By Laksh Bhasin, co-author of the SF Community Housing Act

Editor’s Note:  The SF Community Housing Act (or, per the San Francisco Department of Elections, “Parcel Tax for Affordable Rental Housing Program”) is in the signature-gathering phase to qualify for the November ballot.  HANC has not yet made its endorsements for November, but has given the proponents of this measure an opportunity to explain their measure both here in the Voice and at our June meeting.

The housing affordability crisis in San Francisco didn’t begin overnight: federal cuts to HUD by presidents like Reagan and Trump, coupled with trickle-down tax cuts for corporations, and an unchecked, insatiable real-estate market, have driven displacement. Development decisions are often guided by private investors looking for a return on investment, not social good.

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By Chrisitn Evans, HANC Vice-President

In May, three petitioners submitted a ballot measure to the Department of Elections for the November election.  I was fortunate enough to be one of them.  Joined by housing advocate Jacquelynne Evans and housing services provider Lauren Hall, we filed the necessary papers to start signature collection for our measure to be added to the November ballot.

Championed by the Coalition on Homelessness and other housing and homeless activists, the measure would achieve a nearly doubling of funds, an estimated $300 million annually for the prevention of homelessness, ending waits for shelter beds, bringing thousands off the streets, including care for people with severe mental illness.

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In many ways, 2017 has been a difficult year. Our response has been to try to keep our neighborhood informed and encourage our members and neighbors to take positive action.

In January, we heard about a plan to replace 86 rent-controlled units in Kirkham Heights with a new development of 445 units in five buildings up to eight stories high and eight 3-story townhouses. We also heard from City College Trustees who were still struggling with the Accrediting Committee. These both had happy endings, as the Kirkham Heights developer withdrew its application with the Planning Commission in August, and City College has been accredited and offers free tuition.

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The next election in San Francisco will be on June 5. There will be special elections for Mayor and for District 8 Supervisor, as well as a primary election for Federal and State offices. San Francisco and California ballot measures will also be decided

San Francisco Candidates

The special election for Mayor will determine who will be Mayor from the time the election results are certified until early January, 2020. Whoever is elected will be eligible to run for the next 4 year term in the November, 2019 election. The nomination deadline is January 9. As of the end of December, 16 candidates had filed to run for election.

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Although San Francisco’s planned purchase of the McDonald’s site at 730 Stanyan Street has not been completed, and proposals for development of the site are still in their early stages, HANC believes it is important for the neighborhood to be heard as early as possible in the process. Therefore, our Housing and Land Use Chair sent the following letter to the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development:

Dear Mr. Flannery,

The Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council (HANC) has the following comments on the proposed purchase of the current McDonald’s restaurant site at 730 Stanyan Street by the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) and the proposed development of this site for affordable housing.

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One year ago:  Our September, 2016 meeting focused on Panhandle Improvements and on local ballot measures for the November, 2016 elections.  The pedestrian path still had not yet been re-paved.  Ann Baskerville has since been replaced as project manager for the Panhandle Improvement Project by Melinda Stockman.  Although in many ways the election was a disaster, the Haight-Ashbury voted with HANC’s recommendations.  September, 2016 also saw the beginning of construction on Masonic Avenue.

Five years ago:  Once again, in September, 2012, we were preparing for an election.  HANC was a co-sponsor of the District 5 Supervisor candidate debate.  HANC advocated for Proposition C (Housing Trust Fund) and for Proposition E (Gross Receipts Business Tax), which both passed.  We reported on the failure of 2010’s Sit-Lie law.  We were still operating our recycling center, native plant nursery, and community garden.

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By Bruce Wolfe, HANC President

Maybe third time’s the charm.  Fiber optics is an old technology that will outlive many of us as a stable and sustainable medium.  In the ‘80s, I personally explored it in car audio installations in one of my first of many businesses. You’ve heard me over the years reporting about it at membership meetings.

This month we heard and testified in support of a launch to once again attempt to bring San Francisco into the 21st century as a Gigabit City.  It was introduced by D2 Supervisor Mark Farrell.

In 2004, HANC joined with other community and environmental groups to form SF Clean Energy Advocates in what started the statewide struggle to implement Community Choice Energy with then Supervisor Tom Ammiano and other SF Supervisors.  This bold effort to overcome the big utility giant, PG&E, brought us to where we are today—in full embrace of the program CleanPowerSF.  Now more than ever, Community Choice Energy programs in every corner of California are bringing cleaner, cheaper and new renewable energy generation in a much needed time of climate and economic change.

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HANC is planning for 2017.  We want our meetings to address the needs and interests of our community.

Do you have topics to suggest?  If so, let us know by email or letter:

Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

P.O. Box 170518

San Francisco, CA 94117