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Reverend Jesse Jackson Calls on PG&E to Negotiate in Good Faith as Negotiations Break Down Between PG&E and Low-Income People of Color Living in Contaminated Housing Project Next to PG&E Site Angry Midway Village Residents Picket PG&E to Demand Justice, Health Care and Relocation Press Conference and Protest: Thursday,
December 10, 1998, 12 Noon Contact
Actions Residents of Midway Village recently joined other cancer survivors and people living in other toxic-contaminated communities in the "Cancer Industry Tour". |
PG&E's Problems Escalate San Francisco, CA -- As PG&E is still reeling from criticism over the massive power outage yesterday in the Bay Area, the company is facing even more serious criticism from Reverend Jesse Jackson and angry residents of the Midway Village housing project in Daly City who picketed the company's downtown San Francisco headquarters Thursday, December 10, 1998 at 12 noon. Residents charge PG&E with environmental racism and bad faith in the four month old negotiations between community groups and the company. Talks broke off one week ago after PG&E rejected community demands for health care and other compensation and made a counter-offer which residents consider insulting. Residents are plagued by startling rates of cancer and other illnesses which many believe are linked to contamination from the PG&E site next to homes. In a letter sent today to PG&E, Reverend Jesse Jackson stated "When PG&E entered into the mediation discussions with the Midway Village residents, it was expected that PG&E was genuinely interested in resolving the issues with the residents and engaging in good faith negotiations. Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that this has not been the case - that PG&E is unwilling to engage in real mediation discussions or to deliver a real proposal for settlement. PG&E's "offer" has greatly offended the MidwayVillage residents who now feel manipulated and deceived by PG&E's approach to resolving their concerns." Midway Village is a low-income housing project operated by the San Mateo County Housing Authority. The 150 units are occupied by 1200 people, primarily people of color. Midway Village and Bayshore Park are contaminated with toxic substances, notably polynuclear aromatichydrocarbons (PNAs), a class of compounds of which many are known carcinogens. Residents were never warned of the toxic contamination when theymoved into Midway Village. Exposure to contaminated soils was unrestricted for many years.Children played in the toxic soil and residents grew vegetables for home consumption. Residents began omplaining of cancers, tumors, body rashes and sores, bloody noses, and respiratory problems, and many have passed away from these illnesses. PG&E and government agencies are ignoring pleas of residents to be relocated. Residents are also demanding health care and compensation for their illnesses. |