Midway Village Residents and Greenaction Take Direct Action Against Toxic Threat

Sick Residents Outraged At Exposure to Toxic Soil, Want Permanent Relocation Away From Toxic Homes

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Bradley Angel Greenaction

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December 14, 1999

Midway Village Residents and Greenaction Block Construction Site to Protest Digging in Toxic Soil Next to Homes and Day Care Center

Daly City, CA -- Sick and angry residents of the Midway Village housing project in Daly City took direct action Tuesday, December 14, 1999, locking and blocking the entrance to the construction site for the controversial drainage project in Bayshore Park which will expose them to cancer-causing chemicals known to be present in the soil. The environmental justice organization Greenaction joined residents to confront this toxic threat to the health of the Midway community.

Protesters padlocked the gate to the site, and residents and Greenaction blocked the entrance, stopping trucks trying to enter. Police eventually removed the padlocks, but angry residents then marched into the site. Elderly women with canes sat in the road in an act of civil disobedience.

Later in the afternoon protesters scaled the fence surrounding the construction site to peacefully confront the work project. Digging in toxic soil is set to begin this afternoon just feet from homes, a day care center and park where young children live and play. Midway residents are outraged that they have lived on toxic contamination for years, but they cannot afford to move away from their toxic neighborhood.

Midway Village is operated by the San Mateo County Housing Authority. The 150 units are occupied by 1200 people of color. Midway Village and Bayshore Park were built on land contaminated with cancer-causing toxic substances, notably polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs). The contaminants are from the neighboring PG&E site.

• Residents suffer from high rates of illnesses including cancer, respiratory problems and rashes. A recent study based on DNA tests indicated that 32 of 34 young Midway residents (96%) and 19 of 24 adults (75%) may have abnormal chromosome aberrations. Government agencies have so far failed to further investigate to determine how serious a health problem may exist.
• Digging in toxic soil will result in toxic emissions, putting the neighbors and kids at the day care center at risk. Work on the park next to homes will completely disrupt the residents' lives during the holidays.