Why? (DP)

For our Environmental Liabilities Course, I recently revisited a project I worked on during my studies in San Francisco in 2010 with a human rights organization called POWER (People Organized to Win Employment Rights). The organization was established in 1997 to do exactly what their name suggests: advocate for the rights of individuals. When I volunteered with them they were working with a community in Bayview Hunters Point, a low-income community settled on the outskirts of San Francisco.

At the time, the community was facing gentrification. The city of San Francisco had neglected the area and it’s inhabitants for years; aware that violence, crime, and poor education defined the community. In addition, Bayview is home to a former naval shipyard that was declared a hazardous waste site by the federal government in 1989. The works of radioactive waste and air pollutants caused by coal and oil fueled factories have riddled the community with high levels of asthma and other respiratory issues. After years of neglect, the City of San Francisco decided to make Bayview their new project; making plans to build a new football stadium for their 49ers, build new “affordable housing” that the residents currently living in the community would not be able to afford, new parks, and community gardens. To those external to the community who lack understanding of the whole picture, this sounds like a great project. Unfortunately, there were multiple issues that would affect the residents that had deep roots in the Bayview community and their voices were not being heard.

The project intended to bring thousands of jobs with development but was unwilling to hire qualified members of the Bayview community to fill those positions. Frustrated as the community was with the gentrification process, this merely added fuel to the fire. Lennar Urban (the developing company contracted) was eager to develop in this are because the land was incredibly invaluable and cheap because of contamination and hazardous waste present. With out intentions to clean up the site, Lennar intended to develop the community, disrupting contaminants present in the soil and water further putting the community at risk for developing health issues. Residents were outraged and spoke out in public forums, held protests, strikes, etc.; acts which all fell on deaf ears. It took two grassroots organizations (POWER and Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice) to establish a case and ultimately sue the San Francisco Developing Department to achieve action. My frustrations and interests lie with the “why” element of this case?

Why does it take “others” to advocate for this community to initiate change? What is the community lacking that doesn’t allow them to successfully advocate for themselves? This ties into my desires to work in a capacity that allows and provides access to quality education and essential elements that are crucial to not only sustaining life, but succeeding in the life that each individual so chooses, regardless of socio-economic status.

Comments Off on Why? (DP) / 10 Jan 2013 por Cianna Walker Carrillo
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