But that mesmerizing view of the bay — the idyllic winters and thriving summers, filled with boaters and fishermen — was spoiled in August 2010, Bochner recounted, when the water darkened and a repugnant odor began to fill the air. An alarmingly large brown plume could often be seen moving across the channel, which Bochner would later learn was a discharge of partially treated sewage — in greater concentrations than allowed by environmental law — from the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant in East Rockaway. Angered by what he described as the inaction of local officials, Bochner, the Long Beach Herald’s 2011 Person of the Year, fired up his camcorder and began documenting the sewage plumes and posting the images online. In doing so, he let other residents know about a serious environmental hazard that both local and state officials eventually scrambled to address. Those close to Bochner say that had he not acted quickly, the situation might have escalated to the point where residents became ill and the channel suffered serious environmental damage. “He brought to the public knowledge of an environmental disaster,” said City Councilman Len Torres. “I saw a sincere individual concerned for the health of his family and the people in Long Beach. He was concerned about the impact this would have for future generations.” Bochner, an avid outdoorsman who has lived on the channel for nine years, said that last fall, the discharge from the Bay Park plant — which is owned and operated by Nassau County — was happening on a daily basis and was not being addressed. “You could smell it, and the birds were eating human feces,” he said. “You question it and people give you excuses to say no, it’s fine. But it wasn’t fine.” One particular video, he said, shot on Oct. 16, 2010, generated numerous hits on YouTube, where he uploaded all of his images. He also started filing reports with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. “It went viral — people saw it,” he said. “There were people fishing, swimming in the water. People could get sick from that. We felt violated that this could go on in America.” What Bochner learned next, he said, shocked him. Since March 2010, the DEC had issued numerous violations for the discharge from the plant, which DEC officials said was in need of repair after years of neglect. That October, the agency discovered that the plant was discharging more suspended solids than allowed by environmental law. Torres, describing Bochner as a powerful voice in the community, recalled how he raised the issue at a City Council meeting last year. “He
PERSON 2 0 11
OF THE YEAR Long Beach
HERALD December 29, 2011 - January 4, 2012
$1.00
YEAR IN REVIEW
Skyler Kessler/Herald
Long Beach residents mourned the loss of beloved teacher, surfer and environmental activist Daniel Bobis in July. Page 20
r e n h c o B t t o c S
Capturing a looming environmental disaster with a camcorder
By CHRIS ENGELHARDT cengelhardt@liherald.com
Courtesy ASP
The Quiksilver Pro New York offered pro surfing the largest purse in history when it came to Long Beach in September. Page 22
E
very day, West Pine Street resident Scott Bochner, 55, steps out onto his balcony and takes in the view of Reynolds Channel across from his home.
Whether in the morning, before work, or in the evening, when he comes home, Bochner said, his daily routine has become a tradition with his family — his wife of 19 years, Amy, 50, and two boys, Jordan, 17, and Jesse, 14.
See Environmental, page 3
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