Below is the M.A.G.I.C. email to the Trust for Governors Island.
The Trust replied that the Trust, “does not plan to use glyphosate at this time.”
From: Metro Area Gov Isle Coalition (M.A.G.I.C.)
Date: Fri, Jun 5, 2026
Subject: Glyphosate usage on Governors Island
To: The Trust for Governors Island,
CC: Manhattan Community Board 1, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Christopher Marte, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Charles D. Fall, Dan Goldman, Jerrold Nadler, Dan Goldman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Deborah Glick, Brad Lander, Gale Brewer, No Spray Coaliton, The Black Institute, GrowNYC, Earth Matter, NYC Bird Alliance, NewYork Climate Exchange, Waterfront Alliance, The River Project, Riverkeeper, The Harbor School,Billion Oyster Project, Downtown Independent Democrats, More Gardens!, Historic District Council, Reverend Billy & The Stop Shopping Choir, The City Club, East River park Action, Youth Against Displacement, Art Against Displacement, Sane Energy Project, 350NYC, North Bronx Racial Justice, New York City Friends Of Clearwater, Ramapough Munsee Lunaape Nation, Time’s Up!, Voice of Gowanus, Resilient Redhook, Battery Park City Neighborhood Association, Sierra Club NYC, Public land for public good, South Street Seaport Coalition, Downtown United Soccer Club, Friends And Residents Of Greater Gowanus, Bowery Alliance Of Neighbors, The Western Queens Community Land Trust, National Trust For Historic Preservation, Alan J. Gerson, Kathryn Freed, The New York Times, Crains New York, WNYC, Gothamist, NY Daily News, NY Newsday, The City, Inside Climate News, Hellgate
—–
Trust for Governors Island,
We are seeking assurance that glyphosate (aka Roundup) contamination of the public refuge for people and wildlife that is Governors Island will not be repeated.
We have observed that targeted mugwort has returned in strength to the large areas of Governors Island that were subjected to the notoriously hazardous herbicide glyphosate last year. We are concerned that The Trust for Governors Island may repeat the ill-advised spraying. Not only was the public not kept off contaminated areas, but around half of GrowNYC’s new Teaching Garden is in the sprayed area and the all of it is directly in the path of runoff. Due to an apparent decision by the Trust not to restrict access, the contaminated areas have been frequented without interruption by families, children, pets, gardeners and other workers.
Glyphosate, a known carcinogen and subject of many lawsuits, is banned in New York City parks. (We understand that GI is not legally dedicated parkland). Apparently the Trust decided that environmentally friendly methods such as grazing sheep and ground coverings didn’t scale well enough on GI. Pesticide warning signs were up for only the legally required 24 hours after application. The areas sprayed between June and September 2025 remained dead-zone brown until only recently. Consider that glyphosate in the soil doesn’t go away quickly – there are 3 year waiting requirements in some cases.
In any case, The Trust must take responsibility for relocating GrowNYC’s contaminated Teaching Garden which hosts many volunteer and youth activities and produces food consumed by the public. The closing at the new location is long overdue.
More info about glyphosate:
https://usrtk.org/pesticides/glyphosate-health-concerns
Recent glyphosate legal updates:
https://www.sokolovelaw.com/product-liability/monsanto-roundup/lawsuit-updates
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Presses EPA re Glyphosate – currently Trump’s pet pesticide:
https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/ocasio-cortez-presses-epa-administrator-zeldin-trumps-decision-allow-bayer
The M.A.G.I.C. Fall 2025 report:
https://govislandcoalition.org/news/m-a-g-i-c-sept-2025-update
Some photos below. Many more available upon request.
Thanks,
Roger Manning, Co-founder M.A.G.I.C.
For:
The Metro Area Governors Island Coalition (M.A.G.I.C.)
https://govislandcoalition.org
governorsislandcoalition AT gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/gi_coalition
https://www.facebook.com/GovIsleCoalition
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1295621027464162
https://twitter.com/gi_coalition
GrowNYC location 9-13-25 
Oct 2025 
5-30-26 
5-29-26 in the hills 