Below is the press release from The Community Coalition for a Sustainable Concord, a collection of dozens of affordable and non-profit housing, interfaith, conservation and labor organizations, including thousands of members in Concord. The platform can be found in its entirety at www.EBHO.org.
COMMUNITY GROUPS COME TOGETHER UNITED BY THEIR VISION FOR THE RE-USE OF THE CONCORD NAVAL WEAPONS STATION
Platforms release signals new phase of the re-use process
Concord, CA — The Community Coalition for a Sustainable Concord, made up of labor organizations, environmental groups, smart growth proponents, affordable housing and homeless advocates, and interfaith groups, today released their vision for the re-use of the Concord Naval Weapons Station and a sustainable Concord. The vision includes a vibrant mix of jobs and affordable homes in walkable neighborhoods, surrounded by protected open space.
“The Community Coalition is one of the most significant alliances ever created in the East Bay representing thousands of Concord residents,” said Seth Adams of Save Mount Diablo. “Coalition members represent many constituencies from varied backgrounds, but we have a common vision of the base’s future as a sustainable world-class project responsible to both the community, and to the environment. From our organization’s perspective, the reuse of the Weapons Station offers the chance to protect the ridge between Central and East County, to restore Mt. Diablo creek, and to extend parklands from Mt. Diablo toward Suisun Bay. ”
“The Naval Weapons Station is one of the largest areas slated for development in the entire Bay Area,” said Christina Wong of Greenbelt Alliance. “Our entire coalition agrees that it is critical to get this right. The city should take advantage of this location to create great new neighborhoods where residents can walk, bike, and use BART — and the city should fully protect the base’s spectacular hills and natural areas.”
The Community Coalition for a Sustainable Concord is a collection of dozens of affordable and non-profit housing, interfaith, conservation and labor organizations, including thousands of members in Concord.
Pam Aguilar of the Central Labor Council of Contra Costa County said, “We need to ensure that workers who build homes and businesses on the Concord Naval Weapons Station are able to afford to live and shop at these same places. The opportunity for Living Wage jobs in both the construction of this new site and the jobs that follow is vitally important to this region, as residents look forward to increased employment opportunities with access to both affordable housing and quality open space.”
“We’re here to make sure that community needs don’t take a back seat to developer interests and profit margins,” said Amie Fishman of East Bay Housing Organizations. “Our coalition’s vision is clear on the importance of providing affordable housing opportunities and solutions to homelessness. From Concord’s own housing studies, we know there is a dire need for affordable homes in the City. Together with the other members of this coalition we hope to ensure that those needs are met.” Community members look forward to see these efforts pay off for the people of Concord and the surrounding community.
“Many of my neighbors and others in my church congregation have felt that what is needed in Concord is an open process that helps to ensure that what happens on the land of the Concord Naval Weapons Station will benefit everyone in Concord, and not just a select few,” said Irma Cardenas, a member leader of Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization. “We hope that, in the memory of Michael Chavez, a community advocate who fought hard for issues of open space and for the Monument Corridor community, the City Council keeps the interests of all those involved in mind. With a strong and united community coalition, and a strong platform that touches on all of the major concerns of the community, we can help make Mike’s dream a reality.”
The platform of the Community Coalition for a Sustainable Concord addresses seven key areas in the re- use of the Concord Naval Weapons Station: Open Space and Natural Resource Protections; Vibrant, Diverse, and Walkable Neighborhoods; Affordable Housing Opportunities and Homelessness Solutions; Quality Jobs For Local Residents; Environmentally Sustainable Development, Green Building and Green Jobs; Full Environmental Clean-Up; and a Strong Community-Driven and Inclusive Process.
Contact: Joel Tena, East Bay Housing Organizations or call 510- 663-3830
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Let’s see: living wages, PLA for union labor, Davis-Bacon wages for unskilled locals, subsidized housing next to homelessness services, and make Mike Chavez a saint.
How sustainable is that?
Leave the damn thing fallow or give it to East Bay Parks and enough with every labor, “social justice,” subsidized housing, and green group with their hands out.