From: Fran Redstone
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Airport expansion
Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 10:22:49 AM
Dear Council Members,
I attended the meeting last evening regarding the airport expansion. I agree that the council needs to write a stronger letter to the powers that be. Residents from Bay Farm Island are very upset with the prospect of the expansion impacting heath and quality of life.
I do not live on Bay Farm Island but I too am quite concerned. I bought property in Alameda NOT on Bay Farm Island because my property was Quiet which was very important after living in NY. This expansion will affect me, my family, and my neighbors due to pollution, noise, and other environmental issues.
Please, get the City of Oakland to reconsider this expansion by examining the studies of the impact of long term noise and pollution. In addition, include a strong statement regarding changing and enforcing flight paths so communities are not impacted negatively.
Thank you for your service to the community.
Fran Folkman
18 Redondo Ct.
From: Darlene Yaplee
To: CityCouncil-List
Cc: Darlene E. Yaplee
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Protect Alameda from noise and health hazards of OAK Airport Expansion Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 10:05:24 AM
Dear Alameda Council Members,
I am concerned that Oakland airport is planning to add 16 gates to accommodate more flights. Air travel is the most polluting way to travel, and adding these gates will increase noise & health hazards as it speeds global warming. Please protect our community, our health, and the planet. I urge the Port of Oakland to refuse to certify this Draft EIR and halt this harmful Project. The FAA is performing a review of it s Civil Aviation Noise Policy. Any environmental evaluation must be updated to reflect updates to the FAA’s policy. It must be applied retroactively given the FAA’s Neighborhood Environmental Survey showed more people are highly annoyed at every noise level than previously based on the Schultz curve.
Or the environmental review must be postponed to apply the future noise policy.
Darlene Yaplee
From: Celia Wang
To: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 10/3/2023 meeting 7a- Airport Expansion public comment Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 10:44:19 PM
Dear Mayor and Members of City Coucil,
I ran out of time during my 2min speech. Here's the additional point I wanted to make: if the expansion project does end up moving forward, PORT of Oakland should consider all noise reduction mitigation measures possible including, but not limited to providing resources such as stipends to the residents of the Bay Farm Island to upgrade the house sound-proofing windows to triple pane or quadruple pane windows so the local residents can at least preserve some peace and serenity inside our own homes.
Attached in the Google album link (https://photos.app.goo.gl/JiKXWZ2QvFca1YHS6 ) are
some video recordings of the noise level of the departing flights and written records of the 13 flights I monitored during 1:54pm to 2:35pm on October 3, 2023.
Thank you for your time and attention to the matter.
Sincerely,
Celia Wang
2 Miranda Ct.
Alameda, CA 94502
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Below is the full speech I had prepared addressing the 7a Airport Expansion Project item of the 10/3/23 meeting:
Hi, my name is Celia Wang. I live in the Cantamar HOA community on the south side of the bay farm island.
I was appalled to read in the executive summary report that the Port of Oakland would conclude that the proposed expansion project would have less than significant impact from the substantial increase in aircraft noise nor do they have any mitigation measures in planning. In their Draft EIR report, it states that per the CalTran regulations 65dB is the the threshold of the acceptable noise level for a reasonable man residing in the vicinity of an airport.” Airports are responsible for achieving compliance with these regulations. Furthermore in their own report, according to FAA If a noise
increase is determined to be a significant impact to any of the surrounding noise sensitive properties, mitigation would be required. Just earlier this afternoon between 1:54pm to 2:35pm. I sat by my front door entryway and used the sound meter app on my phone to detect the noise levels of the planes departing from Oakland airport's northbound runway. Using the planefinder.net
website, I was able to monitor in real time what planes were on the runway and about to depart. I recorded 13 airplanes (one corporate jet, 7 southwest airplanes,4 fedex planes, and one Navy airplane) over 40minutes. The avg maximum db reached was 67, some reach as high as 70, 75db. All 13 of them in a short duration of 40minites, and today is not even Friday. As an additional note, I have also measured the DB inside my house in my child's bedroom. The average noise detected can be as high as 60dB sometimes. The airplane traffic is expected to only increase and possibly even triple with the expansion project, one can imagine the frequency of the disturbances of the noise pollution above 65DB in our neighborhood. I have a sample video clip of this afternoon's noise level monitoring with Deputy City Clerk Ms. Zeiba, but I'm not sure if there'll be enough time to share tonight.
However, I do have the written records of the flights and their highest DB reached for your review.
I kindly ask the city council to make a strong call-out on the noise impact discrepancy with the port of Oakland as the current noise level may already be in violations of the CalTran regulations. Further analysis should be assessed. Finally, and this may be my ultimate point of the speech, If the expansion project does end up moving forward, PORT of Oakland should consider all noise reduction mitigation measures possible including but not limited to providing resources such as stipends to the residents of the Bay Farm Island to upgrade the house sound-proofing windows such as to triple pane or even quadruple pane windows so the local residents can preserve some peace and serenity inside our own homes.
And for those who are not familiar with what 65 Db is like, it's like your kitchen vent hood on level 3 and turning that noise on every three minutes. Something to think about when you cook tomorrow.
Thank you for your time and attention, Mayor and members of the City Coucil. Thank you for your service.
Sincerely,
Celia Wang
2 Miranda Ct.
Alameda, CA 94502
From: James Johnston (mail)
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public comment related to airport expansion Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 10:43:37 PM
Hi,
Under the bar below is a longer version of the public comment I gave verbally the evening of Oct 3, 2023 regarding agenda item 7-A, the airport expansion.
