Toxic Town

Please note, I would not want to live near, or work at, the plant in question. I do not drive an SUV; I eat organic; etc. I am not tied to the situation in any way. My comments are not an endorsement of any organization being given free rein to spoil the environment for economic gain, or to provide jobs. However, my belief is that in every one of the cases in the article, the aftereffects may have different causes from what appears on the surface. Apocryphal stories from the population affected still do not constitute good science, or the truth. Unless you can fund a double-blind study, with a "control" population of statistically relevant size, over an appropriate time period, I am skeptical of the entire premise that this plant alone is the cause of all the issues in the article.

Name withheld by request
Dallas

Online readers weigh in:

From Mayor Thompson: I am the Mayor of Somerville. These lawsuits have created many problems for the city. Economic development, which has been in the forefront of our sought-after plan for the future of our city, is not only at a standstill but in regression. Our sales tax has decreased, and our overall vision has been on hold.

I am not an expert on toxins or things of that nature, so my input on this matter has no meaning.

Our entire annual budget could not come close to what's needed to investigate the issues at hand. The city has resolved to go with the reports we receive on a regular basis from the EPA and the TCEQ. Unless otherwise proven, this is all we have.

Is our city contaminated ? The only contamination that I can be certain of is those of the friendships and family relationships that are so important to our community. Some people have put the blame for this turmoil on me and the city administration. They have also slandered my personal business, saying that it was a den of people who enhance and contribute to the uneasiness of this situation. This is definitely not the case. It has caused problems in my family and my restaurant. We the City need prayers, understanding and calm until these lawsuits are finally decided by a court of law.

Just for those who want to know: I have never sued anyone and never will.

Comment by Tommy Thompson

Travesty: This article needs national attention. This is a travesty for this town's ­residents.

Comment by Concerned

Catastrophic: I find this article very disturbing, to say the least. I grew up in Somerville, went to school in Somerville and even lived in Somerville for awhile as a young adult. I do feel that the effects of this are catastrophic, and just because you leave this "dying" town doesn't mean you're immune to the poison that has been released into the community on a near-continuous basis for decades.

Comment by Concerned

It's the lawyers: Somerville is my hometown, and while I would naturally be concerned by these allegations, I also realize this is fueled by lawyers. What we need is an independent assessment of the situation instead of alarmist rhetoric. While I feel for these "victims," it will be difficult to directly connect their ailments to the tie plant. Other contributing factors such as smoking and genetics must be taken into account. It's good that the school superintendent is a voice of reason, because it doesn't appear that the city's administration is going to take the lead on dealing with this issue.

Comment by Voice of Reason

Wow: Having grown up in Somerville and lived there most of my adult life, it never occurred to me how much the fumes, chemicals, etc., from the tie plant could be such a threat to the community. My father worked there for years, and I still remember him coming home, smelling the cresol on him and even sneaking snacks from his lunch box and tasting the cresol in the food too. Maybe this will be a wake-up call to some of the people out there. It explains a lot of why so many people have gotten sick in Somerville.

Comment by J. Jimenez

Small-town troubles: Thank you for your work in exposing this situation. It is most troubling. I grew up in a small town. In small towns, companies often get away with actions that put the people of the town at risk. The people need the employment and the prosperity that the company can bring. They keep silent. Those who do ask for respirators or make objections often find themselves out of work.

Comment by William Bell

Let us speak: I am writing you in regards to the information that you printed about Somerville causing illnesses and, in some cases, death. Do me a huge favor and give the rest of us a chance to be interviewed as well.

I am 56 years old, and my dad would have been 83 had he not succumbed to a WWII closed-head injury. When he was a young child, he worked at the "tie plant" for 25 cents a day as a water boy. He never left Somerville except during the war years when he fought for this country and this little town we "hometowners" call home. Those fighting to shut our hometown are move-ins and money-hungry for lack of wanting to work. Do some research about the past of these same people. Do some research before you believe the money diggers. Please.