In 2010 , plans are afoot in SF to provide good CHILD CARE and guess what STUDENT HOUSING.

The drab Land Use Committee Meeting November 22, 2010 had Bevan Duty in form, Eric Mar paying attention, Sophie Maxwell looking for way to rake in the money, under the table - David Campos seeking new zoning by the Old Bayshore by Highway 101 and David Chiu endorsing with the others housing and childcare in San Francisco. Considering we had all these Supervisors and willing to participate in a FAIR manner - we see some signs for good and the constituents of San Francisco can hope against hope - for good tidings.

It has been ages since the Land Use has discussed about sound childcare in our so called City of Compassion of St Francis Assisi, developers mostly led by Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. in prior years, shafted the populace and left childcare and urgent need for our mostly poor children out and most put most plans in favor on childcare - on the back burner.

After a long, long, time suddenly Bevan Dufty is challenging the developers, asking hard question from the TransBay folks, looking for answer everywhere and finding out that too many people talk the talk but hardly walk the walk. The TransBay folks are playing poor but you would not guess that from their fancy website and the millions that Nancy Pelosi and tax payers across the Nation are doing out - to create the TransBay Center and put in place High Speed Rail.

In all this so called planning gusto - no one care about our children and kudos to Bevan Dufty for taking the bull by the horns - and asking the right questions. I am sure Bevan can now speak to Chris on this topic and get some support, to Mirkarimi and get some support, to John Avalos and get some support - you get the drift.

If everyone works on common areas that benefits our students and young children - there is a better chance for progress and after that - all can think hard and appoint an interim Mayor or for that work hard to address Quality of Life Issues.

Anyone, who has some little sense will tell you that childcare is needed in San Francisco and slots are hard to find. Less then twenty percent of young children get good childcare. Add to that because it is expensive and poor parents making less then $15,000 of which there are many cannot afford childcare - this factor has not been a hot topic but one most prefer to shove under the carpet.

We do have a population of about 819,000 and then we have a day population of over a million - so many mothers and fathers coming to work here in San Francisco - and many of them want their children close to them, in good childcare centers. At least close enough to reach them - in an emergency.

Some folks came to bat for childcare and that was good. However, we need sound empirical data to address the situation and put the "nay sayers" to shame. Also, it must be known that today the majority of poorer mothers and fathers - those making $20,000 and less in this very rich City are stressed to the hilt - when it comes to good childcare. They simply cannot afford good childcare. There are few subsidized childcare facilities and those that have time have a long waiting list.

It does not help when you hear about pedophiles and others dubious in nature that prey on children. It so happen most of these miscreants are found in poor neighborhoods. There is map that shows them all - and it is not a pretty sight or thought to know this fact.

So, it did not surprise me to find older children in the age group of 12-16 looking after their siblings - while their single parents - went to seeking work or work long hours to bring bread and butter home. Most face discrimination and deprived of funding from any welfare source if they do not work. There is mostly no justice when it come to poorer people that cannot defend themselves and have few resources to fight their just cause. My friends and I have done some fighting and know what it is to take on the SYSTEM.

I questioned the older children and they told me a lot - and I hope they could have a chance to testify about this fact to the "hypocritical City of San Francisco" that treats most of our worthy children like dirt. Foremost, Mayor Gavin Newsom who is quick to show case Montana - and God Bless her - but has no consideration about the many young children - that should and could have been helped a long time ago.

The Developers come here and think they can do as they please. They do not pay attention to "childcare facilities" for that matter they do not care about Quality of Life issues and there are many other factors too - that I will address another time.

For years some entity calling itself an Art University, gobbled up thousands of rental units all over San Francisco. This was well articulated by a former Director of Mayor's Housing before I spoke at Public Comment on the topic at Land Use. I too wanted to address this issues - but, the man stole my thunder.

When I worked at the Presidio of San Francisco we accommodated many students. Once at short notice, when one University had problems with Asbestos in some of their dorms - we, acted fast and provided thousands of units to the students. We could as we had access housing and the National Park Service was waiting for Presidio Trust to take charge and that happen two years later.

Today, the Presidio Trust is making millions - renting units mostly near Baker Beach at premium rent and raking in millions to students and Universities and colleges that can pay. Always, left out are poor students - some know this but most do not.

The mostly poor students shack in small spaces and make do with whatever they can afford. This environment is ideally not the best for the students and adversely impacts - higher learning. Also, leaves a scar on the students that reveals itself in other adverse ways - later on in life.

Better cities in the United States and other international countries, provide good housing to the students - but not so San Francisco.

This is not the fault of our SF Board of Supervisor but more of SF Planning and other policy makers that spend too much time on one issue but do not have a holistic approach.

If you look at Quality of Life issues and the better interests of our City - it be hoves this City to provide good housing to students that especially attend the smaller colleges and universities. University of San Francisco a private University, University of California San Francisco, State University all can provide student housing because they have the means - we still have thousands of other students that cannot afford housing and in many cases have to live in the South and East bay.

Most other colleges and schools have great difficulty providing good housing and have stated this in the many surveys to the SF Planning and at many forums, no one is paying attention. It may come as a shock to know that some students - live in shelters. Now, that that is not very pretty.

I know this and most others that work with students - know it too - but for years our City has chosen to back Work-Live large complexes with no student housing and childcare or for that matter senior and housing for veterans.

Many developers build poorly built affordable housing and in recent years, other housing stock favoring condominiums - that have been sitting idle for years. There has been NO demand to buy the condominiums, so they are offered for rent and it has been years that no one wants to rent them.

