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Graphic by mclinn.net
Photos by Leroy Moore & Anna Morrow

Dot-Colonization

San Francisco Planning Department is allowing the rapid Dot-com development. Mission Residents stage large protest.

By Anna Marie Morrow PNN STAFF

" Over the last four years gentrification in the Mission has gotten completely out of hand! .....now it’s time we take things into our own hands! "

The emotionally charged words came from Lisa Hernandez who told the crowd of mission residents, artists, tenant advocates and recently homeless San Franciscans, that her mother, a long time San Francisco resident, had been forced out of her home by the voracious appetite of the dot com dollar.

The crowd around 1660 Mission St. bursted into cheering and clapping ; a rolling of Congo beats lifted up into the air. The emcee of the protest, Oscar Grande of PODER asked the crowd to raise their voices when they felt compelled by one of the many speakers telling their stories of eviction and/or gentrification. The target of the angry voices were on the fifth floor of the large gray concrete building at 1660 Mission st. A Mr. Gerald Green Director of the San Francisco Planning Department was concurrently presented with a letter from five members of the Mission District Anti-Displacement Coalition (MAC). The demands of the letter were:

1. Mr. Green and all staff members, including senior staff members, attend a community meeting scheduled for Wednesday June 28th, to answer the demands of the community.
   
   
2. that zoning in the Mission be changed immediately to protect our community from further displacement
   
   
3. that there be no more development, including pipeline projects, until permanent controls are in place in the North East industrial zone and protections are in place for the Mission Street corridor and 24th Street corridor.

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For the past four years, the Mission District as well as other low income and working class multi-cultural, immigrant, communities of color have borne the brunt of gentrification caused by the booming economy and un-checked development of live -work lofts of high-tech multi -media offices. All parts of our community, from small community serving businesses to low income renters and non-profit community based organizations, have been displaced. The Planning department and commission have done little to protect the most vulnerable residents, businesses, and community based organizations. The Department and Commission have blindly followed the demands of powerful lobbyists and developers and have overlooked the concerns of the low income communities like the Mission.

As protesters raise their voices in sympathy and solidarity to the stories being told by various speakers it is clear that the plight of the Mission district is yet another verse in

the song whose chorus is " Economic Boom For Whom?????"

This is happening in the midst of a booming economy that is increasing the gap between rich and poor, with little if any response from city officials.

Last month the Planning Commission approved the Bryant Square project despite the objections of community residents. This 150,000 + square foot project slated for 19th and Bryant streets would be located right next to a residential area in the Mission. Over 100 community members mobilized to oppose the development believing that it would further displace residents , erode community culture, and increase traffic-- jeopardizing the safety of children, seniors and families. Strong arguments made by the community prompted a majority of Planning Commissioners to agree that the project would cause displacement and other problems in the neighborhood. However the commission then proceeded to approve the project by a 4 to 1 vote.

Like most of the people here today I represent one generation of a multi generation San Francisco family. I am sickened , saddened and outraged by the careless handling of the our City’s destiny. The essence of what makes San Francisco San Francisco, the diversity which draws people from across the globe, is being eroded and traded in favor of the dollar. I am proud that we are here, taking a stand to fight for what is rightly ours: the future of our lives and communities, in our home - San Francisco.

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THERAPY COSTS TOO MUCH!!!!
Dee Gray, M.S.W., M.F.C.   Licensed Therapist specializing in advocacy and crisis counseling. Mother, daughter and family counseling. Adoption and juvenile dependency. Literary and creative art counseling. Individual and group therapy. Sliding scale fee. (415) 541-5629.