State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Thursday announced lawsuits again the man who pleaded guilty for toxic dumping at Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood and the more than two dozen companies he says are also responsible.
The park has been closed for four years due to tons of contaminants that were dumped. Schneiderman made the announcement from outside the locked gates of the park.
"We tracked back to 13 different construction sites in New York City and Nassau and Suffolk County, figured out where the waste came from that got dumped out here, and identified the contractors and subcontractors who were responsible for that waste," says Schneiderman.
Thomas Datre Jr. was sentenced last week to a year in jail after pleading guilty to four felony charges related to the toxic dumping.
Schneiderman says he expects to recover millions from the lawsuit – all of which he says must go to restore, replace or acquire park land in the impacted area.
State lawmakers say it is essential that more security be part of the plan as well in the wake of gang violence in the community.