STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS! #StopBonusPlan
The “Affordable Housing Density Bonus Program” threatens the future of thousands of residents and small businesses. We must stop this monster and demand affordable development without displacement!
DETAILS:
The Mayor and City Planning Department are fast tracking a zoning change that undermines existing safeguards in all neighborhoods and promotes the demolition of over 30,500 buildings. If your house, favorite venue, organization or local business is on the map, the city is incentivizing speculators and developers to demolish it in the guise of building “affordable housing.” Their “affordable” buildings are defined as 88% luxury-rate units for the wealthy. Where is the housing for lower-wage workers? Even if you win the lottery and get one of the few “Below Market Rate” units, you will be kicked out should your salary ever increase above set limits.
DON’T BUY THE HYPE! The city is rushing this destructive plan through saying that state law requires it. But Sacramento hasn’t said we are out of compliance. This is a smoke screen to benefit developers.
Are you on the map? 30,500 parcels affected!
DESTRUCTION AND DISPLACEMENT
•Existing housing, venues and livelihoods will be destroyed.
•There is no way to fight a demolition eviction.
•The city will not adequately compensate thousands of individuals and local merchants that will be displaced from the area.
•The rights of return after redevelopment = politicians’ false promises.
•Doesn’t stop demolition of rent-controlled housing, our largest stock of affordable rents in the city. (Sup. Breed’s amendment only postpones demolition of rent-controlled units for one year.)
•Low-income and working-class residents will be pushed out because luxury units dramatically increase rents and evictions in the surrounding blocks.
SPEAK OUT & STAY PUT TOGETHER!
Tell your Supervisor to vote the Density Bonus Program down. Demand a community-based planning process to develop affordable housing without demolishing neighborhoods and displacing local residents and businesses!
District 1 – Eric.L.Mar@sfgov.org 415-554-7410
District 2 – Mark.Farrell@sfgov.org 415-554-7752
District 3 – Aaron.Peskin@sfgov.org 415-554-7450
District 4 – Katy.Tang@sfgov.org 415-554-7460
District 5 – London.Breed@sfgov.org 415-554-7630
District 6 – Jane.Kim@sfgov.org 425-554-7970
District 7 – Norman.Yee@sfgov.org 415-554-6516
District 8 – Scott.Wiener@sfgov.org 415-554-6968
District 9 – David.Campos@sfgov.org 415-554-5144
District 10 – Malia.Cohen@sfgov.org 415-554-7670
District 11 – John.Avalos@sfgov.org 415-554-6975
Mayor Ed Lee – mayoredwinlee@sfgov.org 415-554-6141
Sample Letter:
Dear Supervisor __________,
I am writing to urge you not to pass the “Affordable Housing Density Bonus Program”. This program promotes the demolition of over 30,000 buildings and, thus, the displacement of thousands of residents and businesses. This would make our housing and affordability crisis even worse! Many of our homes, favorite venues, organizations and local businesses are on the map. Don’t incentivize speculators and developers to demolish them. If the program goes through, the city has no plans to adequately compensate thousands of individuals and local merchants who will be displaced. Since even the cities surrounding SF are unaffordable, this plan would effectively kick people out of the entire Bay Area.
“Affordable housing” should not be defined as 88% luxury-rate units for the wealthy. Having to earn 140% AMI (or well over $100K) is not “affordable” to most San Franciscans. Where is the housing for lower-wage workers? Even if people win the lottery and get one of the few “Below Market Rate” units, they could be kicked out should their salary ever increase above set limits. Also, there is no effective regulation on short-term rentals. Thus, this plan could essentially demolish current buildings to add more illegal hotels instead of homes.
We need to preserve rent-controlled housing, our largest stock of affordable rents in the city. (Supervisor Breed’s amendment doesn’t assure that these units will be permanently off the chopping block.) Why is the city is rushing this destructive plan through saying that state law requires it? Sacramento hasn’t said we are out of compliance. This is a smoke screen to benefit developers. Don’t fast track a zoning change that undermines existing safeguards in all neighborhoods. Implement a community-based planning process to develop affordable housing without destroying neighborhoods and displacing local residents and businesses!
Sincerely,
________