News Tribune Editorial

The News Tribune published an editorial yesterday titled "Is Ruston dragging its feet on contamination?". What do you think? Are they? Are the questions posed by the editorial board fair ones? What is your opinion?

Point Ruston Files $150 Million Claim Against Ruston

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 14, 2014

Contact:

Point Ruston, LLC Loren Cohen, Manager of Legal Affairs Phone:  (253) 752-2185 x 236 Email:  Loren@PointRuston.com	Cascadia Law Group, PLLC Rodney Brown, Jr., Attorney at Law Phone:  (206) 292-6300 Email:  RBrown@cascadialaw.com

Point Ruston DEVELOPMENT FILES $150 MILLION NOTICE OF CLAIM AGAINST CITY OF RUSTON

Environmental Claims against City of Ruston for Violations of Environmental Cleanup Laws

TACOMA, WA – Today Point Ruston, LLC filed a series of claim notices against the City of Ruston, Washington totaling more than $150,000,000. These notices seek monetary contribution and treble damages related to environmental cleanup at the former Asarco Smelter Superfund Site.

Michael Cohen, managing partner of the construction and development firm behind the redevelopment of the former Asarco Superfund Site, stated “Most of our government partners have stepped up to the plate to help move the cleanup of this site forward – from our $31 Million public-private partnership with the City of Tacoma to re-build the public road and utilities at this site, to the State of Washington’s multi-million dollar investment in the cleanup on the tidelands and sediments along the shorelines of this site – not to mention the oversight and supervision offered by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Unfortunately the City of Ruston’s contribution has been to add to the pollution at this site and stand in the way of finalizing our work on this project.” The claims filed by Point Ruston LLC point to a history of the City of Ruston government’s environmental malfeasance at the site – including that the City of Ruston has hindered the cleanup and caused the further spread of contaminants.

Point Ruston is represented by Rodney Brown, Jr. of Cascadia Law Group, a boutique Seattle law firm that has been Point Ruston’s lead environmental counsel since the project’s inception in 2005.  For questions regarding these filings please direct questions to Mr. Brown.

LINK TO FULL CLAIM DOCUMENT HERE
 

About Point Ruston LLC

Point Ruston is a mixed-use real estate development project taking shape on the site of the former Asarco Smelter site.   Located on nearly one-mile of Puget Sound shoreline, Point Ruston includes plans for a mixed-use shopping center featuring more than 250,000 square feet of retail space with restaurants and boutique shopping, and anchored by a 25,000 square foot organic grocer, four-star 175-room Silver Cloud Hotel, and 9-screen Century Theatre cinema, along with a range of housing choices for nearly 3,000 residents.  Michael Cohen is Point Ruston LLC’s Manager and Majority Member of the Company.  With a four decade career in real estate spanning the West Coast, Mr. Cohen has successfully built and developed dozens of residential and commercial projects including hotels, casinos and golf course related projects.

About Cascadia Law Group PLLC

Cascadia Law represents clients in litigation and regulatory matters that include complex environmental, land use, and natural resource issues. Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, and other leading research firms and publications recognize Cascadia Law as a top regional firm whose clients include Fortune 100 companies, small businesses, government agencies, and environmental groups. Rodney Brown, Partner in Cascadia Law, is reported by Chambers USA 2014 as "the premier environmental lawyer in the state."  Amongst many other posts, Mr. Brown is Co-Chair of Governor Inslee’s Carbon Emissions Reduction Taskforce.

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2014 Family Fair + Pancake Breakfast + Car Show + Music

It was the first time the Ruston Family Fair included a pancake breakfast (complete with blueberries or chocolate chips) and car show open to all vintage cars. The Kidical Mass family bike ride brought lots of new faces just as the ponies arrived for free rides. The events are presented by the Ruston - Point Defiance Business District once again. The district held a drawing for local goodies, music was provided by Fire Chief Don Torbet and his friends, the baking contest entries were enjoyed by young and old - all in all it was a great day in town.

Close 54th Street?

Neighbors along the lower end of Highland Avenue are concerned about potential plans to close 54th Street at Pearl. Things are in the very early stages, but as part of the overall development of Point Defiance Park, one of the alternatives under consideration is a new roundabout at the entrance that would not feed into either N. 54th or N. Parkway on the other side of Pearl. Metro Parks and Tacoma planners are hosting an open house tomorrow night at the Pagoda to hear from neighbors that might be impacted by those road closures. The open house runs from 6:30 to 8pm. A flyer with more details can be found here. Officials will also be presenting details to the Ruston council on August 19th, so let your voice be heard!

Saturday Fun!

Get Those Ovens Warming

One of the most unique features of the old fashioned country fair theme for the Ruston Family Fair is the baking contest. Harking back to the days when each fall brought harvest celebrations and pie baking contests, this baking contest also allows cakes, tarts and cobblers. Cash prizes of $75, $50 and $25 to the winners. Judging is done by Stadium Thrifway. Warm up your oven, pull out grandma's best recipe and get baking!

Calling All Car Buffs

The Ruston Family Fair includes an expanded car show this year. Given the number of cool cars cruising Ruston Way on any given sunny day, there are plenty of cars in the area. Any vintage car can enter the show. Preregistration is not even required! Just show up this Saturday, August 9th, at N. 51st near Highland with $15 and get your parking assignment. Cool prizes, awards and more! Registration opens at 7:30am, car show runs from 9am til 2pm along N. 51st from Winnifred to Pearl Street. Registration form below or at www.explorenorthpearl.com under events (here).