Don’t Be Fooled!  

            About 3 to 4 weeks ago, a beautiful 8 1/2” by 11” full color ad proclaiming the advantages of a recycling facility in our town arrived in the mail. It contained an open letter from a man named Tom Malone, Principal, and Brookfield Resource Management. The ad on one side showed a beautiful open field with two young girls walking in high grass. The other side touted the advantages to the town that their project, “a recycling facility,” would bring.

            In reality, Brookfield Resource is attempting to establish an auto crushing business in our town. They claim to be a recycling facility, but according to our town zoning regulations, they fit the definition of a junkyard. Our town ZBA has seen fit to place them in the category of an industrial use. Obviously, their ad avoids describing the true project, as the words “car crushing” or “junkyard” don’t appear. They wish to sell this to town residents as a recycling facility and avoid the true nature of their business. Why avoid the truth?

            Brookfield claims that people recycle, drive hybrid cars, or install energy saving windows to help eliminate greenhouse emissions in order to help the environment. They claim that through their project, (crushing cars,) they will help save energy, reduce greenhouse gases and conserve natural resources. How their project with 47 foot high equipment will accomplish this is not addressed. Also not addressed are any negative environmental impacts, their negative impact on property values in the area, or their negative impact on already congested roads. Surely a “car crushing junkyard” will have some negative aspects, but none were mentioned. Odd that they left these out, don’t you think?

            Brookfield states they will make significant property tax contributions (note they didn’t say they would pay taxes based on their assessment). They claim to be investing $26.3 million into this project. They claim it will bring millions of dollars in taxes to the local community. Through federal, state and local tax incentives and a negotiated PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) agreement, they will probably pay thousands, not millions. They will most likely pay less per square foot than you do for your home! Brookfield also claims that their project will create 50 good paying jobs in 5 years. Are these jobs worth the health and safety of town residents? Will these jobs pay enough to be able to live in our town or Orange County? Will these jobs go to town residents or to those willing to accept the lowest wages? Oddly they didn’t address any of these topics.

            Brookfield claims that they will bring millions of dollars to the local economy. They claim they will be spending $10 to 15 million per year for recyclables. Since the local economy cannot generate this amount in unwanted cars, where will they come from? It stands to reason that millions of dollars worth of cars will be trucked to the site on our already congested roads. They also claim that as a user in the local water and sewer district, they will save the town and tax payers money. The water and sewer district, by law, must be self sustaining. So why are they claiming to save the taxpayers money when 99% of the people don’t live in the district?

            Brookfield should get an “A” for propaganda and presentation. Their PR firm should also get an “A” for this beautifully presented piece that says nothing of their true nature. They have made this project seem to be an environmentally friendly one that will benefit us all. They use catch words like “green for us,” “reducing green house gases,” etc. They try to get you to look at the project through their corporate PR’s eyes. They do not want you to see them for what they truly are, a car crushing junkyard. A project that will pollute our air, create sound decibels that will be heard far from the site, cause  more traffic on  roads already congested, and drive down property values in the area, thus reducing our tax base.

 Don’t be fooled by their corporate propaganda! 

 Contact your town officials and demand a full disclosure by Brookfield as to the nature of the project. Demand to know the truth about this project!