Roberto Hernandez
Our Mission, NO Eviction
latinzoneprod@aol.com
J. Scott Weaver
San Francisco Tenants Union
jscottweaver@aol.com
Gabriel Medina
Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA)
gmedina@medasf.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 25, 2016
Press Conference Regarding Future of Mission and 22nd Streets Structure
Community demands answers, and the protection of 58 tenants’ right of return
San Francisco, Calif. — The Mission community will hold an urgent press conference on Friday, Feb. 26, at 11am. The location will be the fire-damaged building at the corner of Mission and 22nd streets, with the community putting forth the concerted demand that the displaced residents retain their legal first right to return. This building was heavily damaged in a fire one year ago, with 36 community-serving businesses and 58 rent-controlled tenants instantly displaced. One resident perished in the blaze.
The community is seeking answers to the following questions:
- Why has the owner done nothing with this building in over a year, except leave it as an eyesore for the community? This long, unnecessary delay has meant further damage to the building, including mold issues from recent rains.
- Why has the City failed to compel the owner to rehabilitate the structure rather than letting it sit in the same state as when the fire occurred on Jan.28, 2015, rendering the structure more unsafe day by day?
- Why did the San Francisco Department of Building Inspections fail to inform the displaced residents and small-business owners – plus the community at large – of its recent order to raze the building? Such an action could threaten the tenants’ legal first right to return.
States Roberto Hernandez of Our Mission, NO Eviction, “The community demands that the owner sells to a buyer who will guarantee the displaced tenants’ right of return, that rents remain affordable to these tenants and that the building be sold for affordable housing, including affordable commercial spaces. The community will be heard today.”
###
About Our Mission, NO Eviction
Our Mission, NO Eviction is a coalition of neighbors, community organizations and local merchants opposed to the rapid pace of displacement/evictions in the Mission, destroying the cultural and social fabric of the neighborhood – a cross-section of the community united to create policies and long-term solutions to stop these evictions. Facebook page
About San Francisco Tenants Union
The purpose of the San Francisco Tenants Union is to promote the preservation and expansion of the rights of tenants and the supply of affordable housing. sftu.org
About Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA)
Rooted in the Mission and focused on San Francisco, MEDA’s mission is to strengthen low- and moderate-income Latino families by promoting economic equity and social justice through asset building and community development. medasf.org
Leave a reply