Community Divided Around New Cougar Field Lights and Sound

Albany Unified School District superintendent Dr. William Wong held a meeting Thursday, November 30, to hear the differing viewpoints about the Cougar Field Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

The closest Cougar Field neighbors live in the Behrens St. area of El Cerrito; many are outraged with the plans to add lights and a new sound system to Cougar Field, fearing that these improvements will make it difficult to enjoy evenings outside or put their children to bed. They are upset that they had no chance to vote on Measure A, the November ballot measure that authorized the Cougar Field improvements.

The hearing started tensely, as Wong called the meeting to order and announced the rules. He sat calmly throughout the hearing, which centered around the issues of field lights on the baseball and football/soccer fields and the noise that nighttime games could cause; all parties generally agreed that the changing rooms, new bathrooms, custodian’s building, artificial turf and artificial track were okay.

The biggest concern for many speakers from El Cerrito was that they had not had the chance to vote on the issue as Albany voters had, and there had been no open debate of the proposals. Even Thursday’s meeting was not a debate. El Cerrito residents such as Michael Gardner felt that this was a case in which Albany said, “We can export the costs and we’ll reap the benefits.”

The first round of speakers came from the Behrens Neighborhood Association, including a Mr. Finnegar, who denounced the “ego desire” to have Friday night games. Critics of evening games say that these games would need more police coverage (which is not available) and disturb the neighbors, only to boost the egos of the school administrators and football players.

Finnegar was also one of many to question the accuracy of the EIR, citing many instances in which it was inconsistent or made little sense. “The EIR gets a D- as far as common sense,” said Finnegar.

Anne Leeman of the Behrens Neighborhood Association outright threatened a lawsuit if the lights and sound system were built, even if the school board also paid for certain mitigations, such as black-out curtains and landscaping.

“Grandstand? Okay. New changing rooms? Okay. Snack bar? We’d like to move it a little, but we’re okay with that…” But the lights and evening games? “Not gonna fly,” she stated. Leeman refers to moving the snack bar to the side of Cougar Field near the BART tracks, rather than bordering the residential area.

She is also convinced that she will win the lawsuit as, “educational needs overcome significant impacts, but sporting enthusiasm doesn’t.”

Students, parents, and coaches were eager to point out that the main concern is student safety and well-being—not sporting enthusiasm.

Albany parent Jeff Shea presented a calm and structured argument for the lights, noting that the lights would allow “more efficiently run practices,” and that students could stay in class during seventh period and run practice into the evenings.

“We hope that we can play with lights, maybe not bright lights, but lights bright enough that we can see what we’re doing,” said freshman soccer player Amy Hershberger softly.

Senior and boys varsity soccer team captain Tyler Zupan outlined the problems with the current situation. “We have four teams playing on our field,” he said, “and there is not enough time for everyone to play and practice.”

Boys varsity soccer coach Katamba Douglas restated the athletes’ and parents’ concerns, saying, “We are essentially ending our games in the dark.”

Several football team reps presented their views. Coach Shevelson nailed down the days that the football game would actually have “Friday night lights” to five. “It’s not 300 days; it’s not an ego thing,” he said.

Football player Lamont Jackson expressed his sadness that his parents can’t attend his games because they work during the day. “You look in the stands and you don’t see your parents and you feel kind of bad.”

“The biggest environmental impacts are what we are doing to each other,” said one man, bringing a touch of family therapy into the hearing.

An older man, and longtime jogger of Cougar Field, said that as much as he loves Cougar Field, “I think the lights would be an injury to every person…It would be equivalent to every board member going to every neighbor’s door and ringing the doorbell and slapping each one on the face.” He also raised concerns about the possibility of a custodian’s residence on the field, saying that “this could be a place for someone who deals drugs, and someone who deals drugs to teens.”

Ron Nirin, a Behrens resident, had a creative solution to the conflict. “I’d like to propose a housing swap,” he said, “meet me in the Northeast corner of the gym. I’ll be waiting over there. We can work something out.” He then proceeded to walk over to that corner of the gym, followed only by air. A few minutes later two students, including Hershberger, walked over to talk to him.

Throughout the whole hearing, Wong sat impassively, even as the Behrens and Athletics groups, self-segregated to different sides of the bleachers, clapped and cheered for their own speakers.

Behrens resident Pearson Miller pointed out that, “There’s no chance to debate the merits of the project.” “Let’s have that dialogue,” he said.

Dr. Wong will accept written comments about the EIR through December 18, 2006, some time after which he will make his final recommendation to the board.

You can write Dr. Wong at:
Dr. William Wong
Albany Unified School District
904 Talbot Ave
Albany, CA 94706