Hello, my name is Leonard Martin and I started this web site for those who have been injured or have illnesses relating to Environmental Toxic Exposures. My story is on-line at:http://letsintroduceourselves.us/wordpress/?cat=86 It is also found in the category menu to your right under the listing – documentation of the Victims – Your Story.
This web site has been put together in the hope that it will serve to bring people together. This is a place where people can share their stories, and provide knowledge of useful resources.
This site is also intended to show that these environmental issues are not endemic to specific locations in this country, but are shared in nearly every community globally. Because these problems are shared globally, all people should become aware, begin to take action to stop the problems, reverse the problem and help one another.
The following song – “Ill Gotten Gain” was originally written for the Victims of Downey at 12214 Lakewood Blvd., in Downey, California.
We feel it is representative of all contaminated properties where people have become ill from their place of employment and abandoned by their employer. Here are the lyrics to the song “Ill Gotten Gain.”
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Leonard, I am proud of you…you have been the rock through the whole Downey Toxic Case and there is a special place for you in heaven. You deserve so much credit asnd an award for your endurance and perseverance…
Steve Basile’s Story
I was a Prop-maker at Downey Studio’s on the feature ‘The Islands’ in November and December of 2004, and working there changed my life forever. I remember when I first got there the stage was real damp, the stage was water leaking from the roof, leaking and I worked at the big hanger in the back.
If we had to go to the bathroom we had to go way in the back in this hallway that was pitch black and they had these extension cord lights all hooked up and you could see this black mold ad green and it was just really disgusting. It was like going to downtown subway bathroom in New York that has been abandoned for 30 years. There were no lights, no ventilation. After I was there a couple weeks I started coughing, sneezing and had respiratory problems. My breathing just wasn’t normal. And every new person that came on, it was weird, because you could see the same thing happening to them. With myself after a few weeks I was itching and scratching my arms and hands.
A couple weeks after I started working there they brought in a pot-a potty so we wouldn’t have to use the dungeon bathroom. After a couple more weeks they didn’t tell anybody what they were doing but they started painting over the mold and garbage there on the walls and the particles were flying everywhere floating in the air. Instead of scrapping all of it off they were doing a cosmetic thing for looks.
Scotty Waldon, my partner and I were hanging these hoist for the elevators so we had to go up to the ceiling and anchored them in and around the I-beams it was pitch black and when we’d come down our whole bodies were covered with black, there was mold everywhere. And I would come home and Skye, my wife (exposing her to the molds) would have to wash my clothes on a daily basis because they were so bad. We were in between houses and living in a fifth wheel at the time. And I would hang my coat by the door and set my boots by the couch. I didn’t wash my boots, and my coat she washed once a week. It was a small quarters we lived in. So I took what I was working in home.
I remember when we got there on the north side of the hanger there was this one big area covered with polyethylene and blocked off and locked off and we were told if we even peaked in there we would get fired. And one time we walked around side to try and peak in to see what was in there. That morning in Dec. we noticed there were a bunch of land movers that came in and they were doing excavating and a couple days later we came to work and it was all gone. I usually would come to work about 5:15 and there was a simi- truck back there and there were these guys in hazmat suits taking dirt and then they disappeared and were gone.
When I first got there we had several big lockers and everybody pitched in money and we would fill it with crackers and chips and all kinds of goodies. On Thanksgiving we had deep fried a turkey and had a big spread for everybody. It was really good but all of a sudden we noticed there were no ants or bugs. Usually when you get a bunch of prop-makers together with their food they leave plates and food all over and there’s critters. There were no days off. People would say that they had family coming in for Thanksgiving and they wanted to take off but they would say will take your box with you.
Lots of people were getting sick and we just thought it was because it as winter and people were getting the flu and colds. We just dealt with it because if you requested one day off they would tell you that you were laid off.
