Newtown Residents Oppose North Decatur Street Construction and Debris Landfill Ahead of October 22 Planning Commission Meeting Newtown residents and District 3 City Councilor Johnnie Chambers Sankey oppose a proposed construction and debris landfill on North Decatur Street in Montgomery, Alabama. Montgomery, Alabama – Newtown residents are speaking out against a proposed construction and debris landfill on North Decatur Street, and they are preparing to attend every meeting needed to stop it. The proposal has raised concerns among local residents and newly elected District 3 City Councilor Johnnie Chambers Sankey, who opposes the landfill.The site is located in a general industry zoning district, and the city currently operates a construction and debris landfill on Hunter Loop Road in west Montgomery.Resident Sam Yu said the area could be affected by heavy toxic solvents used for steel beams at former steel mills, including Sable and Trinity, which leached into the soil.Yu emphasized the personal significance of the neighborhood, stating that Newtown means home and that residents cannot allow arsenic, lead, and other carcinogens to enter their air, soil, and water.He explained that the contamination is currently dormant but could become dangerous if disturbed.Yu elaborated that the solvents from the steel mills leached into the dirt and are dormant now, but if they are moved, stirred, or disturbed, it could be deadly for residents due to the vapors alone.District 3 City Councilor Johnnie Chambers Sankey expressed her opposition to the proposed landfill.Sankey stated that she stands with the residents of Newtown to protest any type of environmental injustice that may be coming its way.She said the community does not want to see a waste management facility or landfill or anything come to this community to distract from the health and welfare of the citizens that live there.Sankey also noted that the community has previously dealt with other issues similar to this, which have been resolved, and they do not need anything new introduced that is not beneficial.Residents are mobilizing ahead of the planning commission meeting, with Yu stating that they will be present at every meeting it takes to shut down the construction and debris landfill.The planning commission will meet on Thursday, October 22, to discuss the proposed landfill and hear from the public.The item is first on the agenda, and the meeting starts at 5 p.m. at City Hall.Other items on the planning commission agenda include public hearings on development plans for a restaurant in East Chase, paving improvements for Alabama State University, and a four-story hotel on Wasden Court near Hope Hull.The planning commission meeting will provide an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns about the proposed landfill.Residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the public hearing to make their voices heard on this important issue.The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 22, at 5 p.m. at City Hall, with the landfill item first on the agenda.Other agenda items include public hearings on a restaurant in East Chase, paving improvements for Alabama State University, and a four-story hotel on Wasden Court near Hope Hull.