Mercy Housing to build a nine story, 85 foot high building where once stood the Hugo Hotel

The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency (SFRA) is a quasi-State agency that does business all over San Francisco.

SFRA has NOT been audited in decades but recently Ross Mirkarimi has called for an audit linked to the Western Addition, SFRA's dubious operations linked to the A2 Redevelopment Project Area in the Western Addition.

On another note, SFRA has failed miserably at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard and Candlestick Point. As usual it will make promises but to keep the promises is another issue that merits good faith and can be broken by the SFRA as and when it deems fit.

On Third Street right now over 500 units are vacant mostly controlled by SFRA. No one in their right mind wants to rent or buy inferior homes build by SFRA. In the Tenderloin and around Sixth Street - many of the poorer constituents are from Hunters Point and Visitation Valley. It is all connected - hence this article and more.

The Hugo Hotel held by one of the infamous Patel families has been a blight at Sixth and Howard for ages. An artist used the hotel to hang furniture and other ghastly objects hanging from windows of the Hugo Hotel, and this City and County of San Francisco, the Department of Building Inspection, and a score of other so called agency and entities involved with safety did nothing about this sore sight. The empty building has been standing there - until now.

The Patel family played the waiting game and when the time was ripe - made an offer and has come out laughing all the way to the bank.

The five bidders were: Chinatown Community Development Center, Mission Housing Development and Tabernacle Community Development Center, Mercy Housing California, Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation and Bridge Housing Corporation, and Housing Affiliate of the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center and Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition.

As I mentioned Mercy Housing was chosen and the community came out in force supporting the project, believing that Mercy Housing will deliver.

United Playaz an organization that deals with violence prevention and has a sizable youth support - showed up to support Mercy Housing. As the days turn to weeks to months to years - I hope Mercy Housing keeps its promise.

Mercy Housing has been known to use sleek ways to garner public support and do fake outreach as it has done at Sunnydale, in the Visitation Valley.

Nothing much will happen in Sunnydale for a couple of years - not with this Economy getting worse and the banks refusing to loan money. Mercy purports to have a strong cash assets linked to the years 2007 and 2008 of $8.3 million and $6.1 million. Net assets they say are strong at $108.7 million in 2008 and $115.9 million in 2007. It has NOT disclosed public in the document its assets for the year 2009!

On the Selection Committee were:

1. Nancy Connell-Henson, South of Market Project Area Committee.

2. Myrna Melgar, Director of Homeownership Programs - SF Mayor's Office of Housing.

3. Olson Lee - SFRA Agency Deputy Executive Director of Housing.

4. Sally Oerth, SFRA Agency Senior Development Specialist of Housing.

5. Mike Grisso, SFRA Senior Project Manager, South of Market, SF Redevelopment Area.

6. Mathew Priest, SFRA Agency Architect.

7. Jeff White,SFRA Agency Development Specialist, SFRA Housing.

I was present at the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commission Meeting, November 16, 2001 at 4 pm - sending chills each time I went to the podium to speak.

Many of the SFRA Commissioners still on the Commission conducting their dubious ploys and machinations - all appointees of the Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom. They fear when someone speaks the truth. Most folks who are not educated on issues, babble something, and this the SFRA Commission can handle. But, when you tell them the TRUTH they put their heads down, and that tail between their legs.

Rick Swig has positioned himself as the Chair of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commssion.

Darshan Singh is there with his side-kick Leroy King (both were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation linked to the dubious activities of Lennar, a Rogue Developer).

Miguel M. Butos who voted for Lennar and now pretends he is for the community in some of his public statements - is being monitored.

Francee Govington is still there her good friend London Breed is no more.

They have a new Commissioner in Rosario Anaya who seemed attentive and listened to me, at this particular meeting of sorts.

Mercy Housing will be watched like a hawk on this project at Sixth and Howard.

Mercy Housing better provide quality housing to the many candidates that will apply for affordable housing.

