Documentary Maker - Grassroots Victory Against Toxic Landfill Lewiston

Seeking documentary maker for untold environmental grassroots victory story just north of Love Canal I’m looking for a documentary maker or environmental journalist to do a story that ought to be told. It starts just north of Love Canal. For 25 years Chemical Waste Management tried to expand its Model City site in Lewiston, New York, the town north of Niagara Falls. A grassroots group of amateur activists fought them – and won. They formed Residents for Responsible Government because no one else would stop the hazardous waste landfill down the road. They believed it was killing and maiming their neighbors. Before the struggle was over, some of them died of cancer. Others got survived. But if it was the last thing they did on earth, they were going to fight CWM. See New York Times March 10, 2004: A Toxic Waste Capital Looks to Spread It Around: Upstate Dump Is the Last in the Northeast Buffalo News Sept. 29, 2025: Board rejects 20-year effort to build new toxic waste landfill in Niagara County One member, a banker-turned-environmental-law expert survived brain cancer just before they finally won. She has the archive of Residents for Responsible Government, the citizens group. She wants it out, and I have agreed to take it. I’ve been a journalist since 1988, recently wrapping up 25 years at The Buffalo News to go independent at fourbites.net. I’ve also taught journalism in the University at Buffalo English Dept. since 2000, ENG 213. I’ve done enough investigative reporting to know this story has potential for serious storytelling. But I’ve never made a documentary, and my plate is pretty much full. I’m looking to find this story a home with a documentary maker with a track record and a plan. I’m compiling a source contact list as well. Please email [email redacted] if you’d like to talk. \#30#