Johnny Cisneros has performed ball at Reid-Hillview Airport’s baseball fields virtually his complete life.
He performed from age seven to fifteen — as did all of his 5 youngsters — after which started teaching children there in Little League greater than 20 years in the past. He nonetheless does, however not for for much longer.
After 50 years of children enjoying baseball at Reid-Hillview Airport’s fields, the custom is coming to finish. Santa Clara County officers are closing the airport’s baseball diamonds, blaming lead aviation gasoline contamination and federal laws. The choice has left the Eastridge Little League neighborhood surprised and questioning the place they’ll play subsequent.
“Heartbroken,” was how 48-year-old Cisneros, president of the Eastridge Little League, described his response to the information. “I performed there my entire life. It’s type of emotional for me. It’s actually onerous.”
Cisneros discovered concerning the county’s resolution by way of a Feb. 18 letter notifying him that Eastridge’s Little League’s allow to play on the subject can be rescinded beginning on March 28. The county gave the league three months to take away all its property, which incorporates batting cages, golf carts and a long time of memorabilia saved in a close-by shed.
“As such, the fields should not permitted for use for any function, together with scheduled or unscheduled observe or video games, by Eastridge Little League or different events after that date,” wrote Eric Peterson, who oversees the county’s airport operations.
“We perceive it is a difficult problem,” Peterson’s letter concludes. “Please tell us if there's something we will do to help the group.” Peterson didn't reply to a request for remark.
The choice has thrust the Eastridge Little League — which has known as the airport fields residence since 1972, in response to Cisneros — into the crossfire between the federal authorities and the county, which desires Reid-Hillview closed down.
County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, a serious proponent of the airport’s closure, pointed to a county-commissioned lead research launched in August as the primary motive for closing the fields. The research, which Chavez initially known as for, concluded that youngsters who lived close to Reid-Hillview have been uncovered to increased ranges of lead.
“We all know we now have the danger of kids poisoned by lead,” Chavez stated Tuesday. “We would like the kids to be protected. So we’re working carefully with the town of San Jose to verify they've a clear place to play.”
For years, county officers and neighbors within the Reid-Hillview neighborhood have pushed to shut the airport and transfer its operation to the county airport in San Martin 23 miles south. They've cited noise and the hazard to well being posed by leaded aviation gasoline, in addition to the necessity for extra housing in an space that's dealing with an acute scarcity of latest properties.
However opponents of the closure, which embody pilots and flight instructors on the airport, declare that the well being issues being publicized by the county are overblown and any contamination discovered possible stems from outdated lead-based paint utilized in surrounding properties or a former racetrack.
In 2018, the Board of Supervisors voted to cease receiving federal grants for the airport, a transfer that result in its closure by 2031. At first of this yr, the county prohibited the sale of leaded aviation gasoline on the Reid-Hillview and San Martin airports and compelled suppliers there to solely carry unleaded gasoline. Plane that may solely use leaded gasoline are nonetheless flying out and in of each airports, nonetheless.
For that motive, stated Harry Freitas, who oversees the county’s Roads and Airports Division, transferring the baseball league some other place is a “prudent step.”
“The leaded gasoline, because it burns, it will get within the ambiance, and lead will be ingested by people and might trigger neurological issues,” he stated. “It may be an issue for kids. These youngsters play on the airport.”
Each the FAA and county officers provided conflicting statements about who known as for the baseball league to be faraway from the airport fields. 
In conversations with the county and San Jose officers, Cisneros stated he was advised the FAA didn’t need the baseball fields there any longer as a result of solely airport-related companies ought to be allowed on the premises.
In a press release, the FAA denied being behind the choice to shut down the fields.
“The FAA did NOT request that the Eastridge Little League relocate from its present location,” spokeswoman Marcia Alexander-Adams stated. “In reality, we work with airports on these points continuously to discover a answer that works for everybody.” The company didn't reply to an e mail asking to elaborate on the scenario.
Chavez known as the FAA’s assertion “not correct.”
“That’s not what they advised us,” Chavez stated. “And that’s not what they advised me. They straight advised me it was a violation of our contract with them to have non-airport makes use of on that web site.”
The supervisor’s workplace supplied a September letter written by the FAA to the county saying it had famous “inappropriate non-aeronautical makes use of” at Reid-Hillview, such because the baseball fields Chavez additionally stated she met with FAA officers in September and mentioned the matter with Western Pacific Area’s Mark McClardy, Director of Workplace Airport Compliance and Administration Evaluation Kevin Willis and Affiliate Administrator Shannetta Griffin.
John Jackson, whose son performs for the Eastridge Little League, stated county and metropolis officers are lacking the larger level in terms of the sector’s closure.
“I simply want they'd sit there and take into consideration these children,” he stated. “And what's going to occur to those children as soon as every little thing is finalized and accomplished. The place are these children going to go?” 
Cisneros stated his league will be capable of play for lower than a month at Arcadia Ballpark, a five-minute drive south of the Reid-Hillview fields. After that, the league could have to think about merging with a close-by league.
The Eastridge League presently has about 100 gamers who play in 11 co-ed tee-ball and baseball groups. [
Chavez stated there are ongoing efforts between the county and the town to discover a everlasting residence for the group. She added that she plans on introducing a referral subsequent month on the Board of Supervisors to assist pay for a number of the transitional prices that include transferring, like rental charges at different fields and umpires. She stated that league representatives, metropolis and county officers deliberate to satisfy Wednesday night time to debate the way forward for the league.
Besides, the outdated and the younger are feeling the squeeze.
“I kinda felt unhappy as a result of I’ve been enjoying since I’m 4,” stated 10-year-old Julian Aviles, who performs shortstop and catcher for the Eastridge Little League. “Me and my mates have been enjoying there for a very long time.” 