Parents whose children attend Woodrow Wilson are largely Brazilian immigrants who are disconnected from local politics, and unaware of how they might petition officials to address their concerns, said Faust. About 80 percent of Woodrow Wilson students speak English as a second language, and 70 percent eat lunch for free or at reduced prices based on their family’s income, said principal Robin Welch.
“These people don’t speak English,’’ said Faust, a Brazilian immigrant who became a US citizen 15 years ago. “They don’t read newspapers. They are low income. Some are illegal, and they are afraid to speak up. They think this is America and everything will be taken care of.’’
Now, Faust and his fellow activists are trying to organize south Framingham residents to make their voices heard by General Chemical and public officials.
“I don’t want to wait to see people getting sick, to get a lot of diseases to determine we need to do something,’’ said Eliane Louison, a Brazilian immigrant and US citizen who lives in Century Estates, a condominium complex near General Chemical that is the center of south Framingham’s Brazilian community.
“We need to do something now,’’ said Louison. “I’m concerned about the local people here.’’
The local Board of Health has been conducting hearings on General Chemical’s site assignment, a permitting process that allows the company to operate in town, after state and local officials last year discovered toxic spills, polluted ground water, and other health violations at its 2-acre facility on Leland Street. If the board revokes the company’s site assignment, it could be forced to close the facility.
At the Board of Health’s Sept. 19 hearing, a geologist working as a consultant for the town called the General Chemical property “one of the most contaminated sites in the state.’’
The board’s next hearing is scheduled for 7 tonight at Wilson Elementary, 169 Leland St.
