Board declines to halt Hunters Point construction after hours-long health hearing

After several hours of public testimony on fumes, dust and alleged health effects from work at the Hunters Point Shipyard, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted down a resolution urging the Department of Public Health and Lennar Corporation to temporarily halt construction and hire an independent health assessor.

The resolution, introduced by Supervisor Daley, asked the city health department and the developer to arrange an independent epidemiological and medical assessment and to pause grading and other construction activities at Parcel A while that work proceeded. Supporters came from across Bayview Hunters Point — clergy, community organizers, medical professionals and dozens of residents — who said children and other neighbors had developed new or worsening illnesses since heavy grading began. Resident testimony included accounts of nosebleeds, asthma attacks, headaches and skin rashes. Several residents named recent hospital visits and long-term symptoms they linked to the site’s dust and construction activity.

The resolution’s proponents pointed to monitoring exceedances reported in June and July and urged a precautionary response. Supervisor Daley framed the request as a temporary stop to allow independent…