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Indybay Feature
Storm Over Redevelopment
Randy Shaw 18.MAY.05 ::
A large crowd overflowed the meeting of the Redevelopment Commission yesterday to protest Agency plans to cut funding to a popular Western Addition social service program and its support for a Starbucks at the former site of the Japantown Bowl. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi condemned the Agency’s decision to allow Starbucks to circumvent a ban on franchise stores in the area, and at yesterday’s Board of Supervisors meeting requested a hearing on the city’s ability to maintain vital services if millions of property tax dollars generated from three proposed new Project Areas are diverted from the general fund to the Agency.
A large crowd overflowed the meeting of the Redevelopment Commission yesterday to protest Agency plans to cut funding to a popular Western Addition social service program and its support for a Starbucks at the former site of the Japantown Bowl. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi condemned the Agency’s decision to allow Starbucks to circumvent a ban on franchise stores in the area, and at yesterday’s Board of Supervisors meeting requested a hearing on the city’s ability to maintain vital services if millions of property tax dollars generated from three proposed new Project Areas are diverted from the general fund to the Agency.
Outrage over the Redevelopment Agency’s sanction of a Starbucks in Japantown brought back memories for many of the agency’s leveling of the Fillmore and its massive displacement of businesses and residents alike. The notion that a Starbucks would be allowed to endanger the survival of a nearby community-based, Japanese-American run café led over 1000 people to sign a petition opposing Starbucks within two hours of its circulation yesterday.
The fury over Starbucks marks the second time in recent months that the Redevelopment Agency has raised hackles among the communities it claims to be trying to help. The Agency remains the target of rancor among 6th Street Project Area Committee members over its changing of plans for the Plaza Hotel without any prior consultation with the PAC or the neighborhood.
In both cases Agency staff relied on the fine print of Redevelopment law to betray community interests. In the case of Starbucks, Agency Director Marsha Rosen claimed that since the store will be owned by the corporation and not a franchisee, the ban on franchises promised to Japantown residents and businesses did not apply.
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The fury over Starbucks marks the second time in recent months that the Redevelopment Agency has raised hackles among the communities it claims to be trying to help. The Agency remains the target of rancor among 6th Street Project Area Committee members over its changing of plans for the Plaza Hotel without any prior consultation with the PAC or the neighborhood.
In both cases Agency staff relied on the fine print of Redevelopment law to betray community interests. In the case of Starbucks, Agency Director Marsha Rosen claimed that since the store will be owned by the corporation and not a franchisee, the ban on franchises promised to Japantown residents and businesses did not apply.
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http://www.beyondchron.org/default.asp?sou...
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