Bayview community voices
Support for SB 792 (Leno)
We, the undersigned are Bayview Hunters Point residents who support Senate Bill 792 (SB792) Tidelands and submerged lands: City and County of San Francisco: Candlestick Point, which authorizes the sale of state park land that is vastly underutilized and neglected so that the development of housing and site improvements can be provided.
We fully support SB 792 authored by Senator Mark Leno that has been created for the greater good of both the neighborhood it serves and the City and County of San Francisco for the following reasons:
1) Bayview Hunters Point stands at the apex of an opportunity provided by Proposition G, a local ballot initiative, approved by voters in June of 2008, to revitalize a long isolated and poverty stricken area of San Francisco that will be supported by the acquisition of the state park lands identified within the bill.
2) The state park is underutilized by neighboring residents and currently lacks the funding to maintain the park to sustain and/or improve the site, which might enhance and support greater resident use.
3) The area (Bayview Hunters Point) of San Francisco in which the state park is located, has been hard hit by the lack of contract and employment opportunities that has existed for at least 40 years and social indicators express a dire need for economic opportunity.
4) The project as described within the voter approved Proposition G to revitalize the area, can provide vast improvements to the land, short and long term jobs for the residents of the area, followed by housing opportunities that can be afforded to existing residents.
5) Time is of the essence, long time residents and African Americans in particular have faced, isolation, neglect, poverty, crime and disproportionate mortality rates brought about by a generally deplorable environment in which the state park referenced within SB 792 is also located. The passing of Proposition G signaled a long sought after change and the hope of prosperity for anyone who is willing, enterprising in spirit and in action. SB 792 calls for the sale of approximately 40 acres of state park land and marks the end of 40 years of lack of enterprise or employment opportunity for residents and in particular for African Americans who reside in the public and assisted housing located adjacent to the state park. 40 acres in exchange for 40 years of neglect, SB 792 is a fair trade.
For these reasons we urge California legislators to vote YES on SB 792! Preserve the future of residents through economic opportunity and end the isolation that has restricted their ability to enjoy a higher quality of life.
