I use the term "WOP" in the Subject Line, since the comment of, "They oughta sic the dogs on them 'wops' out there," was overheard, when Italian Americans, were testifying at a Public Meeting....... "WOPS", Yet and Still in 2005 !!!!!

But let me start at the beginning. A few months ago, I became aware of the "Battle of Cigainero HilI" (South State Line Avenue) residents in Texarkana, Tex-Ark., where a residential community of predominately Italian Americans (about 300, descendants of settlers in the 1800s) were being threatened by having a toxic "creosote" plant built in their midst by AmeriTracks /AmeriTies!!! (California Multi Millionaire Warren Nelson)

As most of you know, Texarkana are two adjacent towns, located on either side of the Texas and Arkansas state line. The plant was "innocently" referred to as a wood treatment plant, that actually would "treat" railroad cross ties by soaking them in  creosote (toxic, and cancer causing) as a preservative.

This plant was to be built in a part of Texarkana still haunted by the specter of Superfund sites, such as the former Koppers Inc. plant and the federally bought-out Carver Terrace in that part of town, and the former Texarkana Wood Preserving Co. (owned by Kerr McKee), so residents knew well the down side of such industrial operations.

Despite that knowledge, both Texarkana City Councils, granted a railroad easement and water and sewer rights at the end of June, and the plant was being pushed aggressively by the Chamber of Commerce. .

I despaired as a typically powerless Italian American community was about to be
economically devastated (by severe depression of their home values), and their health threatened.

There was little hope, since their was no Device like a National Italian American Internet Portal (as I keep preaching about) to rouse, coalesce, and rally support.

Fortunately, these "gutty" not easily intimidated Italian Americans took on the Millionaire, the Chamber of Commerce, the City Councils, and with the help of an Email Campaign, Skillful Strategy and a number of other Tactics have Triumphed !!!!

Kudos, and Congratulations for your Valiant Battle and Righteous Victory!!!

Sorry WE couldn't be there for you. Thankfully you did it without US.
Unfortunately, All others are also On Their Own.
We do not have the structure in place, To Help Each Other. :( :(

Comments of Local Resident Vencene (Glorioso) Reed & Newspaper Article follow:

Well, fellow Italian-Americans, we are ecstatic! Our South State Line, Italian group as well as other residents, here in Texarkana, Tex-Ark., have defeated the local Chamber, as well as Texas and Arkansas City Government decision to plop a third toxic creosote plant down in our residential area!

During the year long "battle", we have inundated the Texas Environmental Commission, Arkansas Environmental Commission, and EPA with e-mails and
letters; written letters to "The Editor" of our local Texarkana Gazette; and more letters to anyone who would listen. Citizen petitions grew to 2,000 strong, along with a "surprise picket" of the local Chamber office.

We have erected "No More Creosote" yard signs, crowded both Arkansas and Texas City Council Chambers to show our disdain, and employed any other measure within the law to overcome the "powers that be" decision to disrupt our families with such unconscionable economic and lethal injustice!  The overheard comment of, "They oughta sic the dogs on them 'wops' out there," just heated my fervor!

Coined as "Cigainero Hill" this community was begun as far back as the 1800's, when Giovanni  Battista Cigainero brought his wife and nine children here from Buja, Udine, Italy to start a new life.

We are finally successful with the cooperation and acknowledgment of local news media, local FUSE group [Federal Union of Scientists and Engineers], as well as some of our more brave and honest state, and county officials who publicly backed our cause.

We have learned that Unity, Perseverance, and a Plan can achieve wonders.

Viva Italiano!!
V.(Glorioso) Reed

Texarkana Gazette
By Aaron Brand, and
Greg Bisch
Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Residents of South State Line Avenue who were opposed to the railroad tie plant slated to be placed there, can breathe a little easier today-and tomorrow. The plant, proposed by AmeriTracks and backed by the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce, won't be developed there, according to a chamber announcement Tuesday during the monthly board of directors' meeting.

Chamber president Jim Cherry issued a statement indicating that during the holidays the Chamber became aware that land purchase options held by AmeriTies, the new name for the outfit, had lapsed for the intended site.

The chamber's follow-up communication with Warren Nelson, AmeriTies chairman, indicated that "AmeriTies has abandoned the South State Line area as the site of their new tie production facility," according to the statement.

Contacted by telephone Tuesday, Nelson told the Gazette that opposition raised by south Texarkana residents played a part in their decision to not go through with the land purchase. "The reason why I think it's highly unlikely we'll end up at that site is that we don't want to fight people. We just want to make railroad ties," Nelson said. He added that "clearly a lot of people didn't want us on South State Line."

He said there's still a need for railroad tie production and AmeriTies' intention is...
to find a site that's not close to a neighborhood, one that will "work for everybody."...

He said the purchase options lapsed for two properties, one of more than 100 acres and another with 37 acres...

Many residents of Texarkana, particularly those in the South State Line neighborhood close to the proposed site, expressed opposition to the site.

Now, they're pleased with the outcome.

"I would say that the efforts of our organization to keep the plant out of Texarkana have now been rewarded and we're extremely happy," said Pat Cigainero, chairman of Citizens for a Creosote-Free Community. "For South Texarkana to have endured the last three creosote sites, the possibility of having another one brought us together to achieve the same goal of keeping this out."

Creosote is one of the chemicals that has been used to preserve wood at both the Kerr-McGee plant and two Superfund sites in south Texarkana (the former Texarkana Wood Preserving Co. and Koppers Inc. plants).

Cigainero, born and raised in the neighborhood, said it's a victory for both sides of the state line- "not just South Texarkana."...

"(The chamber's) duty is to not only bring new business here but to bring new business that makes Texarkana a better place to live," he said.

He said if the chamber and the company had chosen a location farther away from such a neighborhood, "then their opposition would have been nil."...

"I think it just tells what a community can do when they stand up on their hind legs and look at the facts and do what they need to do to protect themselves," he said...

I wasn't going to take my signs down until I knew for sure," Wooten said, referring to the orange signs in her front yard which state "Creosote Kills-We Have Had Enough."

AmeriTracks Backs Out
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/
2005/01/19/local_news/news/news01.txt