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by Kevin Epps
San Francisco – Against the backdrop of Plaza East, tenants and their allies will gather for a press conference on May 29, 2024, demanding accountability from the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA). The event, organized by the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco, aims to shed light on verbal commitments made to Plaza East tenants by top HUD officials during a site visit in March.
Plaza East, situated in The Fillmore, one of San Francisco’s last remaining historic Black communities, has seen a drastic decline in its Black population, losing over 50 percent in just 34 years, with over 6,000 residents displaced in the last decade alone. Following extensive organizing efforts and meetings between Plaza East resident leaders and HUD officials, the SFHA has been urged to honor critical demands, marking a significant victory for residents.
These demands include the removal of certain entities from Plaza East’s involvement, transparent redevelopment plans, allocation of funds for resident programs and addressing the backlog of repairs.
Kelvin Soodeen, a long-time resident and community leader, expresses cautious optimism, stating, “These commitments from SFHA are a step in the right direction, but we need to ensure they follow through. Our community has fought too hard for too long to see empty promises.”
Isaac Santiago, a tenant organizer with the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco, echoes Soodeen’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for tangible actions to accompany the promises made by SFHA. As Plaza East tenants continue their fight for justice and accountability, they remain steadfast in their resolve to hold SFHA accountable until every promise is fulfilled. For more information, visit hrcsf.org or follow @housingrightsSF on Instagram and Twitter.
SF Bay View National Black Newspaper Executive Editor Kevin Epps is an award-winning filmmaker, author and Dad. He can be reached at kevin@sfbayview.com.
