REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
MINUTES
Saturday, March 17, 2012 – 10:00 a.m.
Ella Hill Hutch Community Center
1050 McAllister Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Special Meeting
Members: Chair Eric McDonnell, Vice-Chair Jenny Lam,
Mike Alonso, Myong Leigh, Sonia Melara, Marily Mondejar,
David Pilpel, Mark Schreiber, Melissa Tidwell
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. On the call of the roll, Vice Chair Lam, and Members Alonso, Leigh, Melara, Mondejar, Schreiber, and Tidwell were noted present. Chair McDonnell and Member Pilpel were noted absent. Member Alonso, seconded by Member Leigh, moved to excuse Chair McDonnell and Member Pilpel from attending the meeting. The motion passed without objection.
2. Approval of Task Force Minutes of February 23, 2012. (10:08 a.m. to 10:09 a.m.)
Member Alonso, seconded by Member Mondejar, moved to continue consideration of the Task Force Minutes to the next meeting. The motion passed without objection.
Public Comment: None
3. Community Outreach. (10:09 a.m. to 10:12 a.m.)
Member Mondejar summarized the status of the Task Force’s print advertisements.
Public Comment:
Larry Griffin commended the Task Force for its outreach efforts and asked if the Task Force had contacted either the Sun Reporter or the Bayview about its advertisements.
Ace Washington expressed concern about media outreach, particularly with respect to African-American media outlets.
4. Mapping. (10:12 a.m. to 11:56 a.m.)
Vice Chair Lam provided an overview of the Task Force’s process and thanked District 5 residents for their participation thus far.
Public Comment:
Dr. Justin Morgan thanked the Task Force for its work. He requested that the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center and Japantown stay in District 5. He stated that he was satisfied with the current working draft map.
Larry Griffin, Booker T. Washington Community Service Center Board Member, thanked the Task Force for keeping Japantown and other community institutions in District 5.
Barbara Wanger, Community Grows Executive Director, whose service area includes the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, Westside Courts, Rosa Parks, and other District 5 community institutions, stated that she felt that all of these institutions should stay in District 5.
Jason Clark, District 5 resident, expressed several concerns about the current map. He requested that the Task Force keep the African-American and Asian-American communities together in Lower Pacific Heights. He stated that the Inner Sunset has more in common with the rest of the Sunset than the rest of District 5. He also noted that the University of San Francisco and the University of California San Francisco are split between districts. He also supported the map submitted by the San Francisco Association of Realtors, which addresses these university campuses.
Hiroshi Fukuda thanked the Task Force for including the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center and the Japantown institutions in District 5. He discussed the history of discrimination in the 1960’s and 1970’s relating to redevelopment that impacted these communities.
Carolyn Hsu, Asian Law Caucus, thanked the Task Force for its work, especially around the northern sections of District 5. She also stated that the Community Unity Map has a revised draft.
Jamie Choy, Seacliff resident and native San Francisco native, stated that his community is the Richmond; spends time there and has family there. He also objected to the economic rationale for keeping Seacliff in District 2.
Ken Prag, District 8 resident, asked the Task Force to keep 55 Laguna in District 8.
Pat Scott, Booker T. Washington Community Service Center Executive Director, thanked the Task Force for being so responsive to public input. She stated that redistricting was a good opportunity for her organization to connect with other community groups and the public.
Karen Kai said that the Task Force has been responsive to the Japan-American own and African-American communities. She stated that the Task Force’s process has brought a younger generation into the process as well and she made a few minor suggestions to the current working draft map.
Gary Axel stated that 55 Laguna and nearby housing should be in District 8. He thanked the Task Force for the opportunity to provide input.
Chris Waddling expressed support for the Community Unity Map and his own map. He opposed the San Francisco Association of Realtors and Chinese American Voters Education Committee (CAVEC) maps because of how they addressed Districts 9 and 10. He stated that he opposed the split of Potrero Hill from Dogpatch. He also supported the inclusion of the Portola in District 9.
Jonathan Lee, Japantown resident, supported the current working draft map, especially with respect to the boundaries around Japantown.
Chris Gansen, Japantown resident, stated that the Japanese Community Youth Council (JCYC) belongs in Japantown. He thanked the Task Force for its work.
