Mayor's spokesman seeks correction to News story

"The 1998 reference in The Somerville News story is a significant error that gives a false impression that the city is relying on outdated data. While it is too late to do anything about your print edition, I ask that you correct the online version of your piece."
--Thomas P. Champion, the city's executive director of communications and cable

To the editor:

I am writing today to renew my request for a factual correction to your story entitled “Tox Doc: Evacuate the building.”

Please note that the state's Division of Occupational Safety issued its report on air quality in the Public Safety Building in October of 2004, not in 1998 as you stated in your story.

The DOS study was based on precisely the type of air quality testing to which the trial lawyers’ paid expert witness defers. Writing about his own sampling technique, he admits that, "The samples for volatile and semivolatile organic materials only determined that these materials are present. Determination of eight-hour time weighted average exposure levels would require additional, and a different type of testing. Therefore, the levels of the chemicals found on the day of the examination often did not reach the minimal allowable dose levels to which one could safely be exposed, as recommended by ATSDR or OSHA."

(ATSDR refers to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in the US Dept of Health and Human Services.)

Although carefully worded, the consultant's own report thus confirms that he did not find hazardous levels of any dangerous chemicals.

By contrast, here is the straightforward language from the 2004 DOS report:

"It is the policy of our office to screen for the presence of gross VOC [volatile organic compound] contamination during most routine indoor air quality investigations. Levels above 1 part per million indicate a presence of a source of VOCs which should be further investigated. Note that OSHA allowable exposure limits for most volatile organic compounds are higher than 1 part per million.

"No significant levels of common organic compounds were found on the samples collected on the day of the visit."

The 1998 reference in The Somerville News story is a significant error that gives a false impression that the city is relying on outdated data. While it is too late to do anything about your print edition, I ask that you correct the online version of your piece.

Last week, I told reporter George Hassett that I would be happy to provide him with a copy of the 2004 DOS study, but he informed me that he already had one, which makes this error even more serious.

Please issue a correction at your earliest convenience.

--Thomas P. Champion

Comments

[Maria]

In the immortal words of Astro, "ruh roh".

[Somerspeak]

The shoe doesn't feel so good when it's on the other foot, does it Tommy Boy?

Faker!

[Whatever]

You're noting that he's SEEKING a correction? Sooooo, when will you let us all know if you're going to give him one? Regular newspapers would either admit the mistake, or explain why you stand behind your story. If publishing his letter is your idea of admitting your error, the title should be "Mayor's spokesman corrects News story."

[ConcernedCitizen]

So its Thursday night and the Aldermen are meeting at City Hall, and if you were to drive by you would see the land version of the Naughty Girl, the sweet white stang of FS parked up on the sidewalk between the fire box and the building, now why oh why would that be ok?

It's amazing that some of these guys think they are above the law....he might want to stick to the buildings and grounds and give up on trying to be a cop....

That gun and that fake badge just ain't cutting there young buck...

[Dr. Mrs. McCarthy]

That's CONSTABLE Frankie Young Buck to you CC.

Well tonight up here at the Little Sis's was without any action at all. Not one damn ambulance all night so me and Mrs. Gaglianno watched the Bored Meeting. Same old shit. All the actors jockeying for some camera time and never really getting anything done.

But I have a bit of advice for our new Bored President, Mr. Trane of Ward 7. You may want to lay off Little Rebba Gewirtz and start showing this freshman a little respect. I notice that she took great pleasure watching you wiggle and squirm after the second hour of the meeting. Could it be that she has found your Achilles heel? Oh come on Bob, we all know that you can't go for more than an hour without a smoke and so does Rebba. That could explain why she smiled ever so slightly when she called for the Bored to go into Executive Session at 10:45 tonight. Geez Bob, three hours and 45 minutes without a butt.

Be nice to her next month or she may push for the Bored meeting to go to the 5 hour mark.

Night all.

Dr. Mrs. McCarthy

[Born Here]

if Mr Trane needs to get some junk in his lungs, have the BOA meeting in the Public Safety building. He could just stand at the podium and breathe deep....plenty of toxins there !! Hey Mrs. McCarty, see you at Mass in the Chapel today darling.