Midway Village Residents & Greenaction Block PG&E's Front Gate Demanding Relocation, Health Care and Just Compensation

For more information, contact:

Lula Bishop Midway Village Residents for Environmental Justice	(415) 467 -4892
Irma Anderson Midway Advisory Committee	(415) 468-1568
Bradley Angel Greenaction	(415) 248-5010

"We Don't Want to Live On PG&E's Toxic Waste"

Daly City, CA -- Dozens of residents of the Midway Village housing project in Daly City were joined by Greenaction and other supporters in a protest at the front gate of PG&E's Martin Service Center next to their toxic contaminated neighborhood to demand health care, just compensation and permanent relocation. Protesters blocked PG&E trucks attempting to enter and leave the facility for nearly one hour in a dramatic escalation of the community's struggle for environmental justice.

Angry residents demanded that PG&E begin good faith negotiations to address the community's concerns and demands. In November and December Midway Village residents backed by Greenaction held eight nonviolent direct action protests blockading work on a drainage project in toxic contaminated soils near homes. The recent protests and revelations of widespread illnesses among the residents have brought government agencies to the negotiating table, and elected officials have begun to support the community's demands. Residents are furious that PG&E continues to stonewall and refuses to meet or negotiate in good faith.

Midway Village is operated by the San Mateo County Housing Authority. The 150 units are occupied by approximately 500 people of color. Midway Village and Bayshore Park were built on land contaminated with toxic substances, notably polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs), a class of compounds of which many are known carcinogens. Other toxics including Chromium VI, cyanide and lead are also present. The contaminants are from the neighboring PG&E site. PG&E "discovered" the serious toxic problem on their property in 1984, but residents living across the fence line at Midway were not informed until six years later. Residents demand that PG&E and government agencies resolve this decades-long tragedy now.

Residents are suffering from serious illnesses including cancer, skin problems, respiratory problems, sterility and possibly from genetic defects.