The Flushing waterfront and Flushing Bay are among the most polluted waterways in New York City. In fact, Flushing Bay was the only body of water in all of New York City to not only not improve in quality, but to decline significantly. Three factors make the Flushing River a mess: heavy industry along the river for over 80 years, a major sewage problem and LaGuardia Airport.
While some of the Flushing waterfront has recently been rezoned for residential and commercial use, much of the waterfront will remain under heavily industrial zoning. It is unlikely - and very well may be unhealthy - for new housing and commercial units to be built in this area as it is presently. Over thirty recognized toxic sites are in the immediate vicinity of the waterfront, which will also hamper redevelopment.
The sewage problem has been exacerbated in recent years by the illegal pouring of grease down the sewers by restaurants in downtown Flushing. Two winters ago, over 1.5 million gallons of raw sewage emptied into the Flushing River and Flushing Bay THREE TIMES, due to the trip switches being caked in restaurant grease.
When LaGuardia Airport began to expand after World War II, landfill tripled its size - but filled in more than 50% of Flushing Bay, leaving only a very small inlet in which fresh water can circulate. This has created an environmental disaster - something everyone can smell quite easily at low tide.
Solutions:
- Place more toxic sites on State and Federal Superfund list; make sure industrial concerns who violate environmental laws are punished. Phase out heavy industry along the waterfront.
- Enforce - and increase - the fines for violation of commercial grease laws!
- Remove the berm in the bay illegally placed by Robert Moses 50 years ago that greatly reduces water circulation in Flushing Bay and River. Restore wetlands around the Bay which will naturally filter runoff and pollution from downtown Flushing and LaGuardia Airport.
Go back to PLANS FOR A BETTER FLUSHING
