Help Save Windsurfing in SF Bay - Important!

From: George Haye (geohaye@hotmail.com-DeleteThis)
Date: Mon Oct 11 1999 - 19:38:39 PDT


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From: "George Haye" <geohaye@hotmail.com-DeleteThis>
To: geohaye@hotmail.com-DeleteThis
Subject: Help Save Windsurfing in SF Bay - Important!
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 19:38:39 PDT
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

SAN FRANCISCO BOARDSAILING ASSOCIATION
SFO COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 1999 E-NEWSLETTER
PLEASE READ!

Important - Let us know how many times per year you windsurf at Peninsula
sites (including Coyote and 3rd Avenue) - Please fill out this 10-second
form: http://www.hooked.net/~wndrider/sfia/level2/survey.html
(or email the info to (stopsfo@hooked.net-DeleteThis)).

--> If you sent a Comment Letter regarding the SFO Expansion to the FAA
and/or SF Planning Department before the Sept. 9, 1999 deadline, tell us by
email, so that we can be sure everyone's comments were included in the
environmental impact report once it comes out: (geohaye@hotmail.com-DeleteThis)

* If you want to be on the list to receive more frequent news updates on the
SFO Crisis, send an email to get on that list: (geohaye@hotmail.com-DeleteThis)

* Volunteers are needed to help work on projects to save our Peninsula
windsurf spots. If interested, send an email to Richard Zimmerman:
(stopsfo@hooked.net-DeleteThis)

* Bookmark these web pages and check back often for updates:
Stop SFO From Destroying the Bay:
http://www.hooked.net/~wndrider/sfia/sfia.html
SFBA: http://www.sfba.org/
Save The Bay: http://www.savesfbay.org/

--> Upcoming meeting for those interested in the scientific aspects:
Wed. Oct. 20, 1999: Scientific Panel on New Runways in San Francisco Bay.
Hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
10 AM to 4 PM at the Golden Gate Conference Room, Building A, Fort Mason,
San Francisco.

* The FAA reports that about 350 public comment letters came in during the
Comment Period regarding the proposed expansion of SFO. FAA also reports
that over 200 of the 350 letters expressed concern about impacts to
windsurfing.

* CRITICAL * SFO's expansion could end windsurfing at all of the Peninsula
sites forever. (That includes at least 8 sites: Oyster Point, Genentech,
Flying Tigers, Embassy Suites, Coyote Point, Seal Point, Third Avenue, Old
Third Avenue.)
      * How? Several sites will be cut off from the Bay and ruined by
runways which would extend up to one and a half miles further out into the
Bay. All of the sites could silt in and eventually become unsailable due to
increasing mud levels leading to mudflats extending across the sailing area.
The tremendous amount of landfill required by SFO's current plans would
drastically alter the hydrology of the Bay, and this type of widespread
silting along the shoreline is an expected result.
       * Runway construction could shut down windsurfing access immediately
due to the very high numbers of barges needed for construction workers,
equipment, and dirt/fill material, and extreme water pollution (release of
mercury, etc.) caused by the dredging and filling process. The construction
could take 10 years, would cost over 2 billion dollars, and would involve
filling an area the size of four Treasure Islands. All of the possible
impacts must be assessed in the environmental review process, but even at
best case scenario, the impacts from the airport's current proposed runways
will be severe.

* Take heart. If you think this is a lost cause, THINK AGAIN. It is quite
possible that WE will win this battle. WE = concerned Bay Area citizens and
officials, including a strong coalition of environmental groups, citizen
groups, and recreation groups as well as scientists, researchers, and YOU.
OUR issues include all of the critical issues: impact to wildlife, water
quality, Bay hydrology, air quality, freeway and street traffic, noise,
aesthetics, as well as impact to established recreation areas, etc.

* An extraordinary 1-2 year environmental review process is just beginning
and many government agencies must grant permits before the project can move
forward. Then, the legal system is in place if the government bodies fail to
protect the citizens' interests. The end result may very well be that our
Bay is saved because the alternatives to SFO's plans (such as technology
solutions and regional transportation solutions) are found to be far more
appropriate and far less destructive to our Bay and to the Bay area's
quality of life.

* You can help by staying informed and getting involved. Help us keep the
windsurfing community up to date: collect email addresses when you go
windsurfing during 1999 and 2000, and send them on to us
(geohaye@hotmail.com-DeleteThis). Tell your friends who are not on the internet yet to
take the plunge (free web-based email and free internet services are
available, and people who don't own computers can go to public libraries,
some cafes, etc. to get online). The web has become the strongest method to
save our sport.

Would you trade?:
Hot air for our cool breeze?
A concrete bay for our wind & waves?

Whether you sail the Bay regularly or not, we need your help.

A few windsurfers have told us that there's no need for us to worry because
the environmental groups will easily stop the airport's plans. Even if
that's your belief, go ahead and get involved anyway.
There's too much at stake to sit this one out.

-> It's everyone's fight. Otherwise, the offseason will be forever.

-George Haye
Member, SFBA SFO Committee

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