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Residents urge action on demolition practices and turf safety; commissioners hear environmental justice concerns
Summary
Multiple public speakers urged the Commission to reexamine demolition methods and artificial turf infill, citing health concerns in Bayview-Hunters Point and calls to adopt citywide demolition safety standards and review tire-derived turf infill.
At Jan. 27 public comment the Commission on the Environment heard multiple speakers raise health and safety concerns tied to demolition methods and artificial turf infill.
Catherine Howard of Healthy Soccer SF and the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods urged the Commission to revisit the city's earlier 2006 task-force work and to support state legislation examining tire-derived infill used on artificial turf. Howard cited media reports alleging clusters of illnesses among players on turf fields and said the Coalition would submit a resolution supporting a study and a moratorium on installing such fields until safety questions are resolved.
Yolanda Lewis, representing the Black Human Rights Leadership Council of San Francisco, asked the Commission to set citywide standards for demolition methods to protect residents, citing contested demolition practices at the Candlestick site and the perceived neglect of Bayview-Hunters Point communities. "We are looking for you to take the leadership in establishing standards for building demolition for all of San Francisco," Lewis said.
Dr. Tompkins, an environmental scientist who has conducted research in Bayview Hunters Point for decades, told the Commission that long-term studies show the community carries a disproportionate burden of contamination and disease. He urged changes to current dust-remediation methodology and stronger enforcement, including training for traffic-control officers and health-department staff to issue citations when necessary.
Commission members acknowledged the speakers' concerns and suggested further follow-up. President Joshua Arcey said the Commission will consider placing demolition-method standards on a future agenda item. Director Deborah Raphael and staff offered to work with community members and to bring related policies back for Commission discussion.
No policy vote on demolition or turf was taken at the meeting; speakers asked the Commission to advance additional review and potential policy changes.
