[This speech was delivered at the November 15th, 2005 scoping hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Columbia expansion proposal]

My name is Fred Danesh. I'm a resident of this community for over thirty-five years. I think I can speak for most of the people here to say that out of all the talk that Columbia did, all the technical [data] involved, we got very -- I got very little in substance from their presentation. I think what this presentation is notable for is mostly for what was not contained rather than for what was contained in it. It did not contain a full discussion of the displacement of the tenants. That by itself deserves a full hearing. It did not contain a full discussion of loss of jobs and businesses and also a missed opportunity as a result of destruction that is caused by Columbia's construction. That itself requires a full hearing. It did not contain the full impact of the hazards of bioresearch, biological research, especially above level 2, levels 3 and 4. It also was notable for the absence of serious consideration of the 197-a plan. I think the reason for that is clear. It wasn't because that plan was not drafted with the help of competent and serious and thoughtful professionals. It was. It was not that that plan did not offer them any opportunity for development.It did. The real reason from the perspective of Columbia's Board of Trustees and administrators is that that plan had a basic fatal flaw. It put the interest of the community above that of any private developer. Now, I believe what is a lost opportunity for Columbia is an excellent opportunity for the City administration to show its concerns and care for the community. It should stand up to Columbia and let them know that they cannot acquire public land at public expense through the destruction of businesses, roofs over tenants' heads and destruction of jobs.

Another point that I want to mention is about the bioresearch that they plan. I think beyond level 2, anything else should not be located in any population area. The reasons are simple. It is not enough to rely on methods of avoiding accidents. Any level of research, that if accidents did happen, could cause serious harm to lives and health. I believe that any official who does not believe in rehabilitating and locating somewhere else levels 3 and 4 of bioresearch simply because accidents do happen, then they are not competent enough even to decide on that issue.

FRED DANESH