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SWU wants industry and corporations to help create a greener, healthier and revitalized San Antonio and South Texas. We aim to ensure corporations act as good neighbors, solicit input from local residents and put resources back into the local community. SWU also advocates for just land use plans that keep industrial activity away from residential homes and schools.
People for Sustainable Alternatives
This is new concentrated campaign for sustainable development of the former Kelly Air Force Base and corporate accountability. The campaign focuses on ensuring that the activities at the new Port San Antonio improve the environment and contribute to the well-being of nearby residents. SWU aims to reduce noise and pollution from Boeing, which points its aircraft directly at the community across the fenceline when conducting engine tests that are loud enough to shake homes. Boeing has guaranteed to change its practice.
The campaign also raised concerns over the increase in traffic pollution from diesel trucks, and the lack of an emergency response or evacuation plan despite the plan to increase the train traffic and the threat of derailments of cars carrying flammable and toxic cargo. We want the Port San Antonio to develop a green buffer zone, reduce pollution and encourage green businesses, support active community involvement in decision-making processes and actively contribute to the needs of an underserved area of the City.
ReRoute Union Pacific
The piercing sound of the railroad is a daily reality for the citizens of San Antonio, especially on the southside where the crisscross of tracks carries speeding trains with toxic materials through neighborhoods and disrupts vehicular and pedestrian traffic several times an hour. Dilapidated tracks owned by Union Pacific and broken railroad crossings mark and divide communities. There are over 162 schools and hospitals within 1 mile of the railroad and over ½ a million residents live along the railroad. The toxic tracks of Union Pacific connect several environmental justice communities and mark the industrial corridors that poison and endanger poor and people of color families. Rails connect the southwest community, a community contaminated by the activities of Kelly Air Force Base, now an industrial park, with the Lone Star Industrial Corridor in south-central San Antonio, the eastside switching station and the Koch Refinery and fuel storage tanks.
In 2004 SWU launched STOP, the Southtown Organizing Project, in response to a series of 21 major derailments in San Antonio that left 6 dead, numerous hospitalized, buildings and bridges destroyed, and two major spills of petroleum products and chlorine. SWU has organized actions, town halls meetings and attended Congressional hearings on railroad safety to demand: (1) an immediate moratorium on the transport of hazardous materials through the City of San Antonio; (2) the rerouting of trains outside of San Antonio and populated areas and conversion of existing tracks into a light rail system; and (3) the immediate implementation of emergency evacuation plans and trainings for neighborhoods and schools.
Victories
- Exposed Port San Antonio noise pollution
- Engaged in ongoing dialogue with the Port
- Promoted a community vision for the Port & for Union Pacific tracks
- Hosted 2 town hall meetings with election officials and Union Pacific representatives
- Attended Union Pacific Congressional hearings
- Developed a new land-use plan for South San/Kelly community that was adopted by City Council
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