PROBLEMS. MY DAUGHTER HAS A RASH AROUND HER NECK, UPPER CHEEKS. CALL 809 OR CALL THIS NUMBER. CALL THAT NO GOOD. I’VE LOST 15 POUNDS BECAUSE I’M UP EVERY NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT MY GRANDDAUGHTERS. LIKE, WHAT AM I? AM I EXPOSING THEM TO SOMETHING THAT’S GOING TO HURT THEM DOWN THE LINE? THOSE SAME EXPERIENCES FELT BY MANY LIVING IN EAST PALESTINE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. ALMOST FOUR WEEKS AFTER THE TRAIN DERAILMENT. AND I’VE BEEN ON A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION SCENES, AND I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING IN MY LIFE BE SO MISMANAGED. EVER. ON THURSDAY, ERIN BROCKOVICH SPENT HOURS WITH RESIDENTS VISITING THE TOWN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN A WEEK. EVERY CALL TO EVERY AGENCY LEADS RIGHT BACK TO NORFOLK. AND I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHY THEIR CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE, THE NARRATIVE NEEDS TO BE THIS COMMUNITY AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. BROCKOVICH SPREAD HER MESSAGE AS CREWS PARADED THE CREEK BEHIND THEM. ACCORDING TO HER TEAM, IT’S A PROCESS THAT IS BEING DONE IN AN INCORRECT IN DANGEROUS WAY. IT’S OBVIOUS. NOTHING IS SAFE YET. BROCKOVICH SAID. RESIDENTS NEED TO KNOW THEY HAVE LEGAL RIGHTS AS THEY MOVE FORWARD. THE MONEY HELPS, AND I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT SO THEY CAN GET OUT OF HERE BECAUSE MANY OF THEM CAN’T AFFORD TO DO THAT. LIKE WE’RE NOT IN A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY.
Erin Brockovich returns to East Palestine; residents share their concerns
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Updated: 6:51 PM EST Mar 2, 2023
Environmental activist Erin Brockovich was back in East Palestine Thursday, making her second visit in less than a week.Brockovich met privately with people impacted by and concerned about last month's train derailment.“I have been on a lot of environmental situations, and I have never seen anything in my life be so mismanaged ever,” Brockovich said.From general questions to health problems, community members shared their concerns with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.“My daughter has a rash around her neck, up her cheeks. 'Call the 800 number, call this number, call that number.' No good,” Scott McAleer said.“I lost 15 pounds because I am up every night worrying about my granddaughters. Am I exposing them to something that is going to hurt them down the line?" Greg Mascher said.Before a town hall meeting where Brockovich spoke, she spent hours with residents listening to their concerns.“We have another environmental disaster, another corporate coverup; I am sorry. Something is not right here. Agency failures in a really great community of really great people that deserve answers,” she said.Brockovich said residents have legal rights as they move forward.“The money helps, and I want people to understand that so they can get out of here, because many of them can’t afford to do that,” she said.The environmental activist made it clear. She plans to advocate for impacted residents for the long haul.“They are not stupid. They are not making things up. This is very real to them,” Brockovich said.“We are people. We live here. We have families. We have businesses. I have multiple rental properties here with people that I care about. It’s unacceptable…we are not in a third-world country, we are in the United States of America. This is sad,” Giovanni Irizarry said.
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Environmental activist Erin Brockovich was back in East Palestine Thursday, making her second visit in less than a week.
Brockovich met privately with people impacted by and concerned about last month's train derailment.
“I have been on a lot of environmental situations, and I have never seen anything in my life be so mismanaged ever,” Brockovich said.
From general questions to health problems, community members shared their concerns with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.
“My daughter has a rash around her neck, up her cheeks. 'Call the 800 number, call this number, call that number.' No good,” Scott McAleer said.
“I lost 15 pounds because I am up every night worrying about my granddaughters. Am I exposing them to something that is going to hurt them down the line?" Greg Mascher said.
Before a town hall meeting where Brockovich spoke, she spent hours with residents listening to their concerns.
“We have another environmental disaster, another corporate coverup; I am sorry. Something is not right here. Agency failures in a really great community of really great people that deserve answers,” she said.
Brockovich said residents have legal rights as they move forward.
“The money helps, and I want people to understand that so they can get out of here, because many of them can’t afford to do that,” she said.
The environmental activist made it clear. She plans to advocate for impacted residents for the long haul.
“They are not stupid. They are not making things up. This is very real to them,” Brockovich said.
“We are people. We live here. We have families. We have businesses. I have multiple rental properties here with people that I care about. It’s unacceptable…we are not in a third-world country, we are in the United States of America. This is sad,” Giovanni Irizarry said.
