Treasure Island – Toxic Getaway

When driving between Oakland and San Francisco you’ll see an exit midway that goes towards Treasure Island. It was a Navy base from 1942 to 1997. You will find beautiful views of the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge there. You will also find abandoned buildings and toxic asbestos warnings everywhere.

In one area there is an apartment complex, a park, church and playground. Rent here is relatively cheap in comparison to San Francisco and many parts of Oakland. Breathtaking views at a fraction of the cost? Turns out the island is also plagued with contaminated soil, radiation and high levels of mold. Once used as a trash pit, the soil has been known to be contaminated with Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The shipyards were also once used to clean boats returning from nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific.

This type of environment is deemed safe for mostly low-income residents who thought it was a blessing in disguise. Many have developed respiratory illnesses. More than a third of the residents were previously homeless. Looks like the city’s ideal solution for the housing crisis is one of out of sight, out of mind.

View of the Golden Gate Bridge from Treasure Island