Hondo Residents and Businesses Take Action Against Foul Odor

City of Hondo neglects community safety issues

Hondo, Tx --The Hondo Empowerment Committee has grave concerns about the City’s handling of the public nuisance and health hazards due to Chapman grain silos on 18th Street between Avenues N & P. City officials promised that the moldy grain would be cleaned by Friday, March 21st. One week later, the nauseating odor worsens for the blocks surrounding the facility. The community and local businesses have been subjected to this unacceptable smell and potentially toxic mold for over a month.

The same owner is in the process of tearing down another silo complex on 14^th Street. The HEC met with the mayor and city manager last week to bring up the concern of safety for children and families because of the lack of fencing. That same day children were seen playing in the rubble and the next day a fire erupted on the site.

Also at the meeting last week, the residents were informed by City Manager Robert Herrera that an investigator from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) had taken samples of grain from the site to determine potential negative health impacts. In a follow-up call to TCEQ, HEC learned that no samples had indeed been taken.

This pattern of misleading statements and unfulfilled promises is very disturbing and is indicative of a complete lack of concern for the citizens of Hondo that live by this facility and nearby businesses. HEC is calling on you again to immediately clean up the moldy grain, and to inform us what fines ($250-$1,000) have been assessed on the property’s owner for failing to meet last week’s deadline.

Labels: environmental justice, Hondo, nuestra voz