The Loma Prietan
July/August 2003
SF Airport Runways Deep Sixed
by Richard Zimmerman
Faced with mounting opposition, San Francisco International Airport Director John Martin said he will end the runway project at the end of the fiscal year: June 30th.
In the local press, environmentalists received some of the credit for stopping the project. Obviously, the sagging economy played an important role also, but our strong opposition from the start forced SFIA to slow the project. And, because of our hard work, we were in position to take advantage of SFIA's problems at the end.
SFO proposed the runways in 1998 with major political backing and unlimited funding. The Loma Prieta and Bay Chapters announced our opposition to the project in July, 1999. At a meeting at the Coyote Point Yacht club that summer we formed the first broad coalition of organizations. That core group has contributed immeasurably to the opposition.
What remains to be done? As with all politically driven projects, this one may not stay underwater. A fledgling movement to take the Airport out of the control of San Francisco surfaced recently, backed by the business community. In Congress, a bill (HR2115) that would allow the Department of Transportation to quickly move ahead on building runways without state approval was proposed.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget Analyst released a management audit of the Airfield Development Bureau that highlighted the financial largesse at the Airport. In addition, the audit confirmed what environmentalists already knew: SFIA consistently tried to make alternatives to building runways look unacceptable.
San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin says he will hold a public hearing on the audit. It would be good to continue to comment on the proceedings to continue to bring home the argument that SFIA never looked seriously at alternatives to runways in the Bay.
And there's still the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration panel public meeting, which will take place on June 25th. As with the audit, you can bet SFIA will be spinning like mad when the NOAA panel report is issued. Martin telegraphed SFIA's strategy during a talk at SPUR on May 20th when he said that he really wants to get the NOAA panel report out because, if NOAA says "no long term damage", then the project could take off later. Of course, the NOAA panel is evaluating the methodology, not the long term impact of building runways. NOAA will not take a position on whether the project should, or should not, take place. We will have to work to offset the SFIA spin after the NOAA meeting.
The documents that were released under the Sunshine Act lawsuit are still being cataloged and examined. There's lots of good stuff there that will be revealed in the coming weeks and months.
Visit www.ProtectOurBay.com for the latest updates on the Audit and the NOAA panel meeting.