Power to the People: Rezoning the Mission

I am working with the Mission Anti-displacement Coalition (MAC) to ensure that the Mission District Community Planning Process will include more affordable housing for low and very low-income residents, as well as economic development policies which will make the Mission a livable and sustainable neighborhood for immigrants and working families. This is important because the last time the Commission rezoned the Mission was 50 years ago.

On Thursday, June 12, 2008 the City of San Francisco Planning Commission was scheduled to hold a hearing on what is known as the Eastern Neighborhoods Program. The neighborhoods included in this rezoning effort are: the Mission, Showplace Square/Potrero Hill, the Central Waterfront, and East South of Market (SOMA). The hearing was scheduled to start promptly at 3:30. Over 30 residents and activists were gathered outside of City Hall strategizing on how to approach the Planning Commissioners with our proposed amendments to the City’s Area Plans and to present the “People’s Plan for Housing, Jobs, and Community.”

Working class Mission residents created the People’s Plan which is a set of zoning policies and maps. These policies are designed to meet the housing, economic development, open space, and transportation needs of the people most vulnerable to displacement in the Mission. MAC has continually conducted focus groups, surveys, workshops, and small and large-scale community meetings since 1999.

The hearings that were supposed to start at 3:30 did not start till 9:00 that evening. Testimony from the community did not start until 9:30. Lupe Arreola from St. Peter’s Housing/Comite de Vivienda reported that at 10:00 p.m. residents and supporters were still testifying. Eric Quezada, Executive Director of Dolores Street Community Services presented a letter to the Planning Commission outlining MAC’s concerns with regards to the Department’s continual delays and lack of process. The hearing did not end till after midnight. The Planning Commission has also scheduled for follow up hearings on June 19, 2008.

MAF supports The People’s Plan, especially its vision for a healthy, sustainable, and equitable community in the Mission District.