footage last week. The Video can be found at: http://pete2009.com/news/abc7.html
"This is an outrage," Gleason declared. "My client and I have been sounding the alarm on this dangerous situation for over two years, and have received no response from the Dept.
of Education. City Hall is playing politics with our children's health."
Repeated warnings of torn asbestos pipe coverings in a number of different schools were ignored by Dept. of Ed until Gleason took the initiative and exposed the dangerous situation.
In 2007 John Kielbasa, a DoE steamfitter, drew attention to the issue at a number of schools. His memos received no response, and was shortly thereafter put on disciplinary
probation and confined to desk duty. Gleason, an environmental rights attorney with extensive building inspection experience, took on Mr. Kielbasa's case.
On September 17, 2007, Pete Gleason notified Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Comptroller Bill Thompson and other elected official about the danger. "Only Bill Thompson responded. Only Bill Thompson took the threat of exposed asbestos in our children's schools seriously," said Gleason. Thompson referred the matter to the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District. To date, the Dept. of Educ ation has taken no action on the matter.
The first City Council District has many dangerous asbestos sites, including several schools and most notably the Deutsche Bank Building and Fiterman Hall. Gleason has pledged to use his expertise to help solve these problems.
Paul Newell, the Gleason campaign's communications director, praised Gleason's courage. "Pete Gleason is the kind of leader our city needs. When our children were at risk, Pete raised the alarm. After two years of silence from City Hall, this video proves that we need a leader like Pete Gleason to get things done."
Pete Gleason has been endorsed by Fernando Ferrer, the Downtown Independent Democrats, The Uniformed Firefighters Association, The New York Community Council and the New York Metro Area Postal Union and is widely seen as a frontrunner in the race.
###
| |
|
|  |
|
