Category Archives: politics

This afternoon, without any further discussion, the Board of Supervisors passed the Western SoMa Community Plan. With Supervisors Mark Farrell and Norman Yee absent, the vote was 8-1. Supervisor Scott Wiener voted against the Plan again. It now goes to Mayor Ed Lee for his signature.

The Board of Supervisors  voted 10-1 today to adopt the Western SoMa Community Plan, with Supervisor Scott Wiener dissenting. One more vote next week and then the Plan goes to the Mayor for his signature.

The Western SoMa Plan goes to the Board of Supervisors for its first reading today. If approved, it will require a second reading next week and will then be sent on to the Mayor for his signature.

If minor amendments are offered, best case scenario is that there might be a delay of a couple weeks. Worst case scenario, if the amendments involve issues that were not covered in any of the options studied, is that they may require re-opening the EIR for further analysis which could amount to as much as a six month delay. Let’s all hope that any amendments are turned down.

I will be undergoing surgery at Kaiser Santa Clara at the same time this is all playing out. Corey Teague and the Planning Department staff and Supervisor Jane Kim will be representing the Plan. There will be no public comment but your attendance at the Board would be appreciated.

jim

South of Market housing activists and community members packed a city hall hearing room on Monday to demand that the impact fees for affordable housing remain at the level recommended in the Western SoMa Community Plan. They came out to oppose an amendment proposed by Supervisor Scott Wiener that would trim those fees in order to provide more funding for transit.  Continue reading →

Dear community and allies:

SoMa faces some of the greatest development pressure in all of San Francisco. As new condos are developed and office buildings go up nearby, prices continue to skyrocket. The SoMa community knows the history of displacement too well.

Since 2005, neighborhood residents from different backgrounds and interests united on a neighborhood vision of how our community should grow without displacing the existing residents with a strong preference for affordable housing. Our unified community vision materialized the West SoMa Plan. The Planning Commission PASSED the West SoMa Plan unanimously.

BUT on Monday, Feb. 25th – in a matter of minutes, Supervisor Wiener and Supervisor Chiu have amended the West SoMa Plan to take funding away from our affordable housing vision and goals!!!  Continue reading →

Following a two week continuance that came about at the request of Supervisor Jane Kim, a proposal for an 11 story hotel at 250 Fourth Street will be considered by the Planning Commission this Thursday afternoon. Commissioners agreed that the project sponsors needed more time to conduct adequate outreach to the nonprofit organizations serving the Filipino population in the area.  Continue reading →