Air quality at Masonite and death threats?
I was talking to Chris Brown, the head of Air Quality Management District about the Masonite demoliltion project and the talk going around that there's toxics, asbestos, all kinds of dangerous stuff being unleashed from the site. Brown says that not only is his department monitoring the air quality along the borders of the site extensively, but the demolition is being watched over by at least a couple of professional demolition health teams that are dedicated to making sure that any unsafe materials located are dealt with immediately and that workers are protected too. Asbestos seems to be the biggest worry people have and there has been talk that asbestos particles are escaping into UKiah's air. Brown points out that not only are there monitors upwind and downwind around the site but that demolition workers wear special badges that have alarms in them that go off if any airborne asbestos particles are detected. Those badges are sent to a testing lab in Sacramento every night for further analysis. Brown describes the process of dealing with old particle boards and other materials that may contain asbestos. First they are watered down so that when torn they do not spread dust, then the pieces are bagged, sealed, bagged again, sealed and then sealed again into special dumpsters. As for toxics, the demolition isn't going into the ground of the site, it is only dismantling the buildings. No foundations are being disturbed. Ukiah Mayor Mari Rodin is thinking about putting together a public forum on the subject to, ahem, clear the air. She says she believes part of the problem is that the demolition was approved and underway before a lot fo local residents knew anything about it and that is one reason rumors are flying.
I understand that Supervisor Jim Wattenburger said during an interview on KZYX the other day that he is getting death threats from people upset with him about his potential vote approving a mall at the Masonite site and his views on limiting medical marijuana growing. He apparently also said he carries a concealed weapon as a result. We called him to ask him about this fairly interesting development in local politics, but he said he didn't want anything in the paper about it. Then why say it publicly? Hmmm.