Old Smokey victims holding the City of Miami accountable for eliminating medical monitoring
The local black community and victims of Old Smokey announced speaking to news media against the City of Miami’s decision to eliminate medical monitoring and responsibility for 50 years of toxicity and poisoning by the trash incinerator in the city.
The conference took place on 7th March at 10:30 in the morning at the victim, Hollis Gaitor’s home in Washington Ave., Miami. More details are in the news below.
Victims of Old Smokey
Thaddeus Scott and Hollis Gaitor spoke at the conference. Both have been the victims of the poisoning from the Old Smokey incinerator. Thaddeus Scott suffers from cardiovascular issues, skin conditions, and diabetes, whereas Hollis Gaitor has a learning disorder and COPD.
The victims and the local black community of Coconut Grove came together to express their outrage regarding the city’s decision to deny medical support and compensation to the toxicity victims of historical Old Smokey.
According to protestors and residents, the city’s move to eliminate the medical monitoring is an attempt to free itself of the responsibility for 50 years of toxicity and poisoning.
We represent individuals harmed by toxic exposure, from unsafe or mislabeled substances released into the environment at toxic levels. We are here today to remind everyone, including the City of Miami, that before the East Palestine derailment, before the Kissimmee plastic fire, and the Doral trash fire, there was West Coconut Grove’s Old Smokey.
Attorney Jason Clark of The Downs Law Group
Old Smokey’s smoking history
The City of Miami operated Old Smokey, a municipal solid waste incinerator, from 1925 to 1970 in West Coconut Grove. This incinerator ran for 16 hours a day and 6 days a week for 50 years. It spewed smoke and ash in the black neighborhood.
Old Smokey was only shut down in 1970 by a judge after a wealthy neighbor in Coral Gables complained about it. The soil and land studies of trash incinerators have proved that the soil still contains lead, arsenic, and barium.
The city persistently fights the victims who have developed various health conditions, including miscarriages, cancer, and chronic diseases due to ash and toxic fumes released by Old Smokey.
The latest move will abolish all the responsibility of medical attention and monitoring programs that allowed victims to receive free testing for latent cancer and other health issues owing to environmental contamination. This new move will deny the citizens the right to file lawsuits against those harming the city with poison and toxic chemicals.
Will the City of Miami give in to public pressure? Or deny the victims medical care? Subscribe to Calle Ocho News to stay updated. Get more local Miami news and promote your brand with us.
Add Comment