By Calvin Welch, HANC Board
Mayor Lurie's massive rezoning of the entire Haight-Ashbury, all of western and most of central San Francisco and its policy of demolition and displacement of rent-controlled housing and neighborhood-serving and legacy businesses, its elimination of any public participation in the approval process,, repealing affordable housing and transit impact fees requirements from market rate housing proposals and its abject failure to provide funds needed to maintain and expand transit service to the affected areas will be discussed at HANC's October 9th General Membership meeting.
Quintin Mecke, Executive Director of the 16 member Council of Community Housing Organizations (CCHO) will present his concerns over the failure of the proposal to address the affordable housing needs of the vast majority of San Franciscans and the plans actual uselessness in the actual production of needed housing. CCHO members are the City's major affordable housing producers having built or rehabilitated some 30,000 permanently affordable housing units in San Francisco
HANC devoted its entire May meeting to the topic (see https://youtu.be/NWjV1dkE2QQ for a full video of the meeting). On September 11th the Planning Commission passed the proposal on a 4-3 vote where it failed to get one vote of any of the Supervisor-appointed Commissioners, showing the distinctly partisan character of the proposal. The growing opposition to the proposal was starkly shown at a press conference the same day when Lurie was booed for extended periods during his remarks. With political insight sure to cause even more problems Lurie had Sup. Engardio speak in support of the plan over the crowds booming shout of "five more days., five more days" referring to his recall election on September 16th at which he was recalled, in part because of his support of Lurie's rezoning proposal.
The recall of Engardio sent shock waves through Lurie's supports on the Board of Supervisors as three of them--Sherrill in District 2 (Marina), Sauter in District 3 (North Beach, Chinatown) and Melgar in District 7 face large scale opposition to the proposal. Estimates indicate that some 5,000 rent controlled units could be lost in District 2 and some of the greatest density increase in the proposal will occur in Districts 3 and 7. Indeed, Melgar, who was the original Supervisor sponsor of the rezoning plan when first introduced by Mayor Breed two years ago, felt it necessary to publically proclaim that she has yet to endorse the plan that she had previously sponsored hoping that no one noticed her past record of support!
Lurie has asked for the proposal to be heard at the Board in October. While it is clear that at least four Supervisors oppose the existing plan- Dist 1 Connie Chan, District 9 Jackie Fielder, District 10 Shaman Walton and District 11 Chyanne Chin at least five, for now, support it : Sherrill, Sauter, District 6 Matt Dorsey, District 8 Rafael Mandelman, and our own Bilal Mahmood.
Engardio was Lurie's sixth vote for the measure but with his recall, Lurie must now select a replacement. Since recall leaders have linked Engradio's recall to his support of the rezoning Lurie's choice will not be an easy one. But given Melgar's history of supporting the rezoning chances are great that her "hide and seek" game will result in one or two meaningless amendments resulting in her support for the measure.
Chances are great that the measure will pass the Board.
What happens then becomes very interesting.
Neighbors United, a citywide coalition of groups opposed to the rezoning and of which HANC is a member, has already filed a letter outlining its legal objections to the plan setting up a legal challenge once the matter passes. Various groups are also discussing a ballot challenge for the June ballot.
So don’t miss this important discussion on Thursday evening, October 9th, 7 pm, at Park Branch Library. Bring a friend.