Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting will be chock full of excitement.
The following are scheduled:
1. A decision on the appeal of the categorical exemption for 3400 Cesar Chavez. There is no public comment scheduled for this item, I think, but it
is likely to come early, and may cause a big ruckus. See yesterday’s post for more context.
2. A decision on the appeal of the categorical exemption for the potential city-wide Wi-Fi network. If the appeal is denied, the contract will go before the Budget and Finance Committee on Wednesday.
3. A hearing on temporarily halting construction at the Hunters Point Shipyard. Reports indicate that Lennar Corporation’s remediation work at the old Hunters Point Shipyard has not been without its effects on the folks doing it or the community surrounding the base. From toxic-laden dust showering schools on the other side of the fence, to alarm systems being ignored, to whistleblowers being punished, there are plenty of questions about Lennar and/or its subcontractors adherence to environmental regulations. The Guardian and Fog City Journal have both written about this. It seems pretty clear to me that there needs to be some serious review of safety practices on that job, ‘cause if half the reports are true, we’re gonna have some sick little kids. Also, if I were the head of a colorfully acronymed San Francisco organization that claimed to be dedicated to the environmental health of the city’s residents, and I wanted to be taken seriously, I’d be paying a little more attention to the naturally occurring
UPDATE: It has been pointed out to me that SNAFU has been part of the fight to ensure Lennar and its subcontractors is not harming the community. I was incorrect in intimating that they were not.
Here’s the resolution that’ll be heard tomorrow.
Resolution urging the Department of Public of Health and Lennar Corporation to temporarily halt construction at the Hunters Point Shipyard and to contract with an independent entity to conduct a health assessment of the residents of Bay View Hunters Point.
Whereas, Pursuant to Environmental Code Section 101 of the City and County of San Francisco, all officers, boards, commissions and departments shall implement the Precautionary Principle in conducting the City and County affairs; and
WHEREAS, the Precautionary Principle requires public servants to take anticipatory action to prevent harm and through exploration and careful analysis select courses of action that present the least threat to all; and,
WHEREAS, The Hunters Point Shipyard redevelopment undertaken by the Lennar Corporation has raised broad community concern regarding the negative effects of toxic contaminants and asbestos exposure to the residents of Bay View Hunters Point; and
WHEREAS, An April 2000 environmental impact report on shipyard reuse raised that there are asbestos-containing serpentinite rock at the Hunters Point Shipyard and that construction-related excavation activities could cause chrysotile asbestos associated with serpentinite to become airborne thus affecting public health and safety; and,
WHEREAS, DPH has issued three Notices of Violations to Lennar for not following their own dust mitigation plan and for problems in monitoring airborne asbestos; and,
WHEREAS, Since the beginning of construction at the Hunters Point Shipyard, there has been a progressive increase in reports of nose bleeds and hospitalization due to asthma attacks; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Supervisors urge the Department of Public Health (DPH) to contract with an independent entity to do a health assessment testing for toxic exposure of residents living in proximity to the Hunters Point Shipyard; and,
RESOLVED, The Board of Supervisors urge DPH to exercise it’s power under Article 31 of the Health Code to shut down construction activities temporarily until the effects of this exposure can be accurately assessed.