Over sixty thousand people are jobless, others work two or three jobs to make a living. Banks want sixty percent equity to make a loan, and this economy has hit everyone. Our Nation and the Federal Reserve Bank that is private - wants to pump $600 Billion to spur the economy, for all the wrong reasons - knowing fully well that the dollar is worth just under a nickel.

Bevan Dufty is attempting to create a difference - and if the Department of Building Inspection, the Planning Department, the Mayor's Office of Housing, SF Redevelopment Agency, SF Housing Authority, the SF Board of Supervisors - all put their heads together - something can be done.

Hundreds of brand new housing are lying idle on Third Street and can be made available to our students with banks willing to loan money with little or no interest to Institutions of Learning.

This factor is never discussed by our failed, inept, out of sync San Francisco Redevelopment Agency that has been an utter failure. Imagine, over 1200 brand new units sitting idle all over San Francisco and under the jurisdiction of SFRA - when all of them could have been used by our students,our veterans, others - such poor planning and what is more ineptness.

Another suggestion which the inept, lack luster Sophie Maxwell could and will not comprehend - working with many Universities the small ones - parts, of Sunnydale could be reserved for Student Housing - being close to City College and other Universities.

With, as I said Universities, small colleges, all providing the necessary paper work and documentation for loans that the Banks are willing to work with and give loans, because in this economy it makes sense. There will be jobs, the students and others will benefit - a win, win situation.

The San Francisco Planning Department is going through changes - Larry Badiner the former Zoning Czar has been fired. He was caught sharing pornographic materials with some co-workers. So, about nine SF mostly Senior Planners - have been fired or let go. The present SF Planning Department with John Rhaim is in shambles.

Right now the SF Planning is trying to save face but in reality they are hurting and so one in their right mind - respects the SF Planning Department. You witness this at all the meetings - this is the result of playing games with the public. If you did not have money to bribe someone your plans remained forever. If you had money, you could do as you please.

This happened with Executive Park - good plans by Mr. George Yerby were put on the back burner. Lennar was brought forward and now that Lennar in drowning in the cesspool. Suddenly, the plans that were collecting dust are given a new lease. This is what our City has become - corrupt aiding and abetting Rogue Developers like Lennar.

At yesterday's hearing Espanola Jackon revealed how one former planner drew the lines around Executive Park - putting Executive Park within the Visitation Valley boundary.

The paradox initially this was done to share some Development Fees under false pretext - one million for Bayview Hunters Point standing to right of Executive Park if you face North, little Hollywood which is a the foot of Executive that was supposed to get another million and finally Visitation Valley that was supposed to get another million. At no time for as long as I can remember was Executive Park part of Visitation Valley.

Sophie Maxwell then introduced legislation giving Visitation all the 3 million dollar - depriving Bayview Hunters Point and Little Hollywood.

To add fuel to fire - hired the SF Planner who drew the new lines as an aide to Sophie Maxwell's office at City Hall. A dubious ploy and machination. Such are the ways of very corrupt politicians. When Sophie is termed out - it will be a day to rejoice - good riddance of very bad rubbish.

All that I have mentioned above was stated to Sophie Maxwell the Chair of the Land Use and Economic Development Committee to her face. You can listen to it on Channel 26 or if you want to listen and see it - buy a tape for $10 dollars from sfgovtv.

Sophie Maxwell did not have a word to say after Espanola Jackson spoke - Sophie Maxwell was ashamed and rightly so. I point this to those that are in the dark and when the TRUTH is mentioned - throw tantrums and challenge the TRUTH. Go figure; when it comes to the many sell outs that prey on the community - through grants and taking vast sums of illegal money - under the table.

As far as childcare and youth are concerned over thirty percent of the youth live in the Southeast Sector. Very few get good childcare.

Mothers and Fathers are stressed out often having no recourse but to keep the young ones with the grand parents, extended family or to beg friends and relatives to look after the young children. We all know this in the Southeast Sector - Potrero Hill, Bayview Hunters Point, Little Hollywood, Visitation Valley, Sunnydale and beyond.

The Main Media is slow to reveal the shortage of childcare and the City and County of San Francisco - looks the other way.

Little is done by the Mayor's Office of Children Youth and Families - often,touting that they have no funds. The City has a budget of $6.8 BILLION - but at the many budget meetings - very little is set aside for our children and especially for childcare and the innocent, toddlers.

Bevan Dufty wants all developers to provide childcare - but the SF Planning and others are opting out - and prefer to keep the legislation and attach it only to projects that get SF City funding. Time will tell.

This is not to say that State and Federal entities do not have childcare facilities - they do. But, the the time has come to open these facilities to all and especially the poor. The many companies that we have in San Francisco have good programs and facilities for our children - but, we need more to address Quality of Life issues.

The two pieces of legislation one dealing with Childcare and the other with Student Housing will go to the SF Board of Supervisors for their quick approval - and judging from what David Chiu the President of the SF Board of Supervisors commented during the Land Use meeting - we should be in very good standing and ready to go.

Now, if only we could select our new Interim Mayor and deal with the many Quality of Life issues too many to name in detail - let us start with Housing, Health, Childcare, and of course good Jobs.

Kudos to Sophie Maxwell, David Campos, Eric Mar, David Chiu, and Bevan Dufty for listening to the Public Comment - now, all that is really left - is who will walk the walk.


Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy