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Indybay Feature

Protest Balboa Citizens Advisory Committee (Save CCSF)

Date:
Monday, December 14, 2015
Time:
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM
Event Type:
Protest
Organizer/Author:
Allan Fisher
Location Details:
At the Multi-Use Building (MUB) on the Ocean Campus (Phelan Ave.) City College of San Francisco

We will set up an informational picket to bring attention to the following:
PUBLIC LAND FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD, NOT FOR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT Balboa Reservoir, City College, the PAEC, and Truly Affordable Housing:
Mayor Ed Lee’s Office on Housing is barreling ahead with a plan to put 500 units of unaffordable housing in the lower portion of the Balboa Reservoir (owned by SFPUC), then carving three access roads across the upper reservoir (owned by City College). Both parts of the Reservoir have for decades been heavily used for parking at City College’s main campus on Ocean Avenue. With tens of thousands of part-time students, working parents and part-time faculty rushing in and out, this parking area is crucial to student access to an affordable education. The Mayor’s office ignored this use, and declared the site “Surplus Land” in 2013.
CANCELLING ARTS FOR THE COMMUNITY
One of Special Trustee Agrella’s first actions was to unilaterally cancel the building of the Performing Arts and Education Center (PAEC). In 2001 and 2005, San Francisco voters approved two bond issues for the PAEC, intended to be an anchor for arts and culture on the south side, serving as a community alternative to the glittering Opera House and Symphony Hall. Following this mandate from the voters, City College proceeded to complete plans, permits, and some underground infrastructure, spending over 26 million dollars to bring the project to shovel-ready status. Then Special Trustee Agrella failed to renew the time-extension for the 38 million dollars pledged by the state for the project, sending the money back to Sacramento. Approximately 50 million dollars in bond money remains with City College to complete the work.

CRITICAL NEED FOR TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Mayor Lee has a tendency to tout housing as “affordable” if it is affordable by families making $140-$180,000 per year. But a coalition of five long-time community groups—Communities United for Health and Justice—surveyed the area and found that 90% of residents are calling for housing for people making under $60,000 a year. They have recently won some affordable housing! See their report at http://www.podersf.org/wp-content/uploads/.../CUHJ_Upper-Yard_report.pdf

WHO SPEAKS FOR CITY COLLEGE AND THE COMMUNITY?
With a special trustee still in place, the needs of the school in regards to the Balboa Reservoir and other property uses is being determined in monthly closed-door meetings of a new group calling itself the CCSF Consortium. “Representing” City College in this group are:

Current Special Trustee Guy Lease; resident of South Lake Tahoe;

Steve Bruckman; CCSF legal counsel sent by state takeover;

Mark Zacovic; CCSF Vice Chancellor of Finance—from San Diego;

Jeff Hamilton; sent from Mayor Lee’s office in 2014 to “help” CCSF

Rounding out the group—though it is hard to imagine any connection at all to City College:

Three staffers from SF Planning, including Director John Rahaim;
Four members of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Workforce and Development, including Director Michael Martin;
Two upper level staffers from SFPUC: Rosanna Russell, director of SFPUC Real Estate; Services and Michael Carlin, SFPUC Assistant General Manager;

Hydra Mendoza of the Mayor’s Office;

Adam Engelskirchen, Real Estate lawyer formerly with Presidio Trust

• How can a committee made of envoys from Ed Lee’s office and the state takeover represent the real needs of the college, community, students and neighbors?
• Why hasn’t the Academic Senate or Associated Students been consulted?
• Where are the community-based advocates for truly affordable housing?

DO THESE CONSORTIUM MEETINGS CONFIRM OUR FEARS THAT THE ACCREDITATION CRISIS HAS BEEN ABOUT
REAL ESTATE ALL ALONG?

The Balboa Reservoir Community Advisory Committee needs to hear from the REAL City College community--the people who have a true stake in the long-term future of our school.


Added to the calendar on Sat, Dec 12, 2015 7:03PM
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