The most crucial information about 700 Linden (lead contamination) and 616 Linden Parking Lot (highly toxic) was omitted when soliciting support and feedback throughout EVERY outreach event held by Mayor Eddie Flores and the City of South San Francisco.
The lack of transparency about the contaminated lots and omission of required permits and an Impact Study Report required for the permanent closing of Pine at Linden Avenue, speaks volumes to the disregard for human lives and safety of residents.
PLEASE ATTEND CITY COUNCIL MAY 15, 2025 6:30 PM meeting at 901 Civic Campus Way, South San Francisco AND EMAIL: eddie.flores@ssf.net; mark.addiego@ssf.net; james.coleman@ssf.net; mark.nagales@ssf.net; flor.nicolas@ssf.net; jmadden@smcgov.org to demand full transparency and comprehensive testing of the two lots, required permits and an impact study report for permanent closure of Pine & Linden Ave.and immediate halt of this park project that poses health and safety hazards to immediate residents and visitors. Besides, the design is NOT what is considered a park, nor will it fulfill the 1990 and 2015 City reports in meeting the dire PARK needs in Old Town.
HISTORY: The 616 Linden parking lot was a former auto shop that was cited for multiple major health & safety violations by the City’s own Code Enforcement Officer. Per SMC Environmental Health records, a permit was issued for the removal of underground storage tanks (case closed on 9/27/21). However, this is a SEPARATE issue from toxic soil conditions that still currently exist at 616 Linden.
THE FACT REMAINS THAT THE 700 LINDEN IS CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD AND 616 LINDEN LOT IS HIGHLY TOXIC (chemicals known to cause cancer and early death). Per the 7/2/21 report, "Ninyo & Moore's opinions and recommendations regarding environmental conditions....are based on limited subsurface assessment and chemical analysis....Further assessment of potential adverse impacts....may be accomplished by a more comprehensive assessment."
THUS, since there was limited testing and a more comprehensive test is recommended, IT IS UP TO US TO PROTECT OURSELVES IN DEMANDING FULL TRANSPARENCY and COMPREHENSIVE TESTING FROM THE CITY AND MAYOR.
ALSO, THE FIRE CHIEF & CITY ENGINEER HAVE NOT PROVIDED SIGN-OFF PERMITS & AN IMPACT STUDY REPORT for the permanent closure of Pine at Linden Ave that studies the impact on resident's safety and loss of precious time in saving lives.
Please visit the link:https://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov Type 616 Linden in the Search bar and go to the "Regulatory Activities" tab, where you will be able to find the Final Environmental Assessment Report dated 7/2/21 (date 12/15/22 uploaded to site) and Public Comments.
City Manager Sharon Ranals should have been transparent and acted with a moral compass when initially reaching out requesting support for this project. The City Council, District 5 Rep.Eddie Flores, City Manager, Department Heads Phillip Vitale and Greg Mediati, Park & Recreation Board members and Commissions, and Ninyo & Co. continued deceiving the community in not being transparent about the toxic soils conditions of the lots, when presenting this new park project to the community throughout every outreach in-person event and paper surveys distributed at the library.
The parking lot at 616 Linden is currently identified as a toxic site by the CA Dept of Toxic Substances Control (Envirostor), www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov. Select tab, "Activities" for copy of the 7/30/20 Agreement. As well as on the RiseSSF website, political associate Julio Garcia, affiliated with Mayor Eddie Flores, risesouthcity.org
The SMC Health website, www.smchealth.org contains information about the seriousness of lead poisoning amongst children. Under the tab, "Lead Basics," it reads: "There are many common sources of lead. Some examples include: Lead contaminated soil where children play."
Please also refer to the City Council recordings (8/28/24, 9/25/24, 10/23/24 etc.) https://www.ssf.net/Government/Video-Streaming-City-and-Council-Meetings/City-Council where the facts are manipulated and the toxic soils conditions of the lots are not fully disclosed to the public. The Fire Chief/Deputy Public Works Director/City Engineer are notably absent during these discussions, where there is an obligation and responsibility to the public of their licensed and expertise opinion of permanently closing off Pine/Linden Ave. The discussions and most likely supporters whom were solicited, mislead the public into believing that this entire park project is safe and a "people's park" (where in reality this was a City project that was discussed and planned years ago, as discussions took place about closing Cypress Park and information shared by political group Friends of Old Town, and most recently again mentioned at a live Council meeting that this park project was first presented by "the former Economic Community Development Director." However, it is the City Council and City Manager who are our elected officials and leaders responsible for the lives and safety of all SSF residents, via their decisions that impact residents, not a former ECD Director.