Econo-My-Scene: Holy Hydrazine Batman. No More Political Mumbo Jumbo

By Randy Economy
I would have NEVER imagined that I would have to become educated about a dangerous gas called “Hydrazine,” which according to the Environmental Protection Agency is highly toxic and is polluting our air here on the Eastside of Cerritos.

Don’t mess with Hydrazine. It’s wicked and dangerous to us human folks.

Hydrazine is a known carcinogen that causes damage to your kidneys, liver, and reproductive organs. It causes cancers and horrific breathing disorders.

The EPA revealed that in 2002 an industrial plant run by a company called PGP Industries/Hereaus here in the back yard of East Cerritos has emitted a “dangerous” amount of Hydrazine into our air.

How come we weren’t informed about this chemical leak SEVEN years ago?

Why are we sitting silent to those we send to protect us in Washington, DC and Sacramento?

I live around 4,000 yards (as the crow flies) from PGP/Hereaus. This company is actually located in the City of Santa Fe Springs and has been at this Carmenita Road and Alondra Boulevard site for eons.

According to Heraeus, they are a “globally active precious metals and technology Group” with firm roots in Germany, headquartered in Hanau near Frankfurt. The company has been family-owned for more than 155 years. Precious metals, sensors, dental and medical products, quartz glass, and specialty lighting sources are the focus of their activities.

Quick grab me my Resume, I totally would love to work for such a “delightful” sounding company like this one.

For us here on the Eastside of Cerritos, Heraeus is known as the “smokestack” across from a hamburger joint.

But, what’s going on INSIDE the plant? What’s really in that smoke? What’s that awful smell?

Our wonderful Eastside Cerritos neighborhood was listed on June 25, 2009 by the EPA as having the worst toxic air in the United States. We are “Ground Zero” according to this report. We can handle the truth. We just need to know what the truth IS, and what WE need to do to take this matter into our own hands.

The City of Cerritos is talking about this Company, Heraeus, thank goodness. Check out http://www.cerritos.us/ for more information on what our city leaders are saying about this situation.

One city councilman here in Cerritos sent out an email this week telling resident’s “not to panic,” that our air here isn’t really isn’t that “bad” compared to other areas in Los Angeles County. Huh? Not “that bad?” Give me a break, Joe.

For years we have endured thick rotten smelling white smoke spewing into our East Cerritos neighborhood from the dozens of stacks from Heraeus and other manufacturing companies within the Alondra Boulevard/Carmenita Road/ Firestone Frontage Road area.

The EPA has also listed at least SEVEN additional companies as being “harmful” polluters. I am now calling this area the “Toxic Triangle.”

Like clockwork, “The Toxic Triangle” stacks start blasting around 9:30 p.m., and continues to spew into the wee hours of the morning. Grab your camcorders and start rolling footage for yourself. You will be stunned what you actual watch.

Hereaus has employees working 24/7. They never stop working. I hope the employees of this company ask hard questions of their management.
We need real experts to investigate this situation.
We don’t need elected officials telling us their opinions about this situation in political emails.

We need scientific data and tests, and conversations, not “duck and cover” from elected officials.

The next time a politician sends you and email telling you not to panic about the air here in Cerritos, grab your telephone and call him or her and start demanding facts.

Hey, I hear they have clean air in Boron, California. Who knew!
Stay Tuned.

Drop me a note to RREconomy@aol.com

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