I did not have time to fully make it personal as to why the climate change aspects matter to me. The last two paragraphs below from my planned verbal comments explain a personal anecdote: we were literally chased by a wildfire on a backpacking trip a couple weeks ago in a rainforest that’s seen only half the precipitation that it normally gets. This is only the latest event. Numerous other locations we have backpacked and hiked in the last few years have also since been destroyed by fire. This is not normal, and it’s partially attributable to climate change!!!
And the very survivability of the City of Alameda is at stake. Maybe we won’t suffer a wildfire here on the island. But, will we accelerate the drowning of the city underwater just for the short-term gain of a few extra cheap airplane flights? The experts seem to keep saying that the impacts of climate change is accelerating faster than even some of their worst model estimations. We’re slowly committing collective social suicide of this community, which will ultimately be destroyed by the ocean – and the process will happen even faster if this airport is expanded.
We can have our cake and eat it too: we can travel more, and still save the climate. Electric trains are the answer. Funding for airport expansions should instead be directed to expanding rail infrastructure and service. Wasn’t that the selling point of high speed rail back in 2008? Spend money building rail instead of airport and interstate expansions? So why are we expanding the airport? We don’t have to live in the stone age – we can learn to travel sustainably.
I can only attribute the lack of a railroad option to either (generously) ignorance by port leaders and consultants in a country where we’ve seemingly forgotten that passenger railroad service is still a technology that exists, or at worst, outright malice by an agency and industry that wants to selfishly expand its own aviation interests at the expense of what makes sense from a broader public common sense perspective.
While full buildout of CA HSR is many years away, we can still make passenger capacity improvements in the interim:
Add additional Amtrak service beyond the limited but popular services that already exist.
This could be done immediately on the existing routes by adding additional daily trains.
Segments of this service can be gradually transitioned to high-speed rail, which is what the CA HSR business plan proposes, and is also how it works in other countries upgrading existing routes to HSR. As new segments of HSR are built, travel time on existing Amtrak routes will be improved by utilizing HSR. I personally regularly travel on Amtrak to Los Angeles, and almost without exception every train seems to be completely filled and sold out.
Accelerate the build-out of CA HSR by allocating additional funding to it, and see what other trade-offs we can make to accelerate the construction of the existing segments:
make it a priority! China built a whole high speed rail network with thousands of miles during the decades of time we’ve been dithering on a single rail line in California.
Streetsblog recently held a panel discussion with Boris Lipkin, the Northern California Regional Director of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, and Eric Eidlin, Station Planning Manager for the City of San Jose, on the subject of what it would take to completely build CA HSR in the next 5 years.
https://cal.streetsblog.org/2023/08/18/can-californias-high-speed-rail-be-built-faster -- - the short of it is that it’s purely a set of political decisions and priorities that is dragging this out. We simply need to demand that our leaders make it a priority.
This whole rail alternative is what is completely missing from the EIR. They considered outlandish options like relocating the airport or building a new airport elsewhere in the region, but the word “train” or “rail” doesn’t appear anywhere in the EIR!!! I guess because the real customer base of the Port of Oakland – airlines and fossil fuel companies -- would lose a lot of business to that option, so they conveniently ignore it?
Best regards,
James Johnston
Hi, my name is James Johnston and I live in Alameda near South Shore. There are a couple of points to this letter that I'd like to see added:
First, California is building High Speed Rail. We also have existing Amtrak service that could be expanded. This is an alternative that is completely ignored by the EIR. 90% of the flights departing Oakland go to destinations that are currently served by Amtrak! And 46% of them go to destinations that will be served by California High Speed Rail and Brightline West, electrically powered by renewable energy. That means that high speed rail will be equivalent in capacity to building this airport expansion. So we don't need to expand!! You can read a detailed analysis of this on the Stop OAK coalition website. But the EIR does not mention high-speed rail even once! Even though the Port of Oakland is not involved with building high speed rail, common sense says that we can't ignore it.
Instead of adding a flight to Los Angeles, let's add another Amtrak train. They sell out regularly as it is.
The second problem is that the EIR totally ignores and does not count the emissions of aircraft at cruising altitude, and considers it to be out of scope. It only looks at emissions during taxi, takeoff, and landing. Yet, common sense says that cruising is where the vast majority of emissions will occur! The EIR says they don't have control over the aircraft emissions and they are unavoidable. Really?!? THEY CAN CHOOSE NOT TO EXPAND. That's how they could control it. But by saying the air traffic will grow at the same rate by NOT expanding - an obvious lie that defies common sense - they can then use this LIE to say that "expansion won't affect growth of greenhouse gasses" and then reach their pre-ordained pro-airplane conclusion. THAT IS ABSURD!
I am a renter here in Alameda, and family sometimes asks me: have you ever thought about buying in Alameda? Yes, I have, but I have a lot of concerns about it. I ask them: do you like playing musical chairs? Because anyone owning oceanfront property right now is playing musical chairs with the property values, and property owners are ultimately going to lose when the property goes underwater, literally. Plus, I love this city and would really hate to see it suffer from sea level rise.
I just got back last week from a 2 week trip backpacking in Olympic National Park. We were literally chased by a wildfire that I found out later came within a quarter mile of our campsite from an earlier night. Firefighters actually flew in by helicopter to ask us to help them close a trail - the very trail we just hiked in on. Other locations in Big Basin and Sequoia National Park and Lassen National Park that we backpacked and hiked in have also burned. It feels like EVERYWHERE WE GO IS EVENTUALLY BURNED. HELP US STOP THE CLIMATE CARNAGE!!
