Closing the Smith Foundry is just the first step

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This article has been signed by several parents whose names are listed below.

We are parents of young children who attend the Círculo de Amigos Child Care Center (CACCC) in the East Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis. We chose Círculo for its unique, nature-based Spanish immersion program focused on child development. The warmth and care our children receive there makes CACCC feel like an extension of our families. So when we noticed the acrid smell of toxic fumes coming from the Smith Foundry across the street, we were deeply concerned.

For generations, parents like us have lost sleep worrying about the air their children are breathing, the toxins they might be exposed to, and the long-term health consequences of living near the Smith Foundry. We know that air pollution is bad for human health, especially for the developing brains and lungs of young children. This would be bad enough, but many of our children already have health problems. One parent has 14-week premature twins whose lungs are particularly vulnerable, while others, like many in East Phillips, have asthma linked to air pollution.

Some families, understandably, would have changed day care if they could. Instead, we chose to stay and defend our community. Our children thrived in a loving and nurturing environment. So, like those before us, we have fought tirelessly for our children’s right to clean air. Along with CACCC staff and many others, we have organized protests, attended community meetings, and advocated to our elected officials.

Our fight was not easy. Zynik Capital, the Canadian private equity firm that has owned Smith since 2022, said it was “committed to being a good neighbor” despite a surprise EPA inspection in May 2023 that revealed multiple violations of the Clean Air Act. Those violations included emitting air pollution at nearly twice the legal limit, malfunctioning of a bag tank leading to unfiltered emissions and failure to notify the state of equipment failures. Zynik also proclaimed that it “did not use lead” at the Smith Foundry, yet air monitors consistently showed lead emissions from the site. Additionally, Zynik leaders noted that they “wish(ed) we could do more” to support their workers, even though OSHA found Zynik’s “serious” violations were exposing their workers to toxic levels of chemicals and does not provide them with adequate training. or protective equipment as early as March 2024.