8th Annual Air & Noise Celebration highlights community advocacy on Sea-Tac Airport expansion

On Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, the Sea-Tac Airport Community Coalition for Justice (STACC4J) recognized and celebrated with coalition members, BIPOC partner organizations, and local communities for its 8th Annual Air & Noise Community Celebration with a takeaway – Building the movement; Continuing the work.

Energized by Mexican pop duo 2MB, and fueled by a multicultural brunch alongside vibrant community building in action, coalition members and supporters collectively reflected on their 2024 achievements, recognized key partners and supporters, and galvanized community advocacy around the critical environmental and health concerns raised by the proposed Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) at Sea-Tac Airport.

Why: STACC4J partner and Beacon Hill Council co-founder Maria Batayola shared, “There is no air mitigation for impacted people.”

These impacted people span across King County —over 419,760 residents, of which 64% are people of color, and 29% are immigrants and refugees. Cities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila, as well as neighborhoods under the flight paths (Beacon Hill, Georgetown, Chinatown-ID, and the Duwamish Valley) are represented in this population. The burden of these impacts disproportionately falls on BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee communities, already experiencing heightened vulnerability, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Program Highlights

• Sofia Aragon, former City of Burien Mayor (2022-2023), spoke of her past work chairing the Burien Airport Committee as a councilmember. Drawing on her decades-long nursing profession, including her current role as Executive Director of Washington Center for Nursing (WCN), she highlighted the public health concerns stemming from existing and proposed airport air and noise impacts
• Dr. Elena Austin, University of Washington, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences shared research data centered on aviation caused fine particulate matter disproportionately affecting children in impacted areas and what can be done about it
• Brandon Bowersox-Johnson, 350 Seattle Aviation representative, discussed the broader global climate impacts of aviation expansion and how countries in Europe have enacted policies to mitigate impacts from aviation, though the use of high speed rail 
• Ali Lee, No Added Harm coalition provided an update on ongoing advocacy efforts and a tally of supporters signed on to the Letter of Concern -60% toward a goal of 10,000
• Sylvia Aho, Voice of the South Pacific media livestreamed the event on Facebook and Youtube and interviewed Somali and Asian community attendees from surrounding Seatac and Tukwila neighborhoods to share their stories as impacted residents
• Chirag Vedullapalli, Representative Adam Smith staffer shared updates regarding Rep. Smith’s request to the Port of Seattle for a SAMP comment extension and his office’s continued support
• Maria Batayola, STACC4J Chair provided a broader 2024 update citing key accomplishments -such as adding Aviation emissions into the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan and sharing a 2025 vision -bringing affected communities health concerns and inequities into King County Public Health’s domain

Why It Matters 

Aviation demand by 2037 includes passenger 40% increase from 47 to 66 million passengers, doubling of international flights and tripling of air cargo. Sea-Tac Airport anticipates serving the demand with 87,000 additional flights annually, in addition to the current 420,000 flights. These activities will exacerbate the existing environmental, climate and health risks for over 419,760 residents across affected communities, including Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, Renton, SeaTac and Tukwila, and under its flight paths (Beacon Hill, Georgetown, Chinatown ID, and the Duwamish Valley). The burden of these impacts disproportionately falls on BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee communities, already experiencing heightened vulnerability, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The “No Added Harm” Letter of Concern, central to this advocacy, addresses these injustices and calls for racial equity and social justice in airport planning, policies, and operations. 

About No Added Harm

Fix The Harm raises urgent concerns about the environmental, health, and climate risks posed by Sea-Tac Airport’s current operations. Communities called for No Added Harm when Sea-Tac Airport released its plan for significant expansion which is unjust and threatens the well-being of vulnerable communities. STACC4J includes Beacon Hill Council, El Centro De La Raza, King County International Airport Community Coalition, Quiet Skies Puget Sound, and 350 Seattle Aviation Team volunteer.

For more information and to sign the Letter of Concern, visit: 

noaddedharm.org

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