The air was always filled with a cloud of particles no matter where you were. They were a light and dark color, like a cloud. At times Scott Waldon my partner and I had to get up in the ceiling structure to hang hoists and we were covered with a black powder like substance that would make us cough over and over. In the bathrooms there was different types of fungus light and dark everywhere, with a very strong musty smell everywhere. There were also pods of standing water. Asbestos, bathrooms were disgusting, no electricity, pray painting in work area with no ventilation and we were not issued breathing aspirates.
On December 18th we were doing graveyard shift and they brought some trusses in and I went to pick up a sticker off some juices were bringing in for a sub-floor. I hurt my back really bad and it was my last day there. I went through therapy for my back and was off work for a while. During this time on my hands the skin just falls apart, they started peeling like a snake.
Since I worked there in 2004 I have had coughing, runny nose, my hand peel like a snake shedding its skin. Nose bleeds hard to stop, very bad headaches, diarrhea, shortness of breath, Sore throat, congestion, sinus infections, little bumps in my mouth, depression, and little pimple like bumps that started as early as 2-3 weeks after starting the show and still have some of them. Starting while was working there sometimes I wake up choking in middle of the night. Till have effects all the time.
One thing we all thought was strange is that we had food there every day (it wasn’t the cleanest set up) food left out, etc, And there were no bugs at all, anywhere, no ants, no cockroaches, not even spider webs up high anywhere. We used to joke about it.
Lots of people were getting sick and we just thought it was because it as winter and people were getting the flu and colds. We just dealt with it because if you requested one day off they would tell you that you were laid off.
Today, April 2008 I still get nosebleeds and I have to take an extra pair of jeans to work because like this morning I will just be sitting there and I have diarrhea and have to clean up and change my pants. It is embarrassing! Sometime I get so depressed I don’t want to do nothing or talk to anybody. I get headaches all the time almost like a migraine. My hands are still messed up. When I get the nosebleeds someone looks at me and says heh, dude your nose is bleeding.
Skye, my wife has constant nasal problems and periodically and right now has bumps on her throat from my clothes, boots and coat.
But when I get a job I have to work to pay the mortgage. I can’t just quit.
Thank you Skye,
When I started in this case VC046716 Barry Bernson, et., al., vs. City of Downey, et., al., I believed that I, with many others who became ill while working at Downey Studios, had to do something about it. I believe in something and I will see it through to the end.
Leonard J. Martin, In Propria Persona
@Skye Ashly
MAURICE GENE OWENS says:
June 27th, 2009 at 2:58 pm edit
MANY OF US WERE EXPOSED WITH THE OLD ASBESTOS WALL COVERINGS AT UNI STUDIOS. AND AT DISNEY WITH ALL THS OLD REMODELING THAT WENT ON — ALSO AT THE NEW 44 BUILDING. THIS WAS A COVER UP. ASBESTOS WAS HAULED OVER TO THE OLD 44 BUILDING AND DUMPED. LOCAL 80 COMPLAINED BUT IT WAS HIDDEN. I HAVE HAD ASTHMA FOR MANY YEARS AFTER WORKING IN THE STUDIOS.
The year of 1982 when America was introduced to the micro-processors that was suppose to speed production in the workplace they never would have thought the past and present injuries of our necks, shoulders, wrists or lower backs would drain small, medium and large businesses a great deal of money in worker compensation. Well that what happen to me working the second month of l982 on a computerize billing machines with Pacific Gas & Electric.
My suffer and pains caused me to lose my job, career and home that left me homelessness until finally SSDI came through after 26 years of injustice.
If you know anyone who suffer from RSI or MSD in the early 80’s have them write or e-mail an summary of where, when, and how their injuries occur and inform Ms. Joanna Sznajder PhD, CPE at 1-202-693-1949 or email at Sznajder.Joanna@dol.gov.
She’s a Ergonomics Specialist at the U.S. Labor in Washington D.C. and she will bring this past behavior to our newest Labor of Secretary Ms. Solis.
Log-on to my site if you have a access with yahoo at tera4justice.
Thank you and this can break the ice of this terrible economic.
