I hope I have not been boring anyone with my obsession about these plastic wagon wheels. I know have been like a pit bull with something in its grip, not wanting to let go of this issue, but I think, finally, some progress has been made.
Just to give a quick recap, in March 2011 a sewage water treatment in Mamaroneck accidently released thousands nitrogen filters into the Long Island Sound. These filters look like little plastic wagon wheels and if you walk the beaches along Smithtown Bay, you have surely seen them. I periodically collect them by the bags full and then send then with a terse letter to the Environmental Facilities Commissioner over there, Thomas Lauro. His one response to me was not acceptable. He said he tried to come here to clean them up, but couldn't get on our beaches. So I wrote to Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn, who took on the issue and finally the Commissioner took notice. Now this recent article,
Hurray! That's all I ever wanted. I wanted to see them take responsibility for the garbage and to be fined. I think that is the least that should be done. I mean, who do those people think they are...Wall Street bankers?
I have to say I feel good about getting results on an issue that matters. I love my beach. Don't mess with my beach.
Thanks to Legislator Hahn for always being an advocate for our environment. With all the other issues the county faces, sometimes the environment gets put on the back burner, but I appreciate that she has always made it a top priority, even before she was elected.
It would have been nice, however, if Mr. Lauro had at least mentioned me as a thorn in his side, maybe slamming down a box of wagon wheels that I sent him, saying, “I’ll do anything, just please stop her from mailing me these packages!”
