Ted Hannig, a lifelong Redwood City resident, has acted as a whistleblower with some very serious charges against the city.

A lawsuit filed by HERO asserts that Redwood City has been knowingly contaminating San Francisco Bay with massive volumes of Styrofoam and other harmful agents, that it has continued to allow residential use in Docktown and thereby violated a 2015 settlement agreement and the restrictions sited by the California Attorney General.

The settlement amounted to $4.5 million, $3 million of which the city set aside to clean up the marina and relocate the estimated 70 unlawful liveaboards that resided in Redwood Creek. Less than a handful had sewage connections, and nearly all discharge their grey water directly into San Francisco Bay. Tests conducted by Mr. Hannig showed the waters where children were swimming had 4 times the level of fecal contamination that would close a public beach.

The lawsuit filed by HERO on July 21, 2023, with the San Mateo County Superior Court asserts that City has misused and misapplied Docktown funds.

Moreover, the docks at the City-owned marina is being held afloat with dozens of blue Styrofoam blocks, which are deteriorating in the water, breaking off and exposing the environment and wildlife to harmful toxins.