From: Trish Spencer
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fw: Stop the OAK expansion
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 9:08:55 PM
From: raviv moore <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 7:48:53 PM
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Malia Vella; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Tracy Jensen; Manager Manager Cc: Monica Moore
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Stop the OAK expansion
Dear Mayor and council members,
As a resident of Bay Far, I am asking that the city strongly oppose the planned expansion of the airport.
Plans might show no added noise, however any weather event or runway works divert traffic over Bay Farm.
The noise level (even with the dual pane windows) is impossible to tolerate. At those times, it is impossible to sleep or have a conversation even with all windows closed.
I urge you to strongly oppose this plan on behalf of your city's citizens.
Thank you!
Raviv and Monica Moore
Bay Farm - Alameda
From: Kelley Cope
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Oakland Airport Expansion
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 6:28:48 PM
Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Council Members,
I am asking you oppose the potential expansion of the Oakland Airport because of the negative effects it will have on Alamedans and our larger environment. I have reviewed the EIR and am concerned with the additional noise and potential environmental effects (particularly air quality) of the project. We are not certain of the negative health consequences from exposure to additional air pollution day after day, year after year will cause, particularly for young and developing bodies and brains. As a mother of a young child, I’m concerned for all the kids who go to school and live in Alameda. Does this expansion and the additional emissions it will create move us closer to our City’s environmental goals? Thank you for your time and consideration,
Kelley Cope
15 Lavagetto Ct
Alameda, CA 94502
From: Judith Pruess-Mellow
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Do NOT support the Oakland Airport expansion!!! Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 5:39:31 PM
Please do everything you can to oppose this expansion. It will add to the CO2 emissions greatly, thus causing more climate change and global warming. It also will affect every aspect of life here in Alameda. Thank you!! Rev. Dr. Judith Pruess-Mellow From: Jennifer Ott
To: CityCouncil-List
Cc: Allen Tai; Celena Chen
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] RE: OAK Outreach to Alameda
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 4:48:39 PM
Attachments: image001.png
image002.png
Mayor and City Council:
Please find correspondence regarding Item 7A from the Port of Oakland.
Thanks,
Jen
Jennifer Ott, she/her
City Manager
City of Alameda
[email protected]
510-867-8237
From: Allen Tai <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 6:28 PM
To: Lara Weisiger <[email protected]>
Cc: Jennifer Ott <[email protected]>
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] RE: OAK Outreach to Alameda
Lara, please include as public correspondence:
From: Diego Gonzalez <[email protected]
>
Sent: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 12:16 PM
To: Allen Tai <[email protected]>
Cc: Colleen Liang <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] RE: OAK Outreach to Alameda
Understood, thanks Allen. I also wanted to make sure you were aware of a claim from some opponents.
We recently heard from folks that the project would mean an increase in flights sent to North Field. As you know, the project is for mostly passenger servicing facilities, and would not increase airfield capacity anywhere at the airport. Also, although the airport is prohibited under the Airport Noise & Capacity Act (ANCA 1990) to fine or initiate curfews or other noise or runway access restrictions. The Airport has had a voluntary South Field preferential program and pilot education program that has a near 100% compliance rate among all jet departures airport-wide. Below is the Q2 Compliance Summary. These are presented every quarter to the OAK Noise Forum.
Let us know if you need any additional information ahead of tonight’s council meeting. Colleen and I would be happy to hop on a call if needed. Additionally, I know you have Colleen’s and my contact please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.
Diego A. González
Acting Government Affairs Manager
Port of Oakland | Oakland International Airport (OAK)
D: (510) 627-1276 | M: (916) 307-9150
[email protected]
| www.portofoakland.com
From: Teresa Courville
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Expansion of the Oakland Airport
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 4:34:20 PM
Dear members of Alameda City Council
I am writing to ask you to submit the strongest possible letter to the Port of Oakland asking them to reconsider the expansion of Oakland Airport.
The addition of a 3rd terminal with 16 new gates and the increase by the millions of annual passengers has grave health and climate risks for the citizens of Alameda, particularly those of us living on Bay Farm Island.
The impact of the proposed expansion was directly felt on the weekend of 9/22-9/25 when the South runway was closed for maintenance and jets were taking off from the North runway DIRECTLY over neighborhoods in Bay Farm causing significant increases in noise as jets took off every 60- 90 seconds, not to mention safety and environmental concerns. Your impact study response does not adequately address the noise impact or the health and safety impact of the proposed expansion. In addition, there are significant impacts on property values on Bay Farm if this need for use of the North runway for commercial jets continues as a direct result of the expansion.
Climate change and rising sea levels particularly for an island city also need to be taken into consideration. Aviation emissions are expected to triple by 2050 under the same business-as-usual or expansion scenario.
We need to keep temperature rise below 1.5C and expanding airports will not keep us at that goal - we need to identify and put our money into other modes of transmission that do not carry the high burden of greenhouse gas pollution.
The bottom line is that this Project enables more growth, and many more flights, at the exact time we need to be limiting the growth of air travel and prioritizing the health and well- being of Bay Area residents. I encourage the Port to protect my community and reject this Project.
Sincerely
Teresa Courville
1156 Island Dr
Alameda, CA 94502
From: T Krysiak
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Trish Spencer; Tony Daysog; Malia Vella; Tracy Jensen Cc: Lara Weisiger
Subject: [EXTERNAL] An opinion on Item 7-A on Oct. 3, 2013, City Council Agenda-Oakland Airport Expansion.
