Tag Archives: tina thomas
McKinley Village Pollutants–Buyer Beware of Freeway and Train Dangers
Q: Why do you need HEPA filters in McKinley Village homes?
A: Fumes and exhaust from trains and and the freeway. Ugh.
Location, location, location is the familiar mantra for any potential home buyer. But buyers want a healthy location to raise families, enjoy their yards and be free from a toxic environment. This should be an ethical concern to all responsible developers and sellers of real estate. Unfortunately, Phil Angelides and his company Riverview Capital Investments are ignoring this basic human need. The McKinley Village project is in a perilous location.
What potential buyer in their fully informed and right state of mind would purchase a home on this hazardous location that is bounded by a severely congested freeway and two very active train routes? Noise, air pollution, sound pollution, and train derailments are all legitimate concerns for any future homeowner. Especially when considering this question: Is this the best location for the purchase of my new home?
Air quality is a major concern with this site. Scientific studies jointly conducted by UCLA researchers and the California Air Resources Board concur and conclude that residential developments near a congested freeway and its traffic emissions are health risks.
The studies find that ultrafine particulate distributions of hydrocarbon emissions, nitrous oxide, and carbon monoxide, on and near freeways and congested streets are health hazards. The health problems include increased risks for asthma, heart disease, bronchitis and lung cancer. This applies to both young and old. Recently, some scientists are finding that vehicle exhaust can lead to brain damage in young and old. There is evidence for correlation of higher rates of dementia and autism in people that live in these more polluted areas.
The developer states that the new housing will have HEPA air filtration systems. This may reduce the risk for exposure while being inside the homes, but what about when you want to be outside barbequing, swimming, etc. (Are residents then to don their respirator- filtration masks to enjoy the outdoors?)
Increased traffic from the site onto our existing neighborhood streets will increase toxic emissions to innocent established neighborhoods. Moms and dads that jog around McKinley Park while pushing the baby in the athletic stroller need to be aware that their newborn and toddler’s brains and lungs are being affected by the ambient air quality.
I encourage you to read Sac Bee’s article, Monday, August 26th, 2013, “EPA to focus on L.A. Freeways”. This article further substantiates our concerns. The EPA is being sued by Physicians for Social Responsibility and several other advocacy groups in southern California. The groups are demanding that particulate monitoring be conducted next to the freeways. This lawsuit has led to placement of 4 monitors in Southern California freeways, and three in the San Francisco Bay area. Similar monitoring installations will occur in more than 100 big cities across this nation.
This closer investigation and monitoring is expected to reveal data that will show higher pollution levels than previously assumed. Then more environmental organizations and neighborhood activists will certainly be calling upon their local and national officials to take more aggressive steps in reduction of emission controls and to more strictly curtail residential development near freeways.
Council member Cohn, City Council members, and all other officials of the City of Sacramento, you are now informed and need to be on serious alert about this site. The site is a health hazard and unhealthy for residential development.
Legitimate neighborhood associations, environmental activists, and concerned neighbors oppose this project, as proposed. We are supported by numerous scientific studies that validate our concerns about the air quality problems at this proposed location. We, the citizens, will be closely monitoring what your positions and findings will be in the draft-Environmental Impact Report. Here’s the important question: Is it safe and ethically right to REZONE and develop this site for residential development?
McKinley Village Dates and Neighborhood Groups Responses
McKinley Village
Meetings pertaining to McKinley Village and a message from East Sacramento Preservation:
ESP encourages you to attend all meetings to let your voice be heard.
MENA Special Board Meeting–5:30 pm, October 16th, Clunie Community Center
ESIA General Meeting – 7 pm, October 16th at the Clunie Community Center
MCKINLEY VILLAGE PUBLIC HEARING
Thursday, October 24, 5:30
Hosted by City of Sacramento New City Hall
915 I Street, 1st Floor, Sacramento, CA
Draft Environment Impact Report
October 26 (expected release date)
ESP will have comments and information
East Sacramento Preservation Fundraiser
All proceeds to go to education on McKinley Village Development
Call for tickets (916) 849-6421
Friday October 25, 2013, 5-8 PM
836 – 57th
Between H and J Streets
When a community faces a potential problem neighbor input and activism is critical. ESP has a charter that includes community education. Our efforts on the McKinley Village proposed project focus on educating the community about what’s happening and how the development will affect the neighborhood.
Our position on the project remains, NO AS PROPOSED.
We are hopeful that the developers will listen to the neighborhood and make changes that address traffic issues, flood concerns and the way that the project does not meet “smart growth” standards.
ESP will continue to get the word out to the community, to help neighbors participate and get their voices heard.
Other East Sacramento groups have responded to the issue. Below is a summary of the organized groups that we know of, and their response to McKinley Village.
Neighbors United For Smart Growth
This group of concerned citizens has an informative website devoted solely to McKinley Village. The group is concerned about the potentially negative consequences on our quality of life, traffic levels, schools and the environment brought on by the McKinley Village project
These are neighbors dedicated to protecting the culture and quality of life of the neighborhoods of East Sacramento. They have met with the developers in a small “neighbors” group and use Facebook to report their efforts.
McKinley East Sacramento Neighborhood Association
This neighborhood group has adopted a wait and see approach to the project. They have a forthcoming meeting that should help explain their position.
East Sacramento Improvement Association
At this time ESIA has not taken a position for or against, and but continues to gather information. Their upcoming meeting should help clarify their efforts.
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