HarborPlace Tower Homeowners' Association

COKE DUST ACTION

I wonder how many of you are completely aware of how effective your Environmental Committee and Coal/Sulphur/Coke Health Committee is? Because of their efforts, we are without a doubt the most proactive building in Long Beach!

There was front-page coverage for two days in a row in the Press Telegram detailing the problems the coke dust is causing. Emily Reed's picture was on the front page showing her sweeping the coke dust off of her 12th floor balcony. Thanks to Sandy and George Rendell, numerous letters about this issue were printed in "Letters to the Editor" columns in the Press Telegram. And, there were editorials in our area newspapers concerning the health hazards posed by these conditions.

HarborPlace Tower hosted a meeting in our first floor lobby attended by some of the concerned condos in the area plus Dan Baker, our Second District Councilmember; Alan Lowenthal, Assemblymember, 54th District; Ray Grabinski, Seventh District Councilmember; and Robert Kanter, Ph.D., who is the Director of Planning for the Port of Long Beach.

The "gloves were off" and we got many of the issues aired in this meeting. It resulted in a number of other meetings and visits to the Port, culminating in assurance from Port officials that they will more than meet the requirements of AQMD Rule 1158 which requires clean up and prevention of this pollution. It is imperative that we continue to monitor this progress.

At a later date, Len Lovett attended a meeting at the Courtyard Marriott
at which Betty Karnette, our State Senator, was the guest speaker. During the question-and-answer period, heI brought up the coke dust problem. Her response essentially was "I just came from a meeting at the Port of Long Beach. Alan Lowenthal brought me up to date on the entire problem and the steps being taken to combat it. You certainly have an effective and determined advocate in Alan."

Listed here are our proactive members of the Coal/Sulphur/Coke Health Committee and the Environmental Committee:
Don Muchmore, Chairman
John Clifton
Myra Smith
Emily Reed
Zelma Grab
Denny Kohan
Joy & Dick MacDonald
Sandy & George Rendell
We owe all of them a real debt of gratitude for a JOB WELL DONE!

If you are interested in getting active in this effort, contact one of the committee members. There are City Council, Harbor Commission and AQMD meetings to attend to monitor progress and maintain our presence. For a full update of activities in this area, check out the website at http://www.longbeachskyloft.org/aircoalition99.