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 4:10:05 PM
Dear Mrs Mayor Ashcraft and Members of the Alameda City Council:
The ever increasing nighttime noise levels in BFI are already impacting the long term health and livability of our fine neighborhood. Also it is my opinion as a resident of Harbor Bay Island that the OAK expansion does not take into full account the health impacts including aircraft generated microfine particulate matter which is known to deeply embed into lung tissue causing respiratory problems including cancer. The planned OAK expansion will only worsen this situation and will obviously result in poor health outcomes for Alameda.
Here’s what I think is best for our community: Our City Council must stand with your BFI constituents and strongly address these health consequences and push the Port of Oakland to require quieter aircraft engines which emit lower and safer levels of micro-particulates before the OAK expansion is even started. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Thomas Krysiak
308 Sweet Road
Alameda CA 94502
Sent Via My iPhone
From: Amy Lee
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Possible Oakland Airport Expansion
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 4:03:32 PM
Dear Council Members:
I've lived in the Islandia Homeowner Community on Bay Farm for 28 years. I love my home, my neighborhood, and my community of Alameda. It's an amazing place to live in the Bay Area, a haven, actually, from the larger cities nearby. Making OAK bigger does NOT improve any of these things.
It is already impossible to carry on a conversation outside when a plane flies from the South Terminal and passes over Bay Farm. The small planes from the North Field fly even more directly over populated areas of the city. Fed Ex already uses our air fields for flights day AND night. When there is work being done on the South Field, regular commercial planes use that more intrusive North Field, and there are already plenty of times when planes do not follow their flight paths over the Bay, but over the homes instead.
I see no problem in modernizing the airport with the funds available and making it operate more efficiently and safely; but added funds do NOT always have to mean more, more, more, more. Bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. We are a densely populated area of the San Francisco Bay and already have three airports along the waters of the Bay to serve passengers.
If passenger numbers are supposed to increase so much, why not use the funds to create a large airport further inland where it wouldn't be adjacent to so many people? I would gladly give up the short ride to an airport in exchange for a quieter, safer, and more environmental friendly location.
Please do not do this to Alameda. We are truly a unique place to live: expanding OAK would create miserable conditions, especially on Bay Farm, that could lower our property values and make outdoor life less enjoyable.
Sincerely,
Amy Rodriguez Lee
Bay Farm Island, Alameda
From: Fred Lebe
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella; Lara Weisiger; Tracy Jensen Subject: [EXTERNAL] Oakland Airport Expansion PLan
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 4:02:47 PM
Hello Mayor Ashcraft and City Council Members,
I encourage you to do everything possible, on behalf of all Alamedans, to work to oppose the Oakland Airport expansion.
The reasons are numerous and clear:
Significant new noise with impacts to mental health and wellbeing of Alamedans in the flight patterns. We experienced a hint of the noise during the Sept 22-25 use of the North Field which dramatically increased air traffic noise in our neighborhood.
Sea level rise threat from climate crisis -- impacted by fossil fuels from air traffic industry
Air quality deterioration from additional GHG emissions from both airline & ground operations. It's within the Port's ability to contribute to the reduction of these emissions.
Thank you for your efforts to oppose this expansion and protect Alamedans.
Fred Lebe
103 Justin Cir
Alameda
From: Linda Carloni
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella; Tracy Jensen; City Clerk Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public hearing on airport expansion tonight Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 3:59:33 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
This email requests that you extend the public hearing beyond tonight. The EIR does not show sufficient consideration of noise, pollution or wildlife issues. These need to be much more fully considered than they are, and many Alamedans are concerned.
Linda Carloni
Resident of Alameda
From: Susan Lebe
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella; Lara Weisiger; Tracy Jensen Subject: [EXTERNAL] Oakland Airport Expansion Plan
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 3:23:30 PM
Hello Mayor Ashcraft and City Council Members,
I encourage you to do everything possible, on behalf of all Alamedans, to work to oppose the Oakland Airport expansion.
The reasons are numerous and clear:
Significant new noise with impacts to mental health and wellbeing of Alamedans in the flight patterns. We experienced a hint of the noise during the Sept 22-25 use of the North Field which dramatically increased air traffic noise in our neighborhood.
Sea level rise threat from climate crisis -- impacted by fossil fuels from air traffic industry
Air quality deterioration from additional GHG emissions from both airline & ground operations. It's within the Port's ability to contribute to the reduction of these emissions.
Thank you for your efforts to oppose this expansion and protect Alamedans.
Susan Lebe
103 Justin Cir
From: paul lau
To: Lara Weisiger
Cc: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Tracy Jensen; Malia Vella Subject: [EXTERNAL] Requests to the Alameda City Council Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 2:37:25 PM
I am an Alameda resident. I hereby request the Alameda City Council for an extension of the Oct 16th deadline for submitting technical info and concerns, in order for the City to hire an airport technical person to really research the effects on Alameda residents.
This is for OAKLAND AIRPORT EXPANSION.
Thanks. Shui Lau
From: lauren picciani
To: CityCouncil-List
Cc: Lauren Picciani; Paul Picciani
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Protect Alameda from noise and health hazards of OAK Airport Expansion Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 2:26:41 PM
Dear Alameda Council Members -
I am concerned that Oakland airport is planning to add 16 gates to accommodate more flights. Air travel is the most polluting way to travel, and adding these gates will increase noise & health hazards as it speeds global warming. Please protect our community, our health, and the planet and send the strongest possible letter, urging the Port of Oakland to refuse to certify this Draft EIR and halt this harmful Project.
