Federal, state and local government officials were in Albany's South End Wednesday night where they met with residents to talk about health risks and other issues associated with oil trains.
Residents of the Ezra Prentice homes endure sounds and smells from the trains carrying crude oil to the port of Albany - which pass through their backyard - and they say they've had enough. Some feel no one is listening to their concerns. A recent study revealed more than half of the residents have asthma - they weren't shy about sharing their experiences
"It's gettin' harder and harder to breathe. In 5 years I aged 15 years..."
Among those listening: EPA's Judith Enck, looking to set stronger national standards for oil by rail, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos, County Executive Dan McCoy and Mayor Kathy Sheehan
"The other thing that the DEC is doing which I fully support and which really needs to happen is to do an air quality study right here."
Seggos says $500,000 has been secured to launch that study.
