Lee Knowles vs City Hall and the EPA

At the end of Part I in Friendswood by Rene Steinke, the protagonist Lee Knowles must convince many powerful, stubborn people of the dangers of the chemical waste buried under Banes Field. Not only does she have to persuade Mayor Wallen and the other City Hall officials after several previous failed attempts, but she also has to battle the claims of safety in that area made by the trusted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Both of these groups are presumably working with Taft Properties to turn the abandoned land into a housing development for profit. It's an unjust thing to do, and Lee refuses to idly stand by. Other families who move into the new homes would be put in danger of the same chemicals her family was, and they may have to face the same tragedies she and many members of her community went through.

Lee tried to convince the City Hall officials of the dangers of the chemical waste at Banes Field before, and even offered the data she collected as evidence, but they never listened to her. To them, she's just a nutcase whose opinion is misguided and irrelevant, and they treat her as such. After she started challenging the EPA representative over the safety of Banes Field, Mayor Wallen "stood up from his seat and stomped the dais" and said "'Ms. Knowles ... would you let Ms. Dawson give her report?'" (Steinke 90). In addition, Councilman Burns holds up his hand and condescendingly says, "We're very familiar with your work, Ms. Knowles" (Steinke 90). Both of these actions further show that they disregard Lee's claims and find her opinion irrelevant. 

And this clearly isn't the first time Lee's opinions are dismissed. "Lee used to be able to act nice, to command a crowd, but she'd been worn down by so much flatness, so much indifference" (Steinke 90). The way the City Hall officials treat her has changed her approach because she's frustrated that they won't listen. By neglecting to consider the possibilities of danger in the community, the City Hall officials are not fulfilling their responsibility to protect, and this will ultimately end in tragedy for the community.

The EPA also has a history of ignoring Lee's opposition to them. They go to Banes Field and perform their own tests, so they don't need to listen to the tests some woman does herself. Also, although Lee "can't even get anyone at the EPA to return [her] calls" (Steinke 86), her friend says that someone from the EPA recently went around to see former Rosemont citizens. So they are obviously ignoring Lee. 

During the City Hall meeting, the EPA representative, Ms. Dawson, announces that the EPA gives Taft Properties permission to build around Rosemont, which Lee takes issue with. She says that she has evidence to change the EPA's mind, and Ms. Dawson replies to her with a rude "Excuse me?" (Steinke 89). She does listen to Lee, but she replies by "[nodding] aggressively, her mouth screwed tight" (Steinke 89). Ms. Dawson then goes on to suggest other causes for the points Lee brought up, saying "Cancer rates, as you know, can be deceptive" (Steinke 89). She also questions Lee's ethics when obtaining her information. But Ms. Dawson does promise Lee that she'll look into her reports, although I have yet to know if she actually will. 

In the following video, the EPA says that their primary objective is "protecting human health and making sure that people are safe" (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). But if the EPA continues to ignore Lee and the dangers Banes Field presents to human health, they will not be fulfilling their responsibility to protect. For the sake of future Friendswood citizens, I hope the EPA and the City Hall come to their moral senses and realize that in order to fulfill their duty to protect, they need to take Lee's claims seriously.

Works Cited

Steinke, Rene. Friendswood.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “EPA Criminal Enforcement: Protecting People and the Environment.” YouTube, YouTube, 11 Feb. 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fajlhxyapa0.