I attempted to read the EIR myself and feel it is a joke to expect a typical citizen to review and comment on it -- there are not enough free hours in the day to get through it all, and the essence of the issues is buried in data and words that mean little -- so I was thrilled to see that people in positions of influence have done so! My husband and I feel that what they should have done was send an evaluation committee to live in Alameda -- both Bay Farm Island and the Main Island -- and then draw conclusions about noise and pollution. This would have been much more realistically telling!
We live on the West End, and the plane noise, particularly in the evenings, can be unrelenting some nights -- plane after plane when you're trying to eat dinner and decompress from a typically stressful day. Your letter has it right that averaging the sound from a day is NOT a reflection of noise impact!
The background stress added to city living by constant loud noise is grossly underestimated, and more stress, particularly these days, is the last thing anyone needs on top of work stress, family stress, financial stress, etc. It impacts ability to mentally focus (many of us work from home), ability to retreat to your home as a peaceful respite (which is entirely necessary for mental health), ability to sleep (sleep issues are so common and detrimental to good health), etc. Sometimes these planes sound as if they might land on a rooftop -- they overtake the entire sound environment when they pass overhead!
Pollution, health and environmental concerns are also serious factors, but it's the excessive noise we live with every day that we notice on a practical level. It's already a huge problem, and we dread the idea of more planes and more noise.
Frankly, the EIR seems like a CYA effort to be able to check a box and say, "Look, we had experts evaluate this -- see all our fancy charts and data -- and, as you can see, this expansion has been proven harmless to communities nearby and offers many benefits. The only reasonable thing to do is move ahead." This way, it can be said that due diligence was done, and it's all proven perfectly safe and wonderful. I wonder if any of those putting this report together live in Alameda? Thank you for your consideration. If someone could confirm receipt of this email, we would appreciate it!
Kind Regards,
Lauren & Paul Picciani
334 Tideway Drive, Alameda
From: Patricia Baer
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Malia Vella; Trish Spencer; Tracy Jensen Cc: Manager Manager; Lara Weisiger
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 7-A
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 2:21:43 PM
Council members,
I urge you to do all you can to stop the Oakland airport expansion. The noise and pollution it would create would greatly affect the desirability and quality of life in our city.
Thank you,
Patsy Baer
From: Jennifer Ott
To: Lara Weisiger
Cc: Yibin Shen; Allen Tai; Celena Chen
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Item #7-A
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 6:53:53 AM
FYI – please share with Council
From: Chris Miley <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 8:49 AM
To: Jennifer Ott <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item #7-A
Hi Jen,
Hope your transition to leading our city has been smooth. I wanted to Thank You and your staff for your review of the OAK expansion project DEIR and detailing the assumptions and shortcomings in your letter. You’ve probably heard from residents that the use of north field for all take-offs a couple weekend’s ago was a major disturbance. While I don’t have the time to thoroughly review the DEIR, even though I and my neighbors are directly impacted, it is reassuring seeing your letter and I hope the Port is responsive to your efforts to lookout for our residents!
Thank you,
Chris
From: Paul Medved
To: Tracy Jensen
Cc: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella; Lara Weisiger Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Oakland Airport Expansion Plan
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 5:36:36 AM
Thank you, Councilmember Jensen. The draft letter by the City Manager is excellent. It's polite, professional and to-the-point - as it must be when addressing Alameda's neighbor and partner.
The "Assumptions" section in particular is artfully crafted to imply that the most effective feasible mitigation of significant impacts may instead be the "No Project" alternative. Bravo!
But if we may say, the "Air Quality Impacts" section could and should be strengthened to include not only specific mention of the ultra-fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and UFP ) pollution issue, the
serious effects of which have only quite recently come to be recognized, it should take strong exception to the Port's misleading and indeed dark assertion that resulting GHG emissions would be "...unavoidable and beyond the ability of the Port to mitigate". The City should argue that not only is it avoidable and well within the ability of the Port to actively contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions associated with both airline and ground operations on its property via decisions precisely such as this one, it is its responsibility.
Thanks again,
The Medveds
From: Tracy Jensen <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 2, 2023 10:00 PM
To: Paul Medved <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Oakland Airport Expansion Plan
Dear Medved family,,
Thank you for your comments regarding the proposal to modernize and expand Oakland Airport.
At the link below is Alameda’s draft response to the Project Environmental Impact Report, which we will discuss at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, October 3. https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6359018&GUID=552626CE-6EE6-4A66- A2DE-03B7B3B56F5F
Tracy Jensen
Alameda City Councilmember
voice/text: 510-912-5556
On Oct 2, 2023, at 8:48 PM, Paul Medved <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Madame Mayor and City Council Members,
We write in hopes that you will agree that, even beyond the potential for significant new noise impacts, given what we know about the Climate Crisis and the resulting threat sea level rise poses to our very community, no industry as dependent upon the consumption of fossil fuels as is the air travel industry should be allowed to expand operations in our backyard and on our watch.
Please do everything possible on behalf of everyone who has ever cared about Alameda to credibly and steadfastly oppose the Oakland Airport's expansion plan.
