SoMa tenants vote on proposals for a citywide initiative. Photo by Sara Bloomberg
By Sara Bloomberg
The city’s fifth regional tenants convention, held on Jan. 25 just blocks away from Twitter’s mid-market headquarters, addressed the unique needs of the South of Market and Tenderloin neighborhoods, where gritty SROs exist alongside luxury condos.
It’s precisely this stark contrast of living conditions, tenants said, that makes the broken promises of the 2011 Twitter tax breaks so apparent. Community members say they aren’t seeing the benefits from agreements that the tech companies are supposed to have with the city in exchange for not owing any payroll taxes.
“They’re gonna be here for better or for worse,” said Hatty Lee of the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, referring to the tech companies and startups moving into District 6. “How do we keep them accountable, talk about the wealth that’s not being taxed and get the city to take responsibility for what they created?”
Roughly 70 SRO residents, seniors, people with disabilities and young artists and students filled the community center at the Bayanihan Community Center at Mission and 6th streets to address their housing concerns and brainstorm creative solutions. (more after the jump)
I find it ironic that TNDC would send a rep to this meetings asking for accountability when their property managers are levelling eviction notices to some of their tenants for the same petty nuances umbrella. A organization that is suppose to help alleviate homelessness is using the current law to do just that, send people to the streets.
I got there late and could not get my concern into the mix. I am concerned about the city’s definition of short-term rental. When the Chiu legislation of last year proposed to put a halt to landlords converting units to short term rental, it did nothing to halt the conversion in my building and I’m sure in other buildings as well because the city defines short term rental as anything less than 30 days.
A corporation can still save money by renting the apartment for 30 days rather than a hotel room, even if their employee only stays 2 or 3 weeks!
When I brought this up with housing folks, I was told that it is because one needs to live in an apartment for more than 30 days to establish tenancy. I’m sure that this requirement can be kept while still identifying short-term rental on newly rented units to 90 days, or even 6 months.
My dilapidated, filthy building that is sinking on one side (in the Tenderloin) is now over 75% converted into furnished studio apartments, complete with wi-fi and plush towels, that rent for $2300 per month!