“No one should have to live near something as filthy, and potentially dangerous, as this swamp, and the time for pretending that someone else is going to clean up this mess is over. This has been a problem for years, and now poses a real hazard to the New Yorkers that live nearby. As we enter the height of mosquito season and the threat from the West Nile virus increases, the city needs to take immediate action to drain and clean the swamp and protect local residents.” Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said.
The City Department of Health (DOHMH) detected the West Nile Virus in NYC mosquitoes for the first time this season, collecting the mosquitoes from Ferry Point Park in the Bronx. In the past 10 years, 28 Bronx residents have tested positive for neuro-invasive diseases due to West Nile Virus, such as encephalitis – an inflammation of the brain or spinal cord – and flu-like illnesses.
Mike Medina, a resident of one of the buildings located directly on the swamp, said, “We can’t open our windows because of the mosquitoes, and we constantly worry about the young and the elderly getting bitten, especially now with the threat of West Nile. We can’t spend time outside or have barbeques in summer– it’s like living in a prison.“
Wally Nash, a community leader and ACORN member, said, “The swamp is
1.5 miles long and growing, after 4 years of inaction. Dead animals and a human body were found in the tunnel part of the swamp. We can’t let people get sick while the city tries to identify who is responsible– they must clean the swamp right away.”
In its announcement last week, DOHMH recommended certain measures to reduce exposure to mosquitoes, such as: “Eliminate any standing water from your property as they are breeding sites for mosquitoes…Standing water is a violation of the New York City Health Code.” But, as Public Advocate Gotbaum noted, the city has allowed a substantial volume of standing water to accumulate and fester under its watch: “To issue this warning to individual property owners while tolerating an enormous case of standing water on abandoned grounds is the height of hypocrisy. The city’s failure to make the connection between the swamp and its own health advisory is an insult to all residents of Mott Haven.”
Between the Bruckner Expressway and St. Mary’s Park in the South Bronx, a stretch of abandoned railroad tracks has evolved into a swamp, filled with trash, vermin, and muddy water. According to a Daily News article, the tracks were part of a rail line operated by a private company until 2004. Now, there is no clear ownership over the tracks, and the city has yet to take responsibility for maintaining them.
In April, the Public Advocate visited the swamp and called on the city to clean it up before mosquito season. On a visit to the tracks, representatives from the Public Advocate’s office spotted running rats, animal carcasses, and swarms of mosquitoes rising above the filthy muck.
