REP-SF Planning to the People Newsletter: Feb. 2025
|
As we honor Black History Month, we reflect on the enduring legacy of Black communities in shaping the fight for justice, equity, and freedom. We honor the resilience, strength, and contributions of Black communities throughout history and into the present.
We keep us safe! We have always been here and we will continue to be here.
In response to the recent flood of executive orders and federal attacks, our organizations are actively sharing resources, fostering community, and standing together during these difficult times. This month's newsletter features important updates, resources, and actions from some of our REP-SF members who are working to protect immigrant communities. Now more than ever, it's important to remember our rights and protect each other's rights.
For a list of City resources related to immigrant rights, visit immigrants.sf.gov. For immediate support, the San Francisco Rapid Response Network is available at sfrrn.org or via their 24-hour hotline (415-200-1548).
Our REP-SF Planning to the People newsletter for February provides the latest news and ways to take action on behalf of grassroots communities for housing justice and equitable city planning – all in one place! This month, there are many opportunities to take action locally!
In community,
The REP-SF Team
Race & Equity in all Planning Coalition
|
How to Protect Your Home & Neighborhood from San Franciso’s Upzonings (Jan. 31, 2025)
|
San Francisco is changing the rules in favor of developer giveaways called upzonings, which will make rent more expensive, increase the displacement of tenants and small businesses, and could mean neighborhoods across the City will be demolished. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Join us in telling the SF Planning Dept. we are here to stay!
Read our latest blog post to learn about how SF's upzonings may impact you and your community, and how you can take action: bit.ly/REP_Blog_Rezone
See the flyer about the upcoming Feb. 27 rally and hearing below!
Download and share our flyers about the upzonings: bit.ly/REP-SF_Upzone_Flyers
|
From the Ashes, We Will Rise: The Community Fight to Oppose “La Muerte” de la Misión (The Death of the Mission)
|
This Thursday, developers are set to present plans for a luxury development at the site of a devastating fire that killed one tenant and displaced many low-income families and immigrant small businesses. This development has been named “La Muerte” de La Misión (The Death of the Mission) because it will perpetuate the death of the Mission. For more background on the site and the community's fight for 100% affordable housing, read our blog post: bit.ly/AboutLaMuertedelaMision See the flyers about the hearing below!
|
New REP-SF Member: Welcome Coalition on Homelessness!
|
We are so excited to welcome the Coalition on Homelessness (COHSF) as the newest member of REP-SF! We are honored to be acting in solidarity with COH, which for decades has been organizing homeless people and front-line service providers to create permanent solutions to homelessness, while working to protect the human rights of those forced to remain on the streets.
|
REP-SF Organizer Awarded PolicyLink Spatial Futures Fellowship
|
We are thrilled to share that REP-SF organizer Priya Prabhakar is joining the second cohort of PolicyLink’s Spatial Futures Fellowship! Priya works as a Housing & Land Use Organizer and Multimedia Producer at People Power Media. She will be working alongside incredible leaders nationwide to advance reparative spacial justice, tackling issues like housing inequity, land displacement, and environmental racism.
The Spacial Futures Fellowship aims to support leaders that are visioning our collective futures—where all Black, Indigenous, and Brown people have a secure place to call home. Learn more about Spatial Futures! bit.ly/MeetSFFCohort2
|
We're excited to announce that the REP-SF coalition is now on the social media platform Bluesky! If you have a Bluesky account, give us a follow @repcoalitionsf.bsky.social!
|
Feb. 6: Oppose “La Muerte” de la Misión (The Death of the Mission) – Luxury Development on 22nd & Mission
|
This THURSDAY, join over 40 organizations and community members opposing “La Muerte” and telling Planning Commissioners we need 100% affordable housing at 2258 Mission St. @ 22nd! A hearing at the SF Planning Commission will take place on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 4 PM to 7 PM at City Hall, Rm 400 4th Floor. Suggested talking points will be provided for public comment. Sign and share the online petition, and share the flyers (Spanish, English & Bilingual)!
|
Feb. 11: Cribs Not Concrete: Housing First! Stability Forever!
|
Next Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 12 pm, please join REP-SF member the Coalition on Homelessness (COH) in coming together at Hamilton Families shelter (260 Golden Gate Ave) and marching to City Hall to urge Mayor Lurie to ensure no families who have received shelter eviction notices end up on the streets and to urge him to implement permanent housing solutions and house families now! Join us in demanding solutions!
|
Feb. 27: It's Time to Act! Tell City Hall We're Here to Stay!
|
After months of advocacy, our citywide coalitions will be heard at City Hall so that we can push for our solutions that will protect tenants and small businesses from displacement and put affordability first. We need you to join us to tell the SF Planning Commission and Department that we are here to stay! REP-SF will be joined with our allied coalitions, the San Francisco Anti-Displacement Coalition (SFADC), Small Business Forward (SBF), and the Council of Community Housing Organizations (CCHO) at hearings on tenant and small business displacement caused by the upzonings, that will include a community presentation and public comment. Suggested talking points will be provided so you can speak at public comment. Please join us in making our voices heard! Register by Feb. 14: bit.ly/Speak4Tenants
|
Act NOW! Final Push for REP-SF Petition!
|
If you haven’t already, please sign and share REP-SF's petition calling on San Francisco to put equity and affordability FIRST! Thank you so much to everyone who has signed and shared! This is our final push for the petition before the Feb. 27 Planning Commission hearing, when REP-SF will deliver our petition to City and State officials as part of our anti-displacement advocacy. Please share it with your communities to help us spread the word!
