District 5 Neighborhood Action Committee (D5NAC)

An Open Letter About The District 5 Supervisor Appointment

A Job Well Done

Supervisor Mirikarimi has done an excellent job for district 5. From crime reduction initiatives to leadership on the Divisadero Corridor, his efforts have transformed District 5 into a better place to live, work and play.  Thank you Supervisor Mirikarimi for a job well done. Good luck as Sheriff.

Reaching Out Matters

We would like to thank Mayor Lee and his staff for reaching out to the D5NAC and other District 5 groups. It's important that this appointment take into consideration the unique and diverse set of opportunities and challenges that District 5 has.

Leadership Matters

District 5 needs a supervisor that has a long term vision for what the city and District 5 need to achieve by 2020. That's why the D5NAC has put together a list of traits we would like to see in our next supervisor. These include:

• Well respected for building community and working for the common good
• Experience dealing with City bureaucracy
• A consensus builder who listens to all sides
• Someone who strives for the “triple win” – neighborhood, district and city
• Stands up for what is right and just even when it's unpopular
• Practical and Pragmatic with a strong sense of justice and fair play
• A doer more than a talker

District 5 needs a leader who can build on Supervisor Mirikarimi's legacy to fully realize our potential. Our new supervisor needs to listen and internalize the diverse needs of the district and then act.

Strategies to Get There

The main focus of the next District 5 supervisor must be to maintain the successes of the past, push the district forward and to develop the Western Addition. Some of the suggested strategies to get there include:

• Create Sustainable Employment

◦     Teach lasting life skills

◦     Bring back the trades

◦     Diversify the business base

• Opportunity Drives Improvement

◦     Take a chance on radical ideas

◦     Show up and lend a hand

◦     Teach, mentor and coach community leaders

• Leverage Community Investment

◦     Public/Private investment partnerships driven by residents

◦     Think sustainable and modest profit instead of maximizing profit

◦     Build on the rich heritage

• Targeted, Real and Sustained Economic Development

◦     Expand commercial corridors and recruit anchor businesses

◦     Embrace sustainable practices

◦     Work for predictable small business start process in City agencies

• Celebrate Achievement

◦     Look for the small wins

◦     Be present

◦     Build buzz

• Improve The Quality of Life

◦     More Assistance for the Mentally Ill, Homeless and chronic substance abusers

◦     Rigorously enforce anti-graffiti laws

◦     Consistent implementation of Civil Sidewalks

Lets Get Going

The neighborhoods in the D5NAC are excited about the future of District 5. We have seen first hand how a dedicated group of community leaders, businesses, our supervisor, the mayor and city hall staff can transform neighborhoods into great places to work, live and play. All of us play a critical role in improving our district and the D5NAC looks forward to realizing our potential.

Our next supervisor needs continue the momentum. They need to continue the strong leadership that Supervisor Mirikarimi brought to our district, push us forward and take the lead in restoring the Western Addition.

About D5NAC

The D5NAC is made up of ten district 5 neighborhood groups. They include Alamo Square Neighborhood Association (ASNA), Buena Vista Neighborhood Association (BVNA), Cole Valley Improvement Association (CVIA), Divisadero Merchants Association (DMA), Fillmore/Lower Fillmore Neighborhood  Association (FLFNA), Haight Asbury Improvement Association (HAIA), Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association (HVNA), Inner Sunset Park Neighbors (ISPN), Lower

Minutes - 12-15-11 - Community Meeting - F/LFNA

Fillmore/ Lower Fillmore Neighborhood Association (F/LFNA)

Minutes – 12/15/11 – Community Meeting – DRAFT

(Please send any corrections or additions by Jan. 6^th, 2012 to fillmoreneighbors@gmail.com)

1) Mayoral Election Recap

2) Job Creation in the Fillmore

3) Straw Poll Results

4) Presidents Report

5) Committee Report

1) Mayoral Election Recap: 

Action Items: 

• Write a letter to the African American Democratic Club and other organizations in the Fillmore community to discuss establishing a Get Out the Vote campaign for the June 2012 Election.
• Write a letter to the District 5 Neighborhood Action Committee (D5NAC) to make a request that the committee create a voluntary questionnaire for persons actively pursuing the D5 Supervisors appointment, make questionnaire open to all persons, and hold a community forum for the general public to hear from people who are seeking to be appointed to the D-5 Supervisor Seat. 