Thank you,
Paul & Cecily Medved
74 Justin Circle
Bay Farm
Virus-free.www.avast.com
From: [email protected]
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Tracy Jensen; Malia Vella Cc: Lara Weisiger
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 7-A 2023-3321 Port of Oakland Airport Expansian Date: Monday, October 2, 2023 11:22:19 PM
Dear Council Members,
I respectfully request that the Alameda City Council thoroughly review the Draft Environment Impact Report for the proposed plans to expand the Oakland Airport facilities that will seriously impact (negatively) the City of Alameda especially Bay Farm Island.
Yours truly,
Kevin M. Leong
48 Kara Road
Alameda, CA 94502
From: Bill Chan
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Fight for Alameda, No airport expansion Date: Monday, October 2, 2023 11:01:33 PM
Please fight for us in Alameda against Oakland airport expansion. The airplane noise is already unbearable and the exhaust triggers my asthma.
Bill Chan
From: Donna Fletcher
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Tracy Jensen; Malia Vella; Jennifer Ott Cc: Lara Weisiger
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 7 A: Comment on Draft EIR Letter from Council to Port of Oakland re: Airport Epansion Date: Monday, October 2, 2023 10:32:52 PM
Dear Mayor Ashcraft and Council Members,
Thank you for your thorough and detailed draft letter to the Port of Oakland regarding the airport expansion that will be reviewed by Council tomorrow night.
In my view, the two most important statements in your letter are:
1. "We request that the Port provide detailed responses to community comments and provide a forum for addressing impacts that are directly or indirectly related to the Project...before certifying the EIR" ("before certifying the EIR" added by author)
2. "We request that the Port meet with community stakeholders to discuss the Project and how to minimize its impacts before certifying the EIR." (original text from letter) I appreciate that the Council is holding the Port accountable to the issues raised in the City Manager's draft letter. However, I am concerned about the compressed time-frame allotted for identifying and or responding to a host of technical issues. The October 16 deadline seems unreasonable and arbitrary given the scope of the project and the scope of the impacts on Alameda.
Please ask the Port to extend the deadline past October 16 in order to assemble accurate facts, impacts, and mitigation strategies for the community as requested.
Thank you for your consideration!
Sincerely,
Donna Toutjian FLetcher
112 Centre Court
94502
From: Paul Medved
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Tracy Jensen; Malia Vella Cc: Lara Weisiger
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Oakland Airport Expansion Plan
Date: Monday, October 2, 2023 8:48:36 PM
Dear Madame Mayor and City Council Members,
We write in hopes that you will agree that, even beyond the potential for significant new noise impacts, given what we know about the Climate Crisis and the resulting threat sea level rise poses to our very community, no industry as dependent upon the consumption of fossil fuels as is the air travel industry should be allowed to expand operations in our backyard and on our watch.
Please do everything possible on behalf of everyone who has ever cared about Alameda to credibly and steadfastly oppose the Oakland Airport's expansion plan.
Thank you,
Paul & Cecily Medved
74 Justin Circle
Bay Farm
Virus-free.www.avast.com
From: Gary Sternberg
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Tracy Jensen; Malia Vella; Lara Weisiger Subject: [EXTERNAL] Oakland Airport expansion
Date: Monday, October 2, 2023 8:36:50 PM
To all Council Members;
I live at 385b Channing Way in Harbor Bay. I would ask that we get an extension of the October 16th deadline for submission of technical information and concerns, in order for the city to hire an airport technical person to really research the affects on Alameda residents.
Sincerely;
Gary Sternberg
Phone 510 504 3222
[email protected]
From: Cathy Leong
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Tracy Jensen; Malia Vella Cc: Lara Weisiger
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item 7-A 2023-3321 Port of Oakland Airport Expansion Date: Monday, October 2, 2023 8:33:03 PM
7-A 2023-3321 Recommendation to Review and Comment on the Port of Oakland’s Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Terminal Modification and Development Project at the Oakland Airport and on City Staff’s Draft Response Letter. (Planning, Building and Transportation 20962700) [Not heard on September 5, 2023] Attachments: Exhibit 1 - Draft Letter Exhibit 2 - Executive Summary Correspondence
https://legistar1.granicus.com/alameda/meetings/2023/10/5838_A_City_Council_23-10- 03_Meeting_Agenda.pdf?id=d8180514-1fe2-45bf-b077-260e49e50877 People familiar with airport speak are saying that soon after the airport builds the 16 additional gates outlined in the expansion proposal, airliners will regularly be taking off from the northern runways, directly over Bayfarm and the main island, and then making a turn over Alameda Point, putting west-enders directly under the thundering jets making those turns. Not every so often BUT EVERY DAY as regularly scheduled. Some living on Bayfarm have double-paned windows to reduce the noise. We do NOT.
This is a tremendous concern to the lifestyle we have built over the 37 years living here that would be negatively impacted - and permanently hindered with this expansion.
This expansion comes at a time that the world is urging fewer flights as to lessen impact on our global existence. Emissions from aviation are a significant contributor to climate change. Non-CO2 climate impacts mean aviation accounts for 3.5% of global warming. Aviation accounts for around 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, but its overall contribution to climate change is higher. This is because air travel does not only emit CO2: it affects the climate in a number of more complex ways. Refer to this article one amongst numerous. Aviation, i.e. air transport, accounts for about 12 per cent of total transport emissions. Why go backwards, especially in "green" California?
https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions-from-
aviation#:~:text=Non%2DCO2%20climate%20impacts,number%20of%20more%20complex%20ways.
I urge you all to request an extension beyond October 16 so that you may secure technical expert analysis on either noise, air pollution or master airport planning. Refer back to the successful decades-old lawsuit brought against the Port of Oakland, based largely on the data analysis by technical experts testifying on our behalf.
