I am writing to give my voice to support the continuation of the Crystal Springs Cross Country Course. One of the only recreational regional opportunities resting on the Crystal Springs Watershed federal recreational easment (1968).

Notably, the course likely has been in existence longer than any of these people have lived in the Belmont Heights neighborhood (meaning they knew about it when they moved in.) The SMCCCD has worked very hard to work with both these relatively few upset neighbors, the rest of the community, and the cross-country community. As someone with experience as an elected official, I can honestly say that they went through lengths that I would not have. When met with unreasonable demands from a few members of the BHCIA, the SMCCCD paid for a professional neutral to try to bridge the gap — but, to no avail. At an August 25, 2021 SMCCCD Board meeting, public comment on the issue was taken. The majority of those who spoke did so in favor of maintaining racing at the course. I was especially touched by the student athletes and former student athletes that spoke.

I was also moved by those that reminded us that catering to the whims of a few people who didn’t like a bit of extra traffic on a few weekends a year and the sight of additional cars parked on the street would be a blow to equity as the races bring those with far more diverse socioeconomic statuses than those in the immediate area to the course. It is my understanding that the SMCCCD Board received far more emails in support of the course than those asking for substantial restrictions or for the races to be eliminated. I would urge you to gain access to copies of all of the emails and information sent to the SMCCCD Board and review them yourselves (if you have not already done so.) I would also urge you to watch the video of the comments from the public at the August 25th meeting.The September 9th, 2021 SMCCCD Board meeting featured more information, including materials that stated the SMCCCD had reached out to representatives of the SFPUC who had stated that racing at current levels did not threaten the environment. We also learned at that meeting that the 2021 race schedule would be reduced compared to prior years as a “give” to the small group of angry people.

Races have been ongoing now since the beginning of the season and, as I would have expected, there have been no issues. Given all this, you can imagine my surprise to read item 5D on your agenda tomorrow. The last few lines of 5D are especially troubling and do not make sense to me based on what I have learned. They read, “If an agreement is not reached among SMCCCD and the various stakeholders by the end of this calendar year, then we will take steps to revoke the existing license.” Firstly, this seems to presume/suggest that 100% agreement is possible. All of you who work in government know full well this is a false premise. Whether intentionally or not, this wording gives the BHCIA members that are angry full leverage. All they have to do is not agree to anything and they get what they want — the permit is revoked. Secondly, the suggestion of revoking the permit would be a solution that would, quite literally, cater to a handful of people of privilege who do not even speak for their entire group and definitely do not speak for their neighborhood, city, or larger mid-Peninsula community. It would certainly ignore the thousands of past, present, and future cross-country team members who definitely want this resource to remain in place, as is. Thirdly, revoking the permit would end decades of cross-country racing at a time when our youth desperately need more outdoor sports

Fourthly, even restricting races to “locals only,” as a few BHCIA members insist must happen, would be incredibly inequitable. The course is a wonderful regional resource and to restrict use only to a few mostly already privileged athletes seems to be an affront to the principles most of us in the Bay Area value.

Fifthly, the reference to protecting drinking water and natural resources is strange, especially given the SFPUC’s communication to SMCCCD that there was no damage to the environment from the races. I could not be more supportive of the SFPUC and SMCCCD (as well as cross-country legend, Bob Rush) for ensuring that this course has remained in place for decades. Many of you may not know that cross-country is traditionally a “no-cut” sport. That creates an additional equity overlay here. Kids who simply can’t make other sports teams often end up on the cross-country team. There are too few cross-country courses as it is and almost none as wonderful as this one. I have watched the joy on the faces of many youngsters from all over. I have seen the benefits of cross-country racing for members of our Belmont community. Please continue, as you have for decades, to allow this remarkable resource to remain open to the public and, more importantly, to young athletes from a wide diversity of backgrounds from all over the region.

Thank you,

-Name & City of Residence