Hi all i am A Meltdown Baby born in 1959 4 months after the worst Nucler Meltdown on US soil 240 times wort than Chernoble or 3mile island i have survived Kidey Throat Cancer and now live with A Brain tumor all caused by Extreme exposure to Radation and Rocket Fuel Thanks to our Rac to Space
Mr. Joe Benett was also a victim of huge abuse by Work Comp. Denied doctors,denied settlement, put in jail and smeared all over the USA.
Thank you Leonard Martin for allowing this to be published.
Mr. Bennett was also beaten up by gangs while in jail and denied his medications and many other mean and horrible things happened to him. Shocking as it is it is all true.
You’re welcome Carol.
You are providing a great resource for mankind Leonard.
Vickie
Thank you Vickie.
KAISER moved onto the property in Feb 2006 and continued to build a NEW Medical Center Hospital which recently opened. Myself and co-workers complained of dizzy spells, pimple-like rashes, horrible migraines, breathing problems, joint aches,irritability through the roof!!! We all kept taking turns having the FLU…but it was worse than the FLU. One co-workers little girl had to have tubes put in her head on an emergency visit! TOXIC ENCEPHALOPATHY? Some employees have been diagnosed with MS and Fibromyalgia and Gulf War-Like Symptoms. We were NEVER TOLD it was a SUPERFUND Site! I have since been told by 2 seperate persons that know the land was so contaminated it should have been condemned and a BUBBLE put over it. We were never told about the onsite LANDFILL or the CEMENT VAULTS. In Sept 2006 a NEW RADIATION BOARD was appointed since the last boards evaluations were flawed on over 100 sites in the Nation. The Downey Property came in at #8 of great importance on their list to be re-evaluated, which to my knowledge hasn’t taken place yet. Air quality studies have been requested by Environmentalist Lenny Siegel and according to the DEPT. Of Toxic Substance Control had been postponed in JUNE for unknown reasons. In just 17 mos working on the property I was diagnosed by Federal Dr’s as 100% Disabled.I’ve sibce been diagnosed with Thyroid Damage, Heart Damage, Major Organ Damage.KAISER Dr released me back to work without restrictions. My Disability and Healthcare Benifits Discontinued. I am now in a wheelchiar. I’d like to add this goes beyond Downey. The Bellflower KAISER Employees should be asking why so many workers have died in the past TEN YEARS or More and why the City of Bellflower witheld information on thier WATER CONTAMINATION ISSUES and did not address until Downey got the Go AHEAD. Can someone tell me what the huge dark grey cloud with all the little silver sparkling particles was that I was breathing???
When my husband was working at Downey Studio’s he and his partner worked up high near the ceiling. He brought home this dark mold and do you think other documented chemicals on his clothes, coats and boots. Of course washing clothes also passing by where he hung his coat and set his boots ‘I’ was exposed to everything he brought home. Do you think maybe other wives and children of the injured workers may have the same situation? I started having nasal problems and bumps on my throat. After that time I also found out I had Dupuytren’s contracture disease in my right hand. I just found out I now have it in my left hand. It is not life threatening but it can be painful and crippling in time. I have always had excellent health until after the exposure. I am not an injured worker so I could not file a worker’s comp suit to seek medical help. But through the workers comp attorney that Local Union 44 introduced us to at meetings they set up immediately after we became aware of the toxins on Downey Studio property. Miller, the workers comp attorney introduced us to the civil suit attorney and I filled a civil suit. Then in time these attorney’s had their reasons for backing out of the case….it was filed wrong, retiring or whatever….My husband has life threatening illnesses and ailments after working at Downey Studios. Yes anyone can have new health problems at any age or time. But a group of people all having the same symptoms is a flag. And knowing the background of the property is another flag. My husband’s skin has peeled like a snake, choked in middle of the night, has days of diarrhea and now is losing weight very rapidly along with many other things. I have read the effects of the different chemicals and molds listed online that have been known to be on this property. It is downright scary! Did Stuart Lechter know what he was doing when he developed this property? Did he spell out to any/all investors all the facts? Did they tell the people or kids before they stepped foot on the property the past history of the property. Did they give people the choice with all the facts so they could make an intelligent decision if they wanted to maybe risk the effects they could endure by stepping over the line? All the living injured workers have the same type ailments. Could this really be a coincidence that workers have the same sicknesses? Could all these documents about Downey Studios online be made up or forged? Is Stuart Lichter sleeping well tonight? Are the investors sleeping well tonight? Is this all a bad dream?
