Dear Neighbors,
An update on the past two months includes neighborhood clean-ups, toxic clean up, and proposed changes to some of the neighborhood bus routes. MSNA neighbors together with RefuseRefuse have been sponsoring monthly Saturday morning clean-ups of the Central Sunset Irving Street corridor. Many thanks to Leyla of the MSNA Board, for being part of the leadership of this project.
Bus Routes - The SFMTA is currently doing outreach for community input to proposed changes on some of our bus routes. Please look at the project’s webpage if you would like to make any comment: SFMTA.com/SunsetNeighborways
Contamination Update
Getting both the developer of 2550 Irving, Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) and the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) to take responsibility for a coordinated and thorough clean-up of the toxin, commonly called PCE, that has been found in the soil and in the air and homes around 2550 Irving St., has been a goal of MSNA for two and a half years. Thanks to the efforts of Paul Holman, of the MSNA Board, Don Moore, neighbor and geologist, and Lenny Siegel, former mayor of Mountain View and Executive Director of Center for Public Environmental Oversight, as well as over 60 neighbors who spoke up at the Board of Appeals in February, we have gotten both written and verbal agreements that the following measures will be taken:
There will be testing for PCE at the former site of Miracle Cleaners, which was active at 2550 Irving until 1959, and most likely used tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in the cleaning process. PCE is a known carcinogen and neurotoxin and can no longer be used in the dry cleaning process as of 2025. The testing will be done at 5 and 15 feet beneath the ground surface.
Depending on the results of testing, DTSC may insist that TNDC use an active mitigation system when building its foundation at 2550 Irving. Currently the mitigation system proposed includes a coated sheeting as part of the foundation. It will deteriorate within 20 years. It is considered a passive mitigation system.
There will be additional testing within the six homes just north of 2550 Irving St. to monitor indoor PCE levels. These homes have been tested three times before. After this next testing, current and previous levels of PCE will be averaged and DTSC will decide if some remediation measures for the occupants need to be taken by the previous owners of 2550 Irving.
The former Albrite Cleaners, on the south side of Irving Street, 2511 Irving Street, is being tested for PCE levels. Depending on the results there will be further testing, which will include homes and businesses on the south side of Irving, in the area of 26th and 27th Avenues. DTSC will decide if any remediation measures need to be taken on the south side of Irving Street.
We are very heartened that these agreements have been made. We are meeting with our supervisor, Joel Engardio in the next week, to apprise him of the situation and invoke his support.
Although all Board members volunteer their time, having legal counsel is a must and is costly. We have approximately $25,000.00 that is still due to our lawyer, for past work, and we currently have an appeal pending in the court system.
If each of you would consider contributing what you can, either as a one time donation or monthly, the continued efforts of MSNA will be possible. Please, we need your help.
You can contribute through either method noted below : Zelle : phone number 415 425 2939 A check made out to MSNA, sent to 1221 27th Ave. San Francisco, Ca. 94122 Thank you for taking the time to read this and for all your support. Fondly, Flo Kimmerling President, MSNA