Discussion Notes:

• Voter Turn-out in the Fillmore by precincts: (3507=41%); (3521=33%); (3515=26%); (3608=47%); (3609/3608=31%0; (3519=39%); (3521=33%); (3522/3523=35%); (3532=32%); and (3518/3520=35%).  
• It’s not just registering new voters, but getting those that are registered out to vote.      
• District 5 could potentially represent a 6^th vote majority for Mayor Ed Lee.
• Historic Fillmore deserves a lot and people are only paying lip service.
• A lot of people fought hard against injustice in the Fillmore.
• Find out what Mayor Ed Lee is looking for and what the community is looking for and deliver someone that satisfies both.
• Strength of will, don’t hope the Mayor listens, make him listen.
• Appointed incumbent has an advantage.
• Many times unknown persons are appointed and handed a political career.
• Care-taker Supervisor versus best person for job.
• We don’t want a puppet in office.
• Mayor Ed Lee skipped the neighborhood association debate for a bar crawl and did not show up to other debates in the Fillmore.       
• 6/5 Split on Board of Supervisors.
• Mayor Ed Lee acknowledges he only got 25% of the vote in D5 the most progressive District in San Francisco. 
• We don’t want someone that gets in because he or she won a popularity contest.
• If someone is popular and effective doesn’t mean he or she should not get the appointment. 
• The appointee should be able to put policy on paper and foster entrepreneurship.   

2) Job Creation in the Fillmore

Recommended Action Items:

• Establish Policy & Government Committee
• Establish Outreach Committee

Discussion Notes:

• System of communication that reaches out to other parts of the Fillmore community not represented at community meetings;
• Outreach that will touch all parts of the community, identify specific needs and what changes people really want to see;
• It was brought up by a City Official in the past that there would be no more construction jobs when the SFRA sunset the Fillmore in 2009.  This ended up not being the case, but to the contrary there are currently painting contracts, major earthquake retrofitting at most schools in the Fillmore, sidewalk repair, several major housing developments and more.
• Locals, African American and other underrepresented groups in the trade industry should get trained or move to become insured, licensed and bonded for construction contracts,
• Contractors should know how to bid. 
• Some jobs have a City wide benefit like America’s Cup.
• What does Fillmore CBD leave behind after its closing?
• Hospitals are the leading employers in the Western Addition by leaps and bounds. 
• The One Stop and City Build should be monitoring the construction sites. 
• More education on the 50% hiring law. 
• Look at the RFP process for City grants and contracts that impact the Fillmore neighborhood. 
• Get commitments or impact decisions makers including the HRC, Redistricting Commission, SF African American Out-migration Task Force, CRC and others. 
• Why are not people with clout at this meeting?
• The neighborhood association should be a bridge for African Americans in the Fillmore and Bayview Hunter’s Point to impact shared issues.
• Find a common issue that the neighborhood association can begin to connect with other neighborhood groups throughout San Francisco. 
• Fillmore Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative is available to present at neighborhood association meetings.

3) Straw Poll Results

The Straw Poll results below are from the approximately 30 people that attended our general meeting on December 15, 2011.  This is the first half of a two-part Straw Poll, the second of which will take place on-line.  The start and end date is TBD.

The straw poll was centered on an article by the S.F. Examiner on 12-11-11 that listed 10 potential appointees to the District 5 Supervisors Seat.  The article created a lot of discussion in the community.  The goal of the straw poll is to build upon the discussion.    

The general concerns that were brought up at the meeting regarding the Straw Poll are that some people only recognize at most half of the names on the list; and that more information about each person’s professional and political background should be available.  Although this is the decision of the Mayor, both the Mayor and communities throughout District Five and San Francisco are going to have to live with the appointed person for at least a year and possibly 4 to 8.  A lot is at stake for City residents with this decision.             