Contact info:
Gail Shephard
(562) 863-3097
happyru@charter.net
Contact Information:
Leonard J. Martin
info@letsintroduceourselves.us
In San Diego County Workmans Compensation clients are being forced to pay for their own prescriptions. Is this happening in other counties also?
Yes and I’m saving every reciept !!!!
I would like to encorage others who are or who know of others who are a Victim of Employer Fraud, Waste and Abuse to come forward. You are not alone!!!
My name is Mr. Joe Bennett. I was employed by Jilson Distributors in San Diego which has since closed. My ankle was run over by a employee,done on purpose, to shut me up. I asumed my Work Comp attorney reported it as a crime but he did not. This company decided to go after me. They took me to court,and the judge ran a un-professional courtroom. I have witnesses to this. Then my doctors were taken away from me, I lost my Work Comp Settlement and was ordered to Jail for a long time,and smeared all over the press and tv stations and then, these same people ordered to have me beaten up in jail at the age of 72 by gangs. I was thrown in a dark cell so I could not see who they were, and I was also denied my medications on time.
If that wasn’t bad enough I had my twelve dollar balance stollen by the police at the jail and my friend and my wife had to send the Captain of the Police Department a letter demanding my monies back, funny thing, all of a sudden they found the balance of the monies and returned it but not without a fight.
I was also exposed to toxic materials and now have cancer. I was promised a Jury Trial by the Public Defenders office here and instead got sold down the river to jail. I do have a witness to that also. Shortly after that the same attorney was promoted.
Mr. Joe Bennett,Abused Work Comp human being
I had many abuses during my job and during workmans compensation and to include abuses done to me during the training period for a new profession.
I was also not allowed to go and speak with the trial judge even though I asked to go I was refused that right.
The I was refused to see my doctor even though I have medical for life, what a joke that is.
Hi Everybody!!
My name is Danielle Marie Cerone-Buckley and I lived on the 8600 Block of Boyson St. Downey, California about 5 blocks away from the Rockwell from 1973 to 1990 my parents owned the house since 1971. In the beginning of August 2009 my husband came home from work and was telling me about some workers from Downey Studios who had become injured from toxic chemicals that were found on the site that was formerly the Rockwell site. I suppose he thought this was very interesting considering that I lived there and that I am chronically sick…I was busy with my activities of housework and taking care of my kids and I kind of brushed it off. My mom had also mentioned several months ago that she had be researching some toxic chemicals that cause Thyroid Dysfunction and that might be why I have had Thyroid problems since I was about 30. I guess I just sorta shrugged it off at the time because I really didn’t see the whole big picture…I couldn’t really wrap my head around it, I guess you could say and at that time I didn’t really think much could be done about it anyway. Then about 2 weeks ago, I met my friends from High School at a restaurant that is located on the site that was formerly Rockwell. I spent some time shopping in the stores that are also located at that site and I spent some time thinking about the history that I knew from living nearby about that site and I started to think about those poor Downey Studios workers and wondered if they were so injured by close contamination did those contaminates travel out into the community through the air, water and earth, could this be the reason why I have been so chronically sick. Its a pretty overwhelming thing to think about and I really didn’t know if there would be much way to prove it so, I sorta let it go from my mind and tried to enjoy my time with my friends but I thought that I really needed to do some research before I could really say for sure. I generally don’t ever feel very good especially since I have gotten older but it was strange after hanging out on that site for a few hours how horrible I felt all last week. That prompted me to start looking on the internet and this is where I came into contact with Leonard and after hearing his story and speaking with Vicky Travis about the extent of the contamination at that site I am very convinced that this is the source of my health problems as well as that of my family and I am equally concerned that this issue is not over and has the potential to keep causing health issues for people who live or work on or around that land for a long time to come because of the heavy population of the use of that land and the poor clean up job.
