Don't risk citizens' health for drilling money

In response to your June 19 article "City Weighing Marcellus Shale Drilling Concerns," I hope that City Council and the mayor do not believe that the financial rewards of gas exploration outweigh the possible catastrophic risks. I am not willing to support any politician who would risk millions of gallons of natural gas, benzene, methane, petroleum hydrocarbons and other lethal byproducts of natural gas drilling winding up in our water supply or elsewhere in this city. Recently, when asked by reporters to comment on new drilling regulations in Pennsylvania, John Hanger, the state environmental secretary, said "there's no such thing as zero-impact drilling."

I hope that the mayor and City Council will think of the health and well-being of the children of this city and vote for a citywide drilling ban, spearheaded by Councilman Doug Shields. Entertaining the thought of allowing these reckless companies, with horrific environmental track records, to exploit our natural resources is absurd.

We all know that this city is in dire financial straits, but there are other ways in which the city can make money and produce alternative energy solutions. Putting the lives of city residents and children at risk is not one of them.

DAVID FRANK
Bloomfield