Posted on 03/08/2007 8:06:48 AM PST by SmithL
Mayor Gavin Newsom's office is pushing the Navy to transfer ownership of Hunters Point Shipyard in San Francisco to the city in hope of accelerating a toxic cleanup of the property in time to meet the 49ers' 2012 deadline to build a new football stadium.
In a Feb. 16 memo obtained by The Chronicle, the city proposes to take ownership of the former naval base and assume responsibility for removing most non-radiological toxic material provided that the Navy covers the costs.
The Navy believes the transfer is possible. But questions remain about whether funding is available for a faster cleanup, the exact locations to be cleaned and whether the Navy can meet its obligation to rid the shipyard of radiological waste before turning it over to the city.
The city's responsibility would include dealing with chemical and petroleum contamination and other toxic wastes.
"Our primary objective is to expedite the cleanup and transfer of the shipyard so that we can create the public benefits the property holds, and one of those is the possibility of creating a stadium for the 49ers," said Newsom's base reuse director, Michael Cohen.
Cohen, who wrote the memo, said the Navy's current plan for the cleanup would take 10 more years. About $400 million has been spent so far, and another $500 million is needed to complete the work. The Navy believes a transfer to the city and faster cleanup would cost up to $75 million more. Cohen and Navy officials think Congress might provide that money.
The city wants title to the 500-acre former base as quickly as possible,...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
With Susan York in charge, having expressed no intent to make anything of a rotten team, let them move.
After how SF has treated the Navy, the Navy would really look like losers and loose respect if they turned around and did favors to SF.
The 49ers want out of the "queer" loving burg! They are moving!!! You should get your facts in line!
Yeah, the USS Pampanito is berthered at Fisherman's Wharf!
Denise DeBartolo York?
The 49'ers will move into the Valley. They will have better car and rail access, get any kind of stadium built by the wealthy valley dwellers and will remain the San Francisco 49'ers. Think of the New York Giants and New York Jets, hell they don't even play in the same state, let alone the same city. If the 49'ers were to move over to Reno, they might have a problem.
Let me see if I've got this straight... San Francisco/Newsom have a public employee whose job it is to aquire military bases in the city/county of San Francisco. Probably pay him $100,000 plus per year to write these memos.
Who do these people think they are? ... Congressmen?
Another absurd waste of taxpayer $$$.
Navy To San Francisco: DROP DEAD
But geez, think of the toxic cleanup that would cause. Who know what diseases would be released into the air and ground...............
The decision to close was made some time ago. Probably independent of any such considerations, but one never knows what went into the BRAC process. (Base Realignment and Closing)
A billion dollars to move some dirt around??? They say 'clean up' but all that means is that they move the dirt from one place to another. What other country would pay $1,000,000,000 to move some dirt?
>>>>So, the city that hates the Navy now wants favors from the Navy. How special is that? Maybe the Navy should suggest Hunter's Point as the new home for USS Iowa.
The proper DOD response should be two words: Sod Off.
Okay, surgical strikes with tactical nukes.
Good point.
This is the same San Fran that REFUSED to berth the IOWA?. The Navy owes them nothing. Tell Newsome to sit on it.
Very special, ed...
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