Quaglione Accuses Gentile Of Flip-Flopping On Waste Transfer Station

City Council candidate John Quaglione went after Councilman Vincent Gentile over his initial support of the controversial Gravesend waste transfer station. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle is reporting that at the rally held by Assemblyman William Colton this past Sunday, Quaglione attacked Gentile’s record on the transfer station in front of the protesting crowd.

Earlier in the week, we reported on the protest of the waste transfer station organized by Colton over the Department of Sanitation’s (DOS) plans to build a waste transfer station behind the Caesar’s Bay Shopping Center (1640 Shore Parkway). Colton, who waged an unsuccessful lawsuit against the city to halt the construction of the station, has not given up his quest, arguing that the facility would be an environmental disaster for the community. The rally drew both the presence of Gentile (D) and Quaglione (R), both professed opponents of the transfer station and both locked in a bitter race for the 43rd Council District seat.

Quaglione, who also spoke at the rally, went on to remind would-be constituents that Gentile voted for the station when it came up for a vote in 2006:

“I don’t understand how in his right mind, he could even show up at a rally, and better yet, address the audience as though he is on their side and against it,” Quaglione said.

“Flip flopping on this issue is a failure of character, and if the plan goes through, Mr. Gentile will have to explain why the people of Southwest Brooklyn must face a new series of serious quality of life and health concerns. I have and remain opposed to this plan, and look forward to working with Assemblyman Bill Colton and others to stop this before it is too late,” Quaglione said.

Gentile responded by pleading that had he known of the alleged environmental impact of the station, he never would have voted for it in the first place.

“I was compelled to reexamine the plan to build a waste transfer station at Bay 41st near Gravesend Bay after reviewing startling new information uncovered by my friend and colleague Assemblyman Colton. I would not support any plan that would put our health, quality of life or environment at risk,” Gentile said.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle noted that approval for the station, which was apart of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Solid Waste Management Plan, was nearly unanimous in the council, receiving only four votes of opposition.