Write a Letter to the Editor of a local paper. 

Why? 

  1. If a letter is published, readers see that airport expansion, climate change, air pollution and noise are topics people are talking about. Even if the letter is not published, a large number of letters on a topic shows news editors that the topic is important to readers and should be covered by the paper. 

  2. Staffers for our elected officials monitor the local newspapers, so this is an effective way to let officials know that airport expansion is a priority issue for their constituents. If we mention an elected official by name in the letter, it is likely to end up on their desk!

  3. You could see your name in print and proudly share with your friends, family, and coworkers.

Suggested structure: 

  • refer to recent news article or event, 

  • lay out the problem, 

  • provide a solution with a call to action.  

  • (Length 150-200 words)   

Three example Letters to the Editor: 

The Alameda Sun: https://alamedasun.com/letters/17174

Airport expansion bad for Alameda and environment

Thu, Aug 3

Editor:
Alamedans should be aware that the Port of Oakland has proposed an expansion of the Oakland Airport that will affect our quality of life and contribute to more greenhouse gases which are cooking the planet. The Port of Oakland has released their Environmental Impact Report (EIR) of the development, which would construct a new 830,000-square-foot terminal building that will add up to 16 more gates. This will add more pollution, noise, and climate-warming gases. The public has up to Sept. 15 to comment on the draft EIR. One can find the EIR here: www.oaklandairport.com/terminaldevelopment.There are also public meetings scheduled for August 15 and 30. According to www.airtracker.com, emissions from passenger planes at Oakland Airport are equivalent to the yearly emissions of 480,000 cars. Let’s not add more. To get more involved, visit www.stopoakexpansion.org.

— Paul English

The East Bay Times: https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/08/01/letters-1353/

Re. “Oakland Airport expansion reflects the Bay Area’s changing demographics”, the Oakland airport history is interesting, but history isn’t destiny. Adding 16 gates to “meet increasing air travel demand” totally ignores the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 to keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C as called for in the Paris Agreement. Flying is an elite privilege with high costs for everyone else. Just 12% of US households take 66% of flights, but we all pay. Ultrafine particles from jet fuel combustion cause asthma, heart disease and other health problems in a 10-mile radius from airports, as tested in Seattle. For OAK, that’s from Emeryville to Hayward. We need to learn instead of repeating the history of a time when we didn’t know better. It’s time to reduce recreational flying to stop contributing to the extreme weather and wildfire effects of the Anthropocene.

Templates of points you could cover; personalize with your own wording:

Climate change 

  • OAK Airport expansion includes addition of 16 gates. 

  • More flights = more greenhouse gas emissions

  • 11%+ of Bay Area emissions come from passenger aviation and cargo aviation emissions are significant too

  • Resulting wildfires, droughts, floods

  • Need to quickly scale down fossil fuels to reverse climate change

Train travel is better for the climate

  • Air travel is the most climate damaging form of travel per passenger mile

  • Trains emit far less greenhouse gases

  • Most of OAK flight destinations available by train

  • Flights to destinations less than 2 ½ hours by train have been banned in France

Noise levels

  • More flights = more noise

  • FAA dictates takeoff and landing routes

  • Takeoffs, landings are over the same homes every day placing an undue burden on these residents. Noise levels can reach 80-90 decibels per plane, from 60+ planes a day

  • Noise is harmful to health and disrupts people’s lives

Air pollution & Inequity

  • More flights= more air pollution

  • Airplanes, car and truck traffic cause air pollution coming and going from airports

  • Air pollution causes asthma, heart disease, and lower life expectancy

  • Airports are located in low-income areas and affluent people fly

  • In Seattle, residents surrounding Sea-Tac recently sued over pollution

Select a newspaper to send your letter to:

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/letters-to-the-editor/

https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/letters-editor/item/How-to-submit-Letters-56188.php

Or another paper

More:

Send the letter to your elected representatives: mayor, city council member, county supervisor, member of Congress. 

Post it on social media and tag your elected representatives and Stop OAK Expansion. Ask your friends to like and retweet your post.