BROOKLYN —

Dozens of Gowanus residents filtered into the gym of PS 372 for a “Community Availability Session” hosted by the state Department of Environmental Conservation to discuss the 49 local sites that are part of the Brownfield Cleanup and State Superfund programs.

About an hour in,  Joseph Alexiou, author of “Gowanus: Brooklyn’s Curious Canal,” faced off with officials.

“The DEC does not want a Q&A style session here because it will cover up the lies about the amount of coal tar under the ground,” he said.

The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club is one of many Gowanus sites community members want answers about. Air pollution has been detected inside the club, but the findings were not clearly communicated to the neighborhood.

READ MORE