In New York City, our parks are undeniable, timeless community magnets. They are where we take our children to play, our pets to exercise, and give us the chance to escape the city and enjoy nature. Because of this truth, we must make our parks as safe as possible.

Glyphosate, the active toxic ingredient in New York City Parks Department's widely used weedkiller, was declared as a probable carcinogen in 2015 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Studies have shown links between this toxic and such conditions as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, asthma, severe kidney damage, birth defects, and a variety of cancers including breast, colon, prostate and lung cancer. The conclusions of the independently reviewed studies are clear: the wide and increasing use of glyphosate in our crops and public spaces is a hazard to our health.

Obtained NYC records show that this year glyphosate was sprayed over 3,000 times in and around parks. The most heavily sprayed boroughs include Queens and Brooklyn, where the populations are primarily people of color. The more affluent borough of Manhattan fell far below in documented incidents.

Spraying was done in and around parks, including the immediate perimeters of playgrounds, where children are at high risk. Pets and animals are also at high risk because of their grass eating habits and the risk of drinking water runoff in puddles.

There are existing safe alternatives to this weed killer. Multiple cities and areas have already banned or are working to phase out the use of glyphosate and other pesticides. New York City should join Ireland, Sri Lanka, The Netherlands, Bermuda and a growing list of cities, including Chicago IL, Takoma Park MD, Richmond CA, Vancouver BC, and Paris, and ban glyphosates. For New York City to follow in these footsteps of these would be prudent and groundbreaking in the nationwide movement to improve our environment!

 https://www.facebook.com/Coalition-Against-Poison-Parks-552547264906045/timeline