By Tes Welborn, Out-going HANC President
It's been a real privilege to serve as HANC president these last two years – thank you! I have a hard time thinking back to summer, two years ago, when we were figuring out who would be willing to perform which officer or board position. Many of us were supporting Prop C, a truly historic measure to tax the rich and significantly reduce homelessness, and were thrilled that it passed, despite the Mayor's opposition. That fall, the first Haight Street cannabis dispensary application was made. The Chinese School of the Arts proposed expansion – recently approved in fall 2020. HANC discussed housing demolitions, often a way to eliminate rental units while building monster-sized homes. And in December 2018, the board discussed the proposed rental registry – likely to be approved December 2020!
2019 included a serious look at SB50 and its large implications for San Francisco housing. It was only the beginning of a flood of Sacramento housing legislation, with no funding. Calvin Welch reviewed proposed “transit-rich” housing proposals and developer bonuses. Now, with Covid-19, we have seen public transit shredded.
In March, 2019, the Coalition for a Complete Community at 730 Stanyan [CCC] submitted a proposal for interim use at the site. I have been proud to be part of that Coalition, before and during serving as HANC president. Also in March, we supported the new vacancy tax on storefronts, to incent owners to rent the storefronts. That tax was later postponed due to Covid, and is now up for reconsideration.
Later in 2019, we fought business district rezoning, proposed by the appointed D5 supervisor, and while it passed the Board of Supervisors, all other Supervisors exempted their districts from the changes. Each business district has come into being for its unique needs. In the 2020 election, we saw this proposal on the ballot after no public hearings, purporting to make it easier for small businesses. Yet its one-size fits all approach is a couple of years away... We started looking at how seniors living in D5 often can't afford the rent. Average Social Security income is about $18,000, well below the minimum to qualify for a Below Market Rate [BMR] home. Market-rate housing doesn't serve seniors.
HANC co-sponsored a D5 Supervisor Candidate forum with the League of Women Voters, and held meetings on JUUL flavored tobacco and housing ballot propositions. We started thinking about HANC's 60th anniversary, in October. Because of my HANC work, I have served on Community Advisory Groups, seeking for UCSF and neighboring communities to work together. HANC has looked at UCSF's proposed expansion, and continues to oppose it: too much in too little space, and with inadequate transportation and workforce housing.
Every election, HANC Board and membership ballot endorsements continue to have very high correlations with neighborhood voting: thus HANC continues to be the Voice of the Haight Ashbury!
In 2020, HANC had presentations on Prop 15, Schools and Communities First, funded by reappraising commercial property. Despite deceptive opposition ads, the proposition came close to winning, and I hope we will pass it next time.
Then came Covid-19, fears, and a dizzying number of new and ever-changing instructions for our own safety, new regulations for businesses that were allowed to open, and our new “best friend,” video conferencing.
Shelters were closed, with some relocated to SIP [Shelter in Place] hotels, and many people forced onto public streets. While the supervisors allocated considerable funds for these hotels, the mayor refused to use them. Just about all the resources that people who are unhoused used to keep an unbearable hardship slightly less so - meals, toilets, services – closed, making life even harder. The City Emergency Services commandeered the 730 Stanyan site for some 50-70 residents, but HANC was pleased that the Homeless Youth Alliance was given site control. HYA has an excellent record in the Haight, and there have been few complaints about actual residents’ behavior.
With HANC's support, Page Street became a Slow Street, giving neighbors more places to exercise and travel safely. A trial westbound bike lane was installed on Fell. I have represented HANC on the Market-Octavia Plan/HUB expansion, in which community groups led by people of color negotiated significant community benefits from developers.
Because the HANC Board can quickly vote on current legislation, HANC has been able to lend its support on many important matters, such as Supervisor Preston's Prop I, and housing stability, and opposing no-fault evictions, and on Mar's resolution opposing the city's RHNA housing allocation by ABAG/MTC,
This past November, in addition to the presidential and numerous public offices election, along with significant ballot measures, was HANC's board election. We have an excellent new leadership team of Lisa Awbry, president, and David Woo, vice president.
I am grateful for all the support [and good discussions] I and HANC have benefited from, and hope you will equally welcome and support Lisa and David!