Community Planning 101
Community-led planning has always been integral to the work of SOMCAN. We firmly believe that any new development must take into account the needs and priorities of existing neighborhood residents, particularly those whose voices have been pushed to the margins. With the proposed Central SoMa Plan making its rounds through City Hall, as well as with budget season underway, we have been conducting a series of Community Planning 101 workshops. These workshops are designed to familiarize participants with planning terminology and concepts, as well as to hear firsthand from community stakeholders about their issues and ideas for neighborhood improvement. Ultimately, our goal is to engage SoMa’s working-class immigrant community around planning and policies affecting their daily lives, and to inspire collective action and organizing. Here are some highlights:
Pedestrian Safety | Friday, February 9th
Participants were divided into groups of youth and adults, and facilitators posed the question: “How might we create a walking experience that feels comfortable during the day and night?” Suggestions from the youth group focused on improvements to road design and street landscaping: wider curbs, wider pedestrian lanes, mid-block crossings, and longer pedestrian crossing times. The adult group voiced concerns about safety and cleanliness, particularly in the alleyways. One resident claimed to have seen human waste lying on the ground for three days before being picked up, and suggested regularly-scheduled cleanings twice a day.
Parks, Recreation Centers & Open Spaces | Friday, February 16
Community members, ranging in age from preschooler to older adult, attended the second workshop. Everyone had a great time brainstorming and sketching out their wildest ideas for what a truly public, truly open space might have and look like. After learning the differences between parks and Privately-Owned Public Open Spaces (POPOS), attendees agreed that they much preferred parks. Given the sheer density of the SoMa and the often overcrowded living situations of many residents, attendees expressed the need for more parks and open spaces for community members to gather, relax, and commune with nature. They also stressed the need for regular programming and maintenance.
Affordable Housing | Friday, February 23
The third workshop in the series took on a roundtable discussion format. Participants shared their experiences applying for the housing lottery through the Mayor’s Office of Housing. One participant said that she had applied twelve times with no luck, while another expressed concern about her credit score being lowered each time she applied. A construction worker expressed frustration with the narrow Area Median Income (AMI) requirements, which excluded many working families. One mother who had gotten lucky with the lottery had to take a pay cut at her job just to continue meeting income requirements to stay housed. The group came to the unanimous conclusion that “affordable housing” in San Francisco is nowhere near affordable enough, given the city’s notoriously high cost of living.
Please join us this Friday, March 16 from 6-8pm at the SOMCAN office for the fourth and final workshop in our Community Planning 101 series. The focus will be on the correlation between jobs, transit, and public health. No prior planning experience is necessary. SoMa residents and workers are especially encouraged to attend. Food and childcare will be provided.
At the end of the workshop series, we will be producing a full-color, fully-illustrated book that summarizes our findings and recommendations that can then be shared with developers, policymakers, and funders, as well used as a training tool for advocates, organizers, and community members.