Sign Petition: bit.ly/REPSF-Equity-Petition; Share Petition: bit.ly/REPpetitionToolkit
|
Act NOW! We Need Protections from Future Federal Attacks
|
The White House’s attempted funding freeze was an unprecedented attack on our communities. Even though it was reversed, the damage was done: essential programs were thrown into chaos, and millions were left in uncertainty. This is just the beginning of federal attacks on our communities. We need Governor Newsom, SF Mayor Daniel Lurie, and local leaders to act NOW to create long-term state and city-level safeguards so that this never happens again. This social media toolkit, created by REP-SF member Housing Rights Committee (HRCSF), provides sample social media content, a call-in script for local leaders, and sample organizational statement for email or website.
|
Resources from REP-SF Members
|
"Know Your Rights" Guides for Immigrant Communities
|
Know Your Rights: Guide for Immigrant Communities in 2025 – Asian Law Caucus, Jan. 24, 2025
Every day, REP-SF member Asian Law Caucus (ALC) attorneys and advocates work side by side with clients and their loved ones to protect people’s rights and keep families together. Finding trusted information is one of the best ways to prepare and fight back against threats to immigrant communities. Learn about your rights at work, at home, and in interactions with ICE and DHS: bit.ly/alc-2025kyr
|
"Know Your Rights" Guide for Immigrants – SOMCAN, Jan. 2025
In this country, every individual has rights, regardless of their country of origin, legal status, native language, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. With the new administration targeting and threatening our immigrant communities, REP-SF member South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN) put together a guide with information on immigrant’s rights, resources, and services across California. Download a copy!
|
Responding to Federal Attacks on Our Communities
|
California Takes Aim at Trump’s ‘Un-American’ Citizenship Order in New Lawsuit – KQED, Jan. 21, 2025
REP-SF member Asian Law Caucus (ALC) and other groups filed a federal lawsuit challenging President Trump's attack on birthright citizenship. Aarti Kohli, ALC's executive director, said her organization is determined to protect the civil rights of Bay Area immigrants and their families. “If you’re born here, you are a citizen — period. No politician, including President Trump, can decide who is American and who is not." Kohli said, “We’ve seen this playbook before — using national security as a pretext to target specific communities. History shows that harsh immigration policies don’t make us safer or more prosperous. They destabilize communities, hurt local businesses that depend on immigrant workers and divert resources from addressing genuine public safety concerns.”
To read ALC's full statement about the lawsuit, visit: bit.ly/alc-brc2025
Read about the history and legacy of Wong Kim Ark: bit.ly/alc-wka-legacy
|
Bay Area Japanese Americans Draw on WWII Trauma to Resist Deportation Threats – KQED, Jan. 21, 2025
Bay Area Japanese Americans and local groups, including REP-SF member Asian Law Caucus are organizing against President Trump's plans to use the Alien Enemies Act to take away our communities’ freedoms, devastate families, and endanger lives. ALC's community safety program director Carl Takei explains that the Alien Enemies Act was last used to incarcerate Japanese Americans, including his great-grandfather. Takei says: "If we bend to this kind of xenophobic rhetoric – if we accept it – then it means that any ethnic is at risk."
|
SF leaders pledge support for undocumented – San Francisco Examiner, Jan. 28, 2025
City officials and community advocates reaffirmed San Francisco’s commitment to its status as a sanctuary city and also pledged to support undocumented immigrants caught up in the Trump administration's effort to dramatically ramp up deportations throughout the country.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an official resolution, affirming The City’s commitment to its decades-old sanctuary laws, which block city employees, including police officers, from assisting federal immigration officials in their enforcement efforts under most circumstances. Supervisor Jackie Fielder, who introduced the resolution, said: “What that should communicate to Trump — to anyone that wants to see us roll back — is we are not going back. We are here with our immigrant neighbors." During the event, REP-SF member Asian Law Caucus Executive Director Aarti Kohli said, “Let me be clear, we all have fundamental rights, regardless of immigration status. But having rights isn't enough. We must know them and assert them."
|
Trump policies could have ‘long-term effects’ on homelessness, advocates say – KRON4, Jan. 28, 2025
REP-SF member, the Coalition on Homelessness (COH) and our allied coalition, the Council of Community Housing Organizations (CCHO) shared their concerns about the impact of a federal funding freeze, after the Trump administration announced (and later rescinded) a freeze on federal grants and loans. “We could see some long-term effects on the homeless because of this decision being made,” said Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of COH. Federal funds are essential to building affordable housing. Friedenbach said, “A lot of the projects are already in the pipeline, so even though the money hasn’t been released this could really sideline housing that has already been planned for, so that’s pretty frightening." John Avalos, executive director of CCHO, said: “We’re worried about keeping staff, we’re worried about supporting our residents. Federal dollars also support our supportive housing services to help people to change their lives to address behavioral help issues of psychological emotional issues and addiction.”
|
Invite Your Communities to Subscribe to Our Newsletter!
|
Our monthly Planning to the People newsletter (that you are reading now!) provides the latest news and ways to take action on behalf of grassroots communities for housing justice and equitable city planning – all in one place! Help us build our momentum by encouraging your networks and communities to subscribe to our newsletter: Share our subscription form!
|
|
