Alleged odors vs. alleged public-drunkeness

This just in from reporter Claudia Palma….

EL MONTE – Employees, family and friends of Gregg Industries spoke to a neighborhood committee and governing air district members to discuss issues at Gregg Industries Thursday evening at City Hall.

Over 100 people attended a meeting of the Rio Vista Neighborhood Committee, which consists of members from the Mujeres de la Tierra – El Monte chapter, Amigos de los Rios and other community representatives, held inside council chambers.

“(Our committee) deals with issues in the community – schools, parks, (and Gregg),” said Maria Rosario Valdez of Mujeres de la Tierra.

Mayor Ernie Gutierrez and Councilwoman Pat Wallach sat in the audience as various Gregg representatives spoke on the work the plant has done to improve worker safety and mitigate odors that may be coming from the plant.

Gutierrez said Gregg’s situation is almost identical to what he has been through in the last few weeks.

“What is being said has to be factual,” he said, “it’s too easy for people to get up and speak nonsense without facts.”

Gutierrez expressed his concern for the children and residents in the community but wants to be sure there are documents stating facts of cancer or other health risks in the area.

Interesting that Gutierrez would use concerns over odors form an iron foundry to make parallels with allegations he was drunk and acted inappropriately at a city event.

A little far-fetched?