Seven ACTIVITY NODES
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Good leaders know the way, show the way and go the way.
If the above-mentioned statement gauges the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Planning Department - it would be wanting. That is to put it lightly. The only good thing about the 7 Activity Nodes - is the lucky number 7. Perhaps before I expounded anything it would be prudent to explain to most Planners that it would be nice to work " outside the box". In other words it would have been nice if the Planners could visit " ground zero " and find out for example the toxins in the air, the water and the land. Do a study of the " war zone " where the 7 Nodes are planned. Find out the reality why so many businesses are run down and why so many - FAIL? Perhaps go to the San Francisco Police Department web site and check out the PLOTS. The PLOTS give you a very clear idea of all the crime statistics. Now let me tell the world and shout very loudly - where there are crimes, where they are shootings, where one's welfare and safety are at high risk - no one in their right mind will open any sane business. IT IS NO WONDER THAT OVER $200 MILLION LEAKS OUT OF THE BAYVIEW HUNTERS POINT COMMUNITY - INTO NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS. The cry of the activists and the community elders has been - please give us jobs. It is good that people with skills be given jobs. It is also important that those who are given jobs - do not steal and ruin the businesses of those who give them jobs. Again and again at small meetings linked to Economic Development - small business owners have clearly stated that again and again when local inhabitants were given jobs - more to help them - again and again they have stolen from the owners and ruined many businesses. This is shocking but it is the TRUTH. Recently, we had a small meeting linked to WEED and SEED. This is a Federal Program, which works with the local Law Enforcement Agency to better the community. Small meetings at " ground zero " are held to find out - how best to address Economic Development and Crime. The program is managed by the Mayor's Office. The 7 Nodes planned for the Bayview Hunters Point looks and sounds good and it really looks good on paper. The plan does not have any room for " seed " money to help businesses. In fact soon MUNI 3rd Rail will plow through 3rd Street - the various MUNI Light Rail Hubs are supposed to bring a lot of business to the community. In fact what will happen is the opposite. In the Interim when construction is being carried out - many existing businesses will fail - because that is what happened to many when the rails were being replaced on Market Street. If that is what happened to businesses along the Embacadero when the Light Rail was replaced along the Ferry Building from King Street to Pier 39. There is NO doubt it will happen to 3rd Street. Let me state very clearly - MUNI 3rd Rail will destroy many businesses on 3rd Street which once boasted and had many thriving businesses - good restaurants, dance clubs, fish bait shop, tailors, banks, grocery stores, and so on and so forth. Planners from the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency would do well to work with the community and work with those in the community who understand the community needs. Also, those who have a history of the community. The Planners need to work as a team and adapt themselves to the unique conditions prevailing. Far from doing that - the Planners have applied "stupid" concepts which will come to haunt them. NO WHERE IS THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY ADDRESSED. IMAGINE BUILDING A PROJECT IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR ZONE. IMAGINE BUILDING COMMUNITY PROJECTS WHERE TOXINS IN THE AIR, LAND, AND WATER - ARE FOUND HERE, THERE AND EVERY WHERE. |
