By Richard Ivanhoe, HANC Board
We began 2021 with a note of optimism—a new Federal administration and the arrival of vaccines would speed our recovery from Covid. As we look back on the year, we find the usual mix of frustration from unfulfilled promises and some progress. HANC did meet every month in 2021 (except for our tradition of skipping August), although we could only meet online.
In January, we discussed affordable housing—how funds from 2018, 2019, and 2020 ballot measures could be used to bolster the City’s affordable housing by purchasing permanent affordable housing and shelter in place hotels, and by helping renters remain housed. At our February meeting, we discussed UCSF’s plans to expand its Parnassus campus. We also discussed CART, a community alternative to policing. For our March meeting, we discussed plans to make permanent the closure of JFK Drive and slow Page Street, suggestions for improvements to the Panhandle, and the investigation of Parks Alliance. Jen Snyder, from Dean Preston’s office, also gave a primer explaining the City’s budget process.
Our April meeting included a discussion of tenant protections, evictions, and strategies. We also heard an update on the FBI investigation into City Hall corruption, and heard a presentation on Ham Radio in San Francisco. We also noted the passing of former Board member Robert Leon in March. In May, we held a discussion about community engagement with police and police reforms. Our June meeting was focused on 730 Stanyan—the City decided to start over with plans for permanent affordable housing, and CAMP, the Safe Sleeping Village, was slated to close by the end of the month.
By July, it looked like San Francisco was ready to begin recovering from the pandemic. The City’s “Stay-Safer-At-Home Order” had been replaced in mid-June with the “Safer Return Together Order.” Our July meeting had a theme of what recovery looks like for the Haight-Ashbury, with a focus on the merchant corridor, housing, and homelessness. The July Voice had articles on new businesses and expansions on Haight Street, on Pride and Juneteenth, and encouraging enrollment at City College. We did not meet in August, but did issue the August Voice, where we advocated for the return of the 6 and 21 MUNI lines, and discussed next year’s City budget, Park Branch Library’s reopening plans, and Community Land Trusts. At our September meeting, we discussed the community impact of self-driving vehicles.
At our October meeting, we discussed the origin and history of recall elections. The attempted recall of Governor Newsom had failed in September, and recall elections for three School Board members and for District Attorney Chesa Boudin are set for February and June this year. The October Voice noted the passing of Cosi Fabian Pavalko. Our November meeting featured an update from Supervisor Dean Preston. In October, the planned interim use of 730 Stanyan had been terminated abruptly, and there had been two shootings in the neighborhood. Supervisor Preston also declared District 5 an eviction-free zone. We ended the year at our December meeting with a discussions on JFK Drive and on redistricting.
We hope you found the information we provided at our meeting and in the Voice useful, entertaining, and informative. Per our bylaws, our mission is “to aid and encourage the people of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood to work through democratic means and in a spirit of neighborliness, mutual respect and goodwill toward the improvement and enrichment of life and living conditions in their neighborhood.” We look forward to seeing you in 2022.