Dust complaints deserve follow-up

2-19-07

Bridgeport made the right move in issuing cease-and-desist orders on a pair of East End businesses causing unnecessary noise and air pollution, but now needs to follow through and make sure the problems are stopped.

As community leaders have noted, asthma is a major problem among the city's young people, and dust from the two sites has been cited as a major cause of concern. While the businesses, Bridgeport Railroad Realty and Mark IV Construction, are well within their legal rights to challenge the orders in court, the city needs to stay on the case on behalf of its citizens.

In addition to harmful dust, complaints about the sites focus on noise, smell and piles of debris. Health problems aren't the only consequence; there is also the neighborhood's image along with quality-of-life concerns. Area residents deserve to live free of blight and pollution.

Community activist Ted Meekins has sought a moratorium on putting construction dumps and recycling operations in the East End, and this is worth pursuing. But in the meantime, the city needs to take seriously the health concerns of its residents, and, once it gets started, follow up and make sure the problem is solved.