In my particular case, I have been very chronically ill since I was 17 but looking back I am not so sure that we ever really felt very good living in that house. We were always tired and mildly sick, always had headaches and respiratory problems, swollen lymph nodes that I still struggle with today and my brother always had terrible allergies that nobody ever really understood, he just learned to live with it as have we all through the years. He passed away about 12 years ago from type one diabetes at the age of 28. Which seemed very strange and we always questioned why he became sick to this day. Interestingly enough my brother was fascinated with the space program and spent lots of time at Rockwell open houses and rummage sales where people were interested in buying stuff that Rockwell was liquidating…but my brother always joked that we should wear hazmat suits for living in that area!! I think people always suspected but nobody really knew for sure till now!!
I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, chronic sinusitis and when I was 17 I suffered from a blood disease that damaged my spleen and had to be removed, I am still always tired, I currently have a benign tumor that I have probably had since I was a child that needs to be removed and get worn out very easy and haven’t worked in 5 years cause I have just not been well. I now believe that the source of this was all from the toxic chemicals that we were exposed to over many, many years from the Rockwell superfund site. We need to work together on this issue though to create awareness because I believe that a lot of this has been covered up but also due to technology of that time they didn’t have the public laws and the resources to test for chemicals like they do now and they will try to say they just didn’t know it was going on. But there are also much documented reports of things that actually happened on site and from that we can try to figure out how it affected the community around. But we need to start demanding that the government come clean about what really happened we are going to continue to be sick because they are treating us for illnesses that might be close to the symptoms but does not really treat the real illness and there are conditions that will never be reversed by any medical treatments and people will still be dying from their exposure and lives have been destroyed because of living with these health conditions
I am so sorry to anybody who has been affected by governmental toxic waste and the way it has been handled, I believe that there are many illnesses and conditions that could have been prevented if they had taken the precautions at the time to protect the community from these horrible circumstances. We always think that it is other places other people we never want to believe that it could or did happen to us but this is real and I believe that it is time for answers.
Thank you Leonard for providing a space where people can come together for information, resources and a place for self-expression and understanding. I have been told for years that they just don’t know what is wrong with me, why I never feel good and after years hearing so much of this it gets hard to believe that I would just be making myself sick cause they can’t figure out what’s wrong with me. Please join with us in demanding these answers together!!
Thanks for taking the time to read my story,
Danielle Marie Cerone-Buckley
You’re welcome Danielle,
I believe the former NASA/Downey Site now Downey Studios, Downey Landing and Kaiser/Downey is the MISSING LINK to your illness and the illness of others.
Leonard James Martin
Hello Friends / Craigslist Reader:
Do you live next to Downey Studios? or.
Do you work next to Downey Studios on Lakewood Blvd?
Have you been getting ill?
Like…………..Headaches and Sore throat with dry cough and Tightness in chest and Rashes on skin and low Engery and Dizziness and aching in joints and Diarrhea and Lack of Concentration. …
…If so – I want to talk with you.
My name is Dano. I worked at this Studio (Downey) back in June 2009. June 8 to June 24th 2009 (13days) I worked on a movie Iron Man 2. I got ILL / SICK during filming. Then weeks later……found out this Studio (94acres) property was once a NASA/AEROSPACE FACILITY which government documents show was used to develop neutron bombs,rocket fuel,missiles,and delta rockets from 1929 to the mid 1990’s. Documents show of contamination in both the soil and groundwater was found at this 94acre site…..TCE, PCE, mold,abestos and other 250 chemicals is lingering around this property.
…If you are ill. Please contact me . Let’s talk. You might be getting ill because of this property and you just don’t know about it.
More infomation can be at this site….
http://www.workersmemorialday.org
Dano
danonewstar@gmail.com