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“What do we want?” cried Joyce Willis on the bullhorn. “Cleanup!” was the response from the crowd of fifty or so residents and activists gathered at 900 Garfield Ave., the site of toxic chromium deposits and the flashpoint of a political battle that has pitched the community against property owner PPG Industries and the city.

In preparation for a public hearing to be held this evening on the terms of the settlement agreement the city recently reached with PPG, Greenville-based community group GRACO held an hour-long protest rally at the site on Saturday afternoon.

The residents in attendance were mostly members of GRACO, whose initials stand for local street names Garfield, Randolph, Arlington, Clerk, Claremont, Carteret and Ocean. They held signs and encouraged those driving by to honk their horns in support of their cause. Organizer Felicia Collis said the purpose of the rally was to “garner community support” for the “total removal” of hexavalent chromium deposits at the site, as well as to demand that the city provide medical monitoring and treatment for residents who may be affected by the toxic chemicals. A recent study by the state Department of Environmental Protection found that the incidence of lung cancer near chromium sites was 7-17 percent higher than in other areas of Jersey City.

GRACO does not support the city’s settlement as it currently stands, and hopes that public outcry will compel the city to change the terms of the agreement. GRACO’s attorney Stuart Lieberman, who was present at the rally, said that the community needs “a tighter agreement,” one that includes a “specified timetable” for cleanup. In addition, the group is calling for total excavation of all chromium deposits.

City corporation counsel Bill Matsikoudis told JCI earlier this month that hexavalent chromium at the site would be reduced to 20 parts per million, down to a level of 20 feet below the ground. GRACO is not satisfied with this, organizer Gillian Allen said. “We are requiring that [PPG] clean this lot to the safest level possible,” which by GRACO’s definition would be a minimum standard of 0 parts per million down to a level of 80 feet below ground.

The rally was also attended by mayoral candidate L. Harvey Smith, as well as three council candidates: independent Ward F candidate LaVern Webb-Washington; Rev. Ron-Calvin Clark, a Ward F candidate on Lou Manzo’s ticket; and Ronnie Greco, an At-Large candidate on L. Harvey Smith’s slate. Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson, who is running for reelection on Mayor Healy’s slate, was not present at the event.

Neighborhood resident Henry Faulkner was confident about the group’s chances of affecting changes to the agreement, saying that he is “the most encouraged [he's] ever been” that this issue will be resolved.

Lieberman was even more assured.

“I would bet everything I have in the bank that the settlement is gonna change,” he said. “These [residents] are the stakeholders; City Hall’s gonna do the right thing.”

There is a public meeting on the PPG settlement at City Hall tonight at 7 pm.