STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A group of activists gathered at Staten Island Borough Hall Monday afternoon to protest against a BJ’s Wholesale development currently being built on a portion of the Graniteville wetlands.

The group of about a dozen demonstrators, organized by Gabriella Velardi-Ward, the leader of the Staten Island Coalition of Wetlands and Forests, marched to the offices of Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) and State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore) and called out the politicians for a perceived lack of action to protect the natural area from development, just weeks after construction prep that included the removal of trees began at the embattled site.

By Joseph Ostapiuk. Read the full article here.