In 1939 the U.S. Navy initially purchased 47 acres of the 500 acre plus Hunters Point Naval Shipyard well known to all of us who live in the Bayview Hunters Point, District 10. In 1942 the Navy seized the rest and hundreds of families who were residents at the site had to leave - many of them within 24 hours. In 1974 Hunters Point Naval Shipyard closed. At one time it employed more then 8,500 civilian employees. Thousands of years before the land belonged to the First People of the Bay Area, the Muwekma Ohlone. Ohlone means the "people from the West. In this case the California West Coast. One can visit the Muwekma web site and learn more about them: http://www.muwekma.org Hunters Point Naval Shipyard is well known to the Muwekma Ohlone. In 1988 when the Department of Defense made known its list of Base Closures the Muwekma studied the list very carefully. Around 1991 it made its intention very clear that it would exercise its Right of First Refusal. The Right of First Refusal is a right given to the Native Americans, the Indigenous People to claim any excess property which belongs to the U.S. Government and in this case, the Department of Defense. In 1991 together with the Presidio of San Francisco, Oakland Army Base, other bases in the Bay Area the Muwekma laid claim to the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. In the case of the Presidio it laid claim to 40 per cent but in the case of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard it laid claim to all of it. Yes, all of it. The City and County of San Francisco is fully aware of this fact. The Mayor, Willie Brown is more than aware of this fact. The position of the Muwekma Tribe is that all of Hunters Point Naval Shipyard be fully cleaned and inspected by Federal agencies and others before it can be inhabited and homes and other facilities built. Right now all of Hunters Point Naval Shipyard is polluted - some areas more than others. The Muwekma Tribe has two residents of Bayview Hunters Point (BVHP) who act on its behalf. Espanola Jackson is the Tribe's Spokesperson and works very closely with Francisco Da Costa who brings a lot of concrete experience having worked for a long time at the Presidio of San Francisco on matters pertaining to the General Management Plan (GMP) and the Environmental Impact Study (EIS). One of the main entities tasked to clean up Hunters Point Naval Shipyard is IT Corporation. IT Corporation has declared Bankruptcy. So with this action most of what had to happen with the clean up will come to a grinding halt. Millions of dollars - as much as 300 million plus set aside for the clean up, much of it used and the rest waiting to be used - will not be accounted for. In the mean time Lennar Corporation has been talking about building beautiful homes and developing the area - prime Real Estate as far as property is concerned in the United States. Much of it comparable with the Real Estate property at the Presidio of San Francisco. Those familiar with Sacramento can now look forward to Renaissance Homes and Winncrest Homes built by Lennar. But, wait a minute. What about the clean up? The Mayor and some others have declared parts of Hunters Point Naval Ship Yard clean! When did that happen? It happened! The Burton Machinery and others have been working feverishly to develop Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. It does not matter that IT Corporation has NOT done their work. It does not matter that methane gas is fueling underground fires for years. It does not matter that toxic hot spots wait to kill innocent residents. The plan has to move forward. Homes and Facilities have to be built. Greed has to be fostered. Some pockets have to be lined with millions. All at the expense of the residents of Bayview Hunters Point. The Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) formed to monitored the Navy and the clean up is being taken for a ride. The RAB wants to do something but their hands have been tied. Politicians and Developers have clout. Its greed and more greed that has a say. When will the wishes of the community be respected? Who cares about respect? Much more respecting the community of District 10. Here is what Lennar says "The saying goes Rome was not built in a day. Creating a great place takes time, vision, and resources. Lennar Communities Bay Area is committed to this mission." The Mayor agrees with Lennar but does the community?

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