Last week, the City Department of Health (DOHMH) announced that it had detected West Nile Virus in mosquitoes collected from Ferry Point Park in the Bronx. In its announcement, DOHMH recommended reducing exposure to mosquitoes through certain measures, such as: 'Eliminate any standing water from your property as they are breeding sites for mosquitoes...Standing water is a violation of the New York City Health Code."
In response, Public Advocate Gotbaum renewed her call for the city to clean up a stretch of filthy standing water in the Mott Haven area of the Bronx--called the 'Bronx Swamp' by local residents. The swamp, which Gotbaum visited in April, was part of a rail line operated by a private company until 2004. Now, there is no clear ownership over the tracks, and the city has yet to take responsibility for maintaining them.
As Gotbaum noted, the city has allowed this substantial area of water to accumulate and fester under its watch: "To issue this warning to individual property owners while tolerating an enormous case of standing water on abandoned grounds is the height of hypocrisy. The city's failure to make the connection between the swamp and its own health advisory is an insult to all residents of Mott Haven."
To residents of Mott Haven and surrounding neighborhoods, the Public Advocate's Office wants to know:
Do you think the city should take responsibility for cleaning up the Bronx Swamp?
We look forward to hearing from you!
(Check out today's Daily News piece: Fearing W. Nile virus outbreak, Gotbaum tells city to clean abandoned swamp)
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