Miscellaneous notes about the Straw Poll:  One ballot respondent circled two names; each was given one vote.  The counting of the votes should have been done in a more formal process with one counter and one monitor.  Finally, about 30% of attendees chose not to participate in the poll, one due to being a City employee; the others did not give a reason.  

Official Results of 12/15/11 Straw Poll

London Breed (47%)

Julian Davis (26%)

Thea Selby (5%)

Phil Ginsburg (5%)

Michael O’Connor (5%)

John Rizzo (5%)   

Ballot List Created From Sunday Examiner Article (Names in no particular order)

London Breed

Christina Olague

Julian Davis

Thea Selby

Quentin Mecke

Malcom Yeung

Michael O’Connor

Gabriel Halland

Michael Breyer

Phil Ginsburg

John Rizzo (*1)

*1=John Rizzo name added to the ballot list by the FLFNA.

4) Presidents Report

• This meeting will be conducted under Robert Rules of Order.  The Presidents recognize the Straw Poll as official business of the neighborhood association. 
• A letter of support was written by the neighborhood association for the West Bay Conference Center to receive (sole-source) contract from OEWD to manage a $78,000 marketing grant for the Fillmore commercial corridor.  This letter was sent to the WBCC on 12/08/11.  The WBCC proposal break-down: 54% directly to local event producers, including emerging producers; 26% to create one part-time marketing position; 9.5% Admin Fee.  Due to the timely nature of the services provided a solid plan and community-driven the neighborhood association believed it was appropriate to support a sole-source contract versus RFP.  The WBCC has supported the neighborhood association and other local organizations through donated meeting space, technical support and/or fiscal sponsorship.  The next step is to invite community stake-holders to read the letter, engage in the process support or against, and give feedback.               

5) Committee Report

Kiosk space donated to the neighborhood association by Fillmore Jazzy’s Stop & Go. 

The Fillmore Speaks video documentary project by local professional to be hosted on the neighborhood association website.

• Presentation:  Just saw PBS documentary about the Fillmore, it stops in the 1980’s.  What happened in the 90’s and today?  There is a lot beneath the surface.  Stories from local people.  Possible monthly podcast, like NPR.
• Community Feedback:  Planet Fillmore is a marketing company that is doing similar work and should be contacted for collaboration.      

6) General Public Comment

• The Fillmore Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative by the Mayor’s Office should be conducting their own monthly meetings in the community, whether or not they present at other groups throughout the month. 

Letter of Support for West Bay Conference Center by F/LFNA

Fillmore/ Lower Fillmore Neighborhood Association

Mailing Address: 1290 Fillmore Street, Suite 105

San Francisco, CA 94115

www.FLFNA.blogspot.com

415-424-0155

December 6, 2011

Ms. Amy Cohen

Director Neighborhood Economic Development

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlet Place

San Francisco, CA 94114

Dear Ms. Cohen:

This letter comes to acknowledge that the Fillmore/ Lower Fillmore Neighborhood Association supports the West Bay Local Development Corporation as they pursue potential funding to continue the Marketing along the Fillmore Corridor.

It is our understanding that there is the potential closure of the Fillmore Community Benefits District. In meeting with Floyd Trammell, Executive Director of West Bay he has articulated the direction and approach to maintain marketing along the Fillmore Corridor. The Fillmore/ Lower Fillmore Neighborhood Association cares about this District and desires that it continue to be a premier destination within San Francisco. We believe that West Bay Local Development Corporation has the experience and connection to the community to be the ideal candidate for funding through your department.

In conclusion, the Fillmore/ Lower Fillmore Neighborhood Association supports the efforts of West Bay Local Development Corporation as they seek external funding to support a program designed to market the Fillmore District. Any programs that can help stimulate business growth, residential attractiveness and community participation will benefit the District and City of San Francisco.

Sincerely,

Majeid Crawford

Majeid Crawford

Interim President

cc: Andrea Baker

       Floyd Trammell