Victory! Reid-Hillview Airport to Close
After 40 years of delayed justice, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to:
Pursue closing the Reid-Hillview airport
Pursue removing lead-based fuel from the airport
Provide support to other jurisdictions in conducting similar lead studies
Explore an alternative location for the airport that will not pose similar health and safety risks as well as engage with local communities for input
In the past, SOMOS Mayfair has advocated to close Reid Hillview Airport because of its negative health impact on families and the hundreds of children. SOMOS Mayfair also believes our East Side community deserves a type of development that doesn’t displace nor deny our community from the valuable resources they needed to thrive. This type of development must center the voices of community and address racial and economic injustice.
Earlier this year we convened various leaders and organizations as part of the Close Reid Hillview Now! to build a stronger movement that centers community voices and build cross racial power and multi-organizational collaboration.
In the organizing process, we met dedicated leaders from the Cassell Neighborhood Association who have struggled with this injustice for decades. Leaders like Maria Reyes, Ernesto Barajas, Gilbert Reyes, Scott Godfrey, and the Lechuga family who have worked tirelessly to create change in their community.
months our staff supported the Coalition, knocked on doors and mobilized our partners, leaders and neighborhood leaders impacted by the issue to the Board of Supervisors Meeting which resulted in a 5-0 vote to pursue closing.
The night after the vote, we hosted a small debrief and heard from the Close Reid Hillview Now! Coalition members directly.
In addition to the Board of Supervisors decision, the Coalition believes the uprising and organizational support for East San Jose Families is a key victory. The overall network of new relationships and organizational support are also victories and key elements for future actions.
The work is not over yet, East San Jose families from the 95122 that are impacted by the airport must continue with the visioning process. Furthermore, East San Jose must continue to advocate to make sure the FAA grants the immediate closure.
SOMOS Mayfair would like to thank everyone who provide public comments, emails, submitted letters of support or took any action in this campaign. We specially want to thank and recognize the Cassell Neighborhood Association leaders: Maria Reyes, Ernesto Barajas, Gilbert Reyes, Scott Godfrey, and the Lechuga family for their fierce organizing and dedication. A special thank you goes to the Honorable Blanca Alvarado and the Alvarado family for their relentless advocacy on this issue.
We are proud of all of our SOMOS staff and community leaders and promotoras who did not hesitate to show solidarity for this cause.
Towards Justice, Community Power and a Thriving Community,
Victor Vasquez & Saul Ramos
Co- Executive Directors
A special thank you to all the organizations who participated in the Close Reid Hillview Now! Coalition and to those who become involved in the process:
Green Foothills
LUNA
Community Health Partnerships
Showing Up for Racial Justice- SURJ
Working Partnerships USA
Mayfair Neighborhood Association
Plata Arroyo Neighborhood Association
Valley Palms Unidos
The Si Se Puede Advocacy team (Veggielution, Amigos de Guadalupe, Grail, School of Arts and Culture, SOMOS)
Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley
ARUVA
The Alum Rock School District
PEACE Partnership
Vietnamese Voluntary Foundation (VIVO)
Asian Law Alliance
META & De Colores Coop
Silicon Valley Rising
Vietnamese American Roundtable
African American Community Service Agency
Youth Hype- Latoya Fernandez
Black Outreach
REAL Coalition
Tropicana Neighborhood Association
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) at Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart Community Service
South Bay Jewish Voice for Peace
Maiz
South Bay YIMBY
YIMBY Action
San José Strong
PACT: People Acting in Community Together
Greenbelt Alliance
Berryessa Flea Market Vendors Association
Californians For Justice
Latinas Contra Cancer
South Bay Progressive Alliance At
Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP)
The Health Trust
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
MEChA de SJCC
South Bay Community Land Trust
ASB Gunderson High School
ConXion to Community
Affordable Housing Network
Saved By Nature
Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and Service (CARAS)
CommUniverCity
Bay Area Black Educators
Project MORE
Educare California at Silicon Valley
SV@Home
ARUSD Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee
And many more…