Foremost, and this was not mentioned at all - some accommodation must be made and special preference given for housing, to the Filipino Veterans. Many fought for this Nation, were promised Citizenship and denied their Military Benefits. Most live in and around Sixth Street and not far from the infamous Hugo Hotel.

Many of these Filipino Veterans are aged in their nineties and live in filthy, stinking, bug infested Single Residenc Occupancy (SROs) in the Tenderloin and around Sixth Street. Perhaps, they can be given some consolation before the pass away. Some, little thanks for all they have done for this Nation.

The Filipino community is the largest ethnic group to be adversely impacted the many times SF Redevelopment Agency has trampled on their feet in the Tenderloin, along Sixth Street, and along Mission from 4th and Mission all the way to 11th and Mission. In and around the alley ways and the old timers will tell you more.

As I stated now is the time to make some amends and make some of the Filipino families, whole. If this is not done this time - all hell will break lose. Gone are the days when you threw some stale, bread crumbs and thought you had it all. This time around - the SFRA better - deliver on time and a quality product. That includes Mercy Housing and as you read further, Westfield that has done a lot and it a good partner. Not so Mercy Housing.

On another note Westfield is moving ahead to rehabilitate the blighted Yerba Buena Center once a Shinning Star now a Black Hole that comes under the jurisdiction of the SF Redevelopment Agency. This center has adversely impacted a large area for the last four years. What a crying shame.

Plans are afoot to open the area and allow access directly to the large building from 4th and Mission and the surrounding accesses.

Target is planning to move in and showcase itself and has the prospects of doing very well.

Target has sponsored many agencies in San Francisco and will continue to do so. Judging from the public support and testimony - Target will deliver, if given the opportunity and San Francisco needs a TARGET that caters to the community at large and what is more is concerned about the community.

The SF Redevelopment Agency has been hard hit economically, and, any meaningful audit will reveal the sad State of Affairs. SF Redevelopment Agency staff have had it good - using Tax Increment money to pay itself high salaries, and having a gala time all these many years.

The SF Redevelopment Agency Commission one of the most corrupt in the Nation.

Two current SFRA Commissioners were investigated and warned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and are watched carefully in all their dubious ploys and operations. One Leroy King who was just re-appointed, he is old and often will babble stuff that only he - understands.

Darshan Singh in all the years he has been in the United States - attempts to speak some sensible English but it really does not come out right. The Commissioners are there to communicate to the public at large - but, when it comes to the SF Redevelopment Agency Commission it is a joke.

At yesterday's meeting Ace a local journalist, advocate, ardent community activist was treated like dirt. The Brown Act was tarnished in the presence of everyone. Ace put in his card, voiced his opinion that he wanted to speak on an agenda but was never given a chance.

The Chair Rich Swig got up at one point and went to speak to the Director of the Agency, Fred Blackwell. Then, he got up again and came to the desk and spoke to the person in charge of the Speaker Cards - Oscar James. What a mess. The Brown Act was abused and this is NOT the way to conduct any business at all.

In the end Ace was intimidate, the Sheriff called for whatever reason and not wanting to cause further commotion - ACE left the meeting room. Disgusted and once again taken for a ride by the inept, rigged, San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commission that lacks Transparency and Accountability.It cannot even conduct itself in a decent manner.

My advice to the Filipino Community fight to get an extended period on the lease linked to the Community Building - with the amendments to the lease and other benefits signed,doted, and verified by a sound, certified, qualified attorney.

Do not ever trust the SFRA Commission and Staff to keep their verbal promise. They shafted the Filipino twice before and this time they better deliver on the Filipino Community Hall that has been years in the making.

The only saving grace is that Westfield will keep it's promise - but the SFRA staff is dubious in nature and has been since the early 1960s.

Mercy Housing pretends that it is for the community but in the South of Market Area we have our contacts and we will be watching them like a HAWK.

It is a paradox that in the year 2010 after all this years the Filipino community is getting some benefits. Of course this will not be reported in the local Filipino newspapers in detail but hopefully this minor report - will spur the Filipino Community to move forward in UNITY and take the already hurt community to a better place.


Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy