After years of burning hazardous waste for profit, a Clay County company closed the plant’s gates and abandoned the factory. Three decades later, the factory’s toxic legacy continues to generate fear and controversy. We talk to the author of a new longform investigation into decades of contamination and coverups at the Solite hazardous waste site and the ongoing effort to build homes on the site, despite community opposition.
Guest:
- Jordan Blumetti, author of The Machine in the Garden.
Then, residents of American Beach hoping to get vehicles off their coastline sue Nassau County, claiming beach driving causes environmental harm. The suit says the practice imperils sea turtles and inhibits dune recovery. But residents also believe race plays a factor in the county’s decision to permit vehicles to drive on the historic Black beach when exclusive resorts to the north and south successfully lobbied to end the practice.
Guests:
- Mark Dawkins, chair of Save Historic American Beach.
- John Henry November, attorney representing American Beach residents.
And, from native plant habitats to vegetable gardens, residents in the Riverside and Avondale neighborhoods are showcasing their landscapes during RAP’s 5th annual Yarden Tour.
Guests:
- Shannon Blankinship, executive director of Riverside Avondale Preservation.
- Alex Rudnik, Yarden Tour park manager.