Donna thanked the Task Force for keeping JCYC in Japantown because it is an important part of that community.
Thea Selby, Lower Haight Merchants Association, thanked the Task Force for its open process. She supported the Community Unity Map, especially as to the southern border of District 5. She stated that 55 Laguna and the LGBT Center should be in District 5 because the Hayes Valley community has been at the forefront of working on the 55 Laguna project. She also opposed drawing the district boundary along Haight Street and recommended that the Task Force use Hermann Street instead.
Lawrence Lee, Lower Haight Merchants Association, stated that the Lower Haight community has spent a lot of time working on issues along Haight Street. He requested that the Task Force move the southern boundary of District 5 farther south to Waller Street.
Rob Anderson stated that the Task Force should focus on population, not on sexual orientation or ethnic composition of neighborhoods.
Erika Tamura thanked the Task Force for keeping JCYC in District 5 and for keeping the African-American and Asian-American communities together.
Seth Kilbourne, Open House Executive Director, is working on the 55 Laguna Street project. He stated that while the Hayes Valley and Lower Haight communities have supported the project, 55 Laguna should be in District 8 because it would provide better access to LGBT community services.
Ray Rudon, Hayes Valley resident, asked the Task Force to keep the LGBT Center and 55 Laguna in District 8 because they are all part of the same community of interest.
Marlayne Morgan, Cathedral Hill resident, thanked the Task Force for its work around the Cathedral Hill neighborhood. She also asked the Task Force to make further changes to the boundaries around the northeast section of the neighborhood.
Dan Doat, a District 10 resident and business owner who represents the Bayview Merchants Association, supported the Community Unity Map.
Hannah Hardy, District 5 resident, supported the Community Unity Map. She asked the Task Force to keep all of Haight Street in District 5. She stated that she supported the Task Force’s work on the northern section of District 5 but not the southern section.
Dominica Henderson, District 10 resident, thanked the Task Force for its work on the northern section of District 5 but does not want the Task Force to move the western boundary of District 5 any further east.
Tim, North of Panhandle resident, stated that he was initially concerned about the map’s boundaries around his neighborhood but that he currently had no objection.
Marthan Arivel stated that the Task Force should keep as much of the Inner Sunset in District 5 as possible, and stated that the neighborhood has had a good relationship with its supervisors.
Lauren Bailey, District 5 resident, thanked the Task Force for keeping the African-American and Asian-American communities together. She also supported the Community Unity Map and stated that 55 Laguna should stay be in District 5.
Robert Hamaguchi thanked the Task Force for its work on Japantown.
Christine Hall, a Twin Peaks resident in the southern area of District 5, thanked the Task Force for keeping her area in District 5. She opposed the Community Unity Map’s proposal with respect to this area from District 5 because it has more of a connection to 17th Street rather than District 8 on the other side of the hill.
Neil Sims, District 8 resident, thanked the Task Force for its work. He asked the Task Force to keep the LGBT Center and 55 Laguna in District 8.
Ace Washington, Western Addition native,
Western Addition native, thanked the Task Force for its work and cooperation with various San Francisco communities.
Chris Bowman thanked Task Force Members Leigh and Tidwell for Monday’s work on District 5 and Russian Hill. He also recommended additional adjustments to Russian Hill, and the areas around the University of San Francisco Law School and the University of California San Francisco Dental School.
Rose Hillson, District 2 resident and member of the Japantown Organizing Committee, stated that she appreciated the Task Force’s focus on the northern section of District 5.
Tes Welborn, District 5 resident, thanked the Task Force for its work on the northern section of District 5 but asked the Task Force to also move the southern border of District 5 farther south to include 55 Laguna. She stated that the 55 Laguna project has a lot of impact on District 5.
Nasi Edelman, Founder and member of Open House, asked the Task Force to keep the LGBT Center and 55 Laguna together in District 8. She described the history of LGBT senior issues.
Richard Ivanhoe stated that the Task Force should include more of Golden Gate Park in District 5.
Dan Ling, District 5 resident, recognized the efforts of the Japantown community and supported the Community Unity Map. He stated that 55 Laguna was more of a District 5 project because the District 8 supervisor was not as involved in the project as the District 5 supervisor.
