My message to the Commission

Why am I passing these ads out to you? Mt. Lebanon is getting artificial turf, no matter what. You three have made it happen. In fact, it was stated on my Lebo Citizens blog yesterday that Commissioner Bendel will be hailed as a hero when this turf goes up. Not if the Sports Advisory Board can raise the funds. When. I have spoken to parents of four different field sports here in Mt. Lebanon. They had no idea about the EPA's warnings regarding artificial turf and NONE of them had heard of your plans to artificially turf Middle and Wildcat Fields. Needless to say, they are quite concerned. 

At a previous commission meeting, I printed out the webpage from the EPA, listing these warnings. I also stood here and talked about these warnings. I believe it is your duty to convey these EPA warnings to all parents of children who will be playing on these toxic fields. In fact, it should be required and disclosed on all registration forms for youth field sports. 

I am just ill thinking about how my municipal and school district tax dollars will be used to fund and maintain artificial turf, let alone to allow healthy and active kids play on these toxic fields. I want to be able to sleep at night, knowing that I have done everything in my power to get that message out to parents. There are moratoriums and voters rejecting artificial turf all over the world. It absolutely needs to be stopped here in Mt. Lebanon. One of these days, we will be hearing about turf abatement, just like we have asbestos abatement. In the meantime, the EPA warning should be required and disclosed on all registration forms for youth field sports.

After I spoke, Commissioner Fraasch pointed out something to the effect that the entire commission can be held responsible, not just the three I mentioned.

Update February 12, 2014 12:10 AM It appears that we have someone on the Commission who is quite familiar with the dangers of asbestos.