As of now, October 16th is the deadline to file technical comments to the Port of Oakland's Draft EIR.
After that, it is game over if there is no credible argument to the Port's assertion that no mitigation is required for their expansion plans. Yes, I live in Harbor Bay Isle, when we bought/moved in 37 years ago we were/are totally aware we live near an airport and we use and support that airport, as it is, we NEVER were EVER told of any expansion to this dynamic level.
Please join your constituents and take action now to protect the health and safety of the town folk and the character of the community that we live in.
Catherine (Cathy) Leong, 48 Kara Road, Alameda CA 94502 From: Susan Cabrales
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Expansion of the Oakland airport expansion Date: Monday, October 2, 2023 6:31:26 PM
To the Mayor, Vice Mayor and all council members,
I am writing in regard to the Oakland airport expansion. I am asking you to STOP this expansion. I live on Bayfarm in Alameda, and have for the last 32 years. I witness and hear the daily flights over the top of my house. Another terminal would greatly add to the noise and pollution already experienced by us. There are many nights I can’t sleep due to the noise of the takeoffs at all hours of the day and night, my family cannot watch TV or talk without having to close the windows and doors in order to hear. We can’t have people in our backyard for a get together without being interrupted by plane noise. Another terminal with 16 more gates would only stress our ecosystem , add to climate issues, and add to the already noisy and polluted area we live in. Stop while we’re ahead. Less is more in this case. We have a very functional airport, and many more in close proximity. There is no need to negatively affect our climate by filling the skies with more planes. Please vote NO on this expansion for the sake of our climate, health, and community!
Susan Cabrales
Sent from my iPhone
From: Alameda Citizens Task Force
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Malia Vella; Trish Spencer; Tracy Jensen Cc: Lara Weisiger; Manager Manager
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 7-A on Oct. 3, 2013, City Council Agenda-Oakland Airport Expansion Date: Monday, October 2, 2023 5:21:07 PM
ACT
Alameda Citizens Task Force
Vigilance, Truth, Civility
Dear Mayor Ashcraft, Vice Mayor Daysog and Council Members Vella, Spencer and Jensen:
The ACT Board joins with all those who have written in opposition to Oakland Airport Expansion. We specifically endorse Paul Hauser's letter to the Alameda Sun which he has forwarded to as an attachment to his email to you of Sept. 29 which appears in the correspondence file to Item 7-A. We appreciate your draft letter which states very legitimate concerns, but we believe these concerns cannot be mitigated and that expansion will do permanent serious damage to the livability of Alameda.
Sincerely,
ACT Board
From: Deidra Jow
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Stop the Oakland Airport Expansion
Date: Monday, October 2, 2023 1:38:53 PM
Please do all you can to stop the expansion of the Oakland Airport.
The Project will have significant impacts for communities around the airport, who will be subject to years of noise and air pollution from continuous construction, including many demolition projects. These communities are already in non-attainment for various air pollutants, which this Project will make worse.
I have lived in Alameda for over 30 years and find the increasing noise and congestion absolutely intolerable.
Please do ALL YOU CAN to fight the expansion!
DJow, Alameda 94502
From: michael quan
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Stopoakexpansion.org petitioner
Date: Monday, October 2, 2023 12:46:33 PM
HI all
This is resident of 50 McDonnel rd Alameda, Ca 94502 and I want to mention that I disagree with the expansion of airport that could cause more noise, more pollution, more global warming. If they want to expand do it hayward, sfo, or san jose airport. San Jose Airport has one terminal.
Thanks,
Michael quan
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
From: sylvia
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Oakland Airport Expansion incompatible with state climate goals Date: Monday, October 2, 2023 8:50:28 AM
Dear mayor and council members,
I urge you to oppose the expansion of the OAK airport and consider how it will negatively impact our region’s air quality and ability to meet urgent climate goals to reduce emissions.
Air travel is among the most carbon-intensive ways to fly, particularly for short-distance commutes. Instead of expanding the airport, planners should be looking at ways to provide sustainable, practical alternatives.
Please review studies produced by the Center for Biological Diversity on the impact of air travel, as well as the ineffectiveness of airlines’ advertised investment in SAF (sustainable aviation fuel).
Please use your position during this crucial moment to reject OAK expansion, which will worsen our air and noise pollution, as well as further destabilize the climate.
Sincerely
Sylvia
From: patty lopez
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Protect Alameda from noise and health hazards of OAK Airport Expansion Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023 3:04:03 PM
Dear Alameda Council Members, I am concerned that Oakland airport is planning to add 16 gates to accommodate more flights. Air travel is the most polluting way to travel, and adding these gates will increase noise & health hazards as it speeds global warming. Please protect our community, our health, and the planet and send the strongest possible letter, urging the Port of Oakland to refuse to certify this Draft EIR and halt this harmful Project.
I am very concerned about the negative impact this will have.
P. Lopez, Property owner, Bay Farm Island
From: Jordan Jackson
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Protect Alameda from noise and health hazards of OAK Airport Expansion Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023 11:21:07 AM
Dear Alameda Council Members,
I am concerned that Oakland airport is planning to add 16 gates to accommodate more flights. Air travel is the most polluting way to travel, and adding these gates will increase noise & health hazards as it speeds global warming. Please protect our community, our health, and the planet and send the strongest possible letter, urging the Port of Oakland to refuse to certify this Draft EIR and halt this harmful Project.