Lois Scott, Laguna Heights resident, thanked the Task Force for being so responsive to public input. She also supported the prior comments from Marlayne Morgan.
Jason Fried, Cole Valley resident, supported the Community Unity Map. He also supported the District 5 northern boundary and the comments from Marlayne Morgan. He also supported the inclusion of 55 Laguna into District 5.
Richard Johnson, Community Partners United, thanked the Task Force for keeping the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, Westside Courts, and Japantown together. He also asked the Task Force to look at the history of the 55 Laguna project.
Nathan Lozera, Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association, stated that 55 Laguna should be in District 5.
Stanley Watson, Open House Board Member, stated that the below market rate housing units in 55 Laguna will be targeted to LGBT seniors.
Hadley Hall, Open House, stated that he thought that one supervisor should be held accountable with respect to the 55 Laguna project, and he thought it would be appropriate for it to be the District 8 supervisor.
Walter Caplan, Forest Knolls Association, spoke about the history of district elections in San Francisco. He also observed that Ella Hill Hutch was elected to the Board of Supervisors as a result of the first district elections in the late 1970’s.
Vice Chair Lam asked the other members of the Task Force whether the Task Force wished to map at the meeting.
Member Schreiber stated that he did not want to create a new map, so that the public could process the last draft. He stated that he would propose further changes at the next meeting.
Member Alonso also supported waiting to create a further draft until the next meeting, especially given the absence of two members.
Vice Chair Lam announced that there would be no line-drawing until the next meeting.
Member Melara wished to discuss uniting the University of San Francisco and the University of California San Francisco campuses, Cathedral Hill, and Portola. She also wished to look at the Latino population in District 9 and the impact of the current working draft map.
Member Tidwell stated that 55 Laguna will require further discussion, as will the Inner Mission. Member Leigh stated that he would like to address the area immediately south of Anza Vista and the Pine Lake Park neighborhood, near Stern Grove. Member Mondejar stated that she wanted a further discussion about Cathedral Hill. Member Leigh stated that he also wanted to look at the area near the intersection of Districts 1 and 5 near Stanyan.
RECESS
The Task Force recessed at 11:27 a.m. and reconvened at 11:41 a.m.
5. Task Force Work Plan. (11:56 a.m. to 12:00 noon)
Vice Chair Lam stated that Chair McDonnell had circulated an outline of the final report.
Member Schreiber asked that the outline be added to the next meeting’s agenda packet.
Public comment: None
Member Melara, seconded by Member Alonso, MOVED to continue this item to the next meeting. The motion passed without objection.
6. Task Force Budget. (12:00 noon to 12:01 p.m)
Vice Chair Lam reported that there was no additional information related to the budget.
Public Comment: None
7. Task Force Member Reports. (12:01 p.m. to 12:03 p.m.)
Member Alonso reported that he had given a presentation to the Richmond District Democratic Club.
Public Comment:
Thea Selby, Lower Haight Merchants Association, asked for a presentation at her group.
8. Public Comment. (12:03 p.m. to 12:07 p.m.)
Tes Welborn wanted to respond to Member Leigh’s question about the northwest corner of District 5 near Stanyan. She stated that the area should be moved into District 1, which is also a proposal made by the Community Unity Map.
Chris Bowman stated that the University of San Francisco Law School should be connected to rest of the University of San Francisco.
Van Lynch disagreed with the Task Force’s borders around the University of San Francisco.
Hannah Hardy, District 5 resident, agreed with Tes Welborn’s statement that the northwest corner of District 5 near Stanyan should be connected with the University of San Francisco and District 1.
Farah asked the Task Force about the incorporation of bus lines into its map.
Ace Washington expressed support for the Task Force’s work. He announced that he would put together a video on the Task Force.
9. Future Agenda Items. (12:07 p.m. to 12:09 p.m.)
Vice Chair Lam wants to keep current agenda items. Member Alonso asked for the draft minutes to be added to the next meeting agenda. Member Melara asked for a list of the media outlets where the Task Force’s advertisements are appearing.
Public Comment:
Hannah Hardy, District 5 resident, spoke about the dilution of the progressive community in District 5.
10. Adjournment.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:09 p.m.
