Giant Salt Pile Returns to Columbia Street

After a noisy weekend's work, the salt pile at Columbia and Kane street has been restored to its pre-winter state: looming over the neighborhood and contributing a thin layer of fine powder over nearby cars, windowsills and rear yards.

If you are fed up with this nuisance and the apparent disregard with which the salt importer treats our neighborhood (leaving the pile uncovered for weeks at a time and loud noise from machinery throughout the night) you can do the following:

Sign the petition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/removethesaltpile/

Call 311 and register a complaint.

Contact our elected officials:

Brad Lander, Councilmember for District 39 (718) 499-1090
You can also send him a message at his website.

Steve Levin, Councilmember for District 33 (the port itself is in District 33) (718) 875-5200
You can also reach him via his website.

Update on Salt Pile

Just received this email from Michael Curtin, the community liaison for Councilman Brad Lander:

Since our community meeting in February, the problems surrounding the salt pile on the pier have persisted and grown. Not only has the pile nearly tripled in size, but communicating with American Stevedoring has been frustrating. Thanks to all those who contacted our office to keep us informed of the problems and to all of those who tried to get in touch with ASI.

After many attempts by our office, Brad was finally able to get in touch with Matt Yates, our contact there. I spoke to him about these problems and asked for an explanation of the unexpected changes in programming on the pier.

We learned that the timeframe for importing salt was extended considerably into the early spring. According to Matt, operations regarding the salt have stopped for the season. I made it clear to ASI that this failure to communicate was not what we agreed to at our meeting and that continuing to operate the salt pile at its current size and proximity to residence would not be accepted. If operations haven’t stopped or there are continued problems with noise or the pile being uncovered, please let us know.

Brad is working on a letter to American Stevedoring, in which he will request that they move the salt further out on the pier as to minimize its effect on the community in the future. That letter should be sent out this week, and I will e-copy you all on it when it does.

Matt agreed that communication with the community had to improve. As such, I set up a list serve, where Matt, the offices of other elected officials and members of the community can send out updates via e-mail regarding the salt pile. Please look for the invitation to this group in an e-mail to follow. I invite you to continue contacting our office, either directly or via the list serve. And to help our case please provide us with any evidence you may have of the salt’s effect, be it photographs, doctors notes or the salt from your backyard or windshields.

We realize that this is not a total fix, but hope it can make it easier to communicate with one another, and with ASI, on this important issue as it progresses.

To get in touch with Michael about this or any other issue, email mcurtin@council.nyc.gov.

What Happened at the Salt Pile Meeting?

More than 30 people were in attendance on Thursday, including Councilmember Brad Lander, Councilmember Steve Levin, State Senator Daniel Squadron and representatives from the offices of Assembleywoman Joan Millman, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and Congressman Jerry Nadler.

But it wasn't just electeds and residents of the Columbia Waterfront District in the room. The guest of honor -- so to speak -- was Matt Yates, the director of operations at American Stevedoring, Inc.

So what happened? Gary Busio from the Courier Life papers wrote a good summary.

But here's the big news: Matt Yates gave out his phone number and extension at ASI. He promised to be much more responsive to community complaints. So if the salt starts blowing again, call Matt Yates at (718) 875-0777 ext. 277. Then make a complaint at 311. And then why not call Matt Yates again?

If you have any questions about the, leave them in comments.

Salt Pile Meeting TONIGHT

Despite the icy leftovers from yesterday's snow day, the community meeting about the infamous salt pile is still on for tonight.

Who: American Stevedoring, Inc.; Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association; Councilmember Brad Lander; State Senator Daniel Squadron; Assemblymember Joan Millman; Councilmember Steve Levin

When: Thursday, February 11, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, 177 Columbia Street (at Degraw St.), 5th Floor

This is your chance to speak out ... so be there.

What do you think about the salt pile?

Make your voice heard. Come to the...

Community Meeting

with American Stevedoring Inc. (ASI) and

Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association (CoWNA)

to discuss community concerns regarding

the Salt Pile on Columbia Street Pier

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

6:00 pm

Postgraduate Center for Mental Health

Community Room

177 Columbia Street (at Degraw Street), 5th Floor

Sponsored by:

Councilmember Brad Lander

State Senator Daniel Squadron

Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman

Councilmember Stephen Levin

And if you can't make it, you can still speak up. Click below to leave your comments. Or contact Michael Curtin in Councilmember Lander's office at 718-499-1090 or mcurtin@council.nyc.gov