From: Luzanne Engh
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Protect Alameda from noise and health hazards of OAK Airport Expansion Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023 7:32:29 AM
Dear Alameda Council Members,
I am concerned that Oakland airport is planning to add 16 gates to accommodate more flights. Air travel is the most polluting way to travel, and adding these gates will increase noise & health hazards as it speeds global warming.
Please protect our community, our health, and the planet and send the strongest possible letter, urging the Port of Oakland to refuse to certify this Draft EIR and halt this harmful Project.
In addition as a Bay Farm resident I am familiar with the noise levels of flights departing and arriving at OAK.
Increasing flight capacity can only add to the disruptions currently being experienced by residents, students, businesses, guests, and seniors living and working on Bay Farm Island.
Thank you,
Luzanne Engh
Sent from my iPad
From: AJ
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Protect Alameda from noise and health hazards of OAK Airport Expansion Date: Friday, September 29, 2023 11:11:27 PM
Dear Alameda Council Members:
As a neighbor just twenty minutes away from OAK, I am concerned that Oakland Airport is planning to add 16 gates to accommodate more flights. Air travel is the most polluting way to travel, and adding these gates will increase noise & health hazards for both residents and workers as it speeds global warming. Please protect our community, our health, and the planet and send the strongest possible letter, urging the Port of Oakland to refuse to certify this Draft EIR and halt this harmful Project.
Thank you.
This message was sent as part of a public anti-pollution campaign by Stop OAK Expansion. I am not affiliated or employed with this organization, simply participating as an individual advocate.
From: Kwok Yin Chan
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Please Reject The Proposal to Expand OAK Date: Friday, September 29, 2023 6:27:16 PM
NorCal does not need another large airport. OAK is too close to schools and residential areas. Air pollution should be reduced not increased. Alameda residents are already suffering from the noise and air pollution caused by flights in and out of OAK. Please disapprove the expansion of OAK.
Kwok Yin Chan
zip 94501
From: Paul Hauser
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Protect Alameda from noise and health hazards of OAK Airport Expansion Date: Friday, September 29, 2023 5:27:35 PM
Dear Alameda Council Members,
I am concerned that Oakland airport is planning to add 16 gates to accommodate more flights.
Air travel is the most polluting way to travel, and adding these gates will increase noise & health hazards as it speeds global warming. Please protect our community, our health, and the planet and send the strongest possible letter, urging the Port of Oakland to refuse to certify this Draft EIR and halt this harmful Project.
WE ARE IN A CLIMATE EMERGENCY, and we need to cut greenhouse gas emissions drastically. Residents of our island city are already experiencing the effects of sea-level rise so it doesn't make sense to contribute to the problem.
Susan Hauser
1057 Tahiti Ln
From: Paul Hauser
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] No On Oakland Airport Expansion
Date: Friday, September 29, 2023 5:22:41 PM
Alameda City Council Members,
Please consider the attached letter as published in our Alameda Sun Newspaper.
Thank you,
Paul Hauser
Past President Mastick Senior Center
[email protected]
(510) 213 2383
From: Irene Riddle
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Protect Alameda from noise and health hazards of OAK Airport Expansion Date: Friday, September 29, 2023 5:16:39 PM
Dear Alameda Council Members,
I am concerned that Oakland airport is planning to add 16 gates to accommodate more flights. Air travel is the most polluting way to travel, and adding these gates will increase noise & health hazards as it speeds global warming.
Please protect our community, our health, and the planet and send the strongest possible letter, urging the Port of Oakland to refuse to certify this Draft EIR and halt this harmful Project.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
From: henry long
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Protect Alameda from noise and health hazards of OAK Airport Expansion Date: Friday, September 29, 2023 5:04:07 PM
Dear Alameda Council Members, I am concerned that Oakland Airport is planning to add 16 gates to accommodate more flights. Air travel is the most polluting way to travel, and adding these gates will increase noise & health hazards as it speeds up global warming. Please protect our community, our health, and the planet and send the strongest possible letter, urging the Port of Oakland to refuse to certify this Draft EIR and halt this harmful Project.
Sincerely,
Henry Long
Resident at Harbo Bay,
City of Alameda
From: Amy Wooldridge
To: EA Mohn; CityCouncil-List
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Protect Alameda from noise and health hazards of OAK Airport Expansion Date: Friday, September 29, 2023 1:25:50 PM
Hello Mr. Mohn,
This coming Tuesday, October 3rd, the City Council is reviewing and commenting on a draft response letter to the Port of Oakland regarding this project. More detail is in the staff report and attached letter for agenda item #7-A in the City Council agenda at https://legistar1.granicus.com/alameda/meetings/2023/10/5838_A_City_Council_23-10- 03_Meeting_Agenda.pdf?id=d8180514-1fe2-45bf-b077-260e49e50877 . There is information at the top of the agenda on how you can attend in person or by Zoom.
Thank you,
Amy
Amy Wooldridge, she/her
Assistant City Manager
[email protected]
(510) 747-4709
-----Original Message-----
From: EA Mohn <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2023 1:20 PM
To: CityCouncil-List <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Protect Alameda from noise and health hazards of OAK Airport Expansion Dear Alameda Council Members,
I am concerned that Oakland airport is planning to add 16 gates to accommodate more flights. Air travel is the most polluting way to travel, and adding these gates will increase noise & health hazards as it speeds global warming.
Please protect our community, our health, and the planet and send the strongest possible letter, urging the Port of Oakland to refuse to certify this Draft EIR and halt this harmful Project.
Eric Mohn
Bay Farm Island - Alameda