COVID has changed San Francisco in a way that will be compared to other huge historic crises, like the gold rush, natural earthquakes, World War II and the economic seismic shifts of the tech booms.
The response to these tectonic economic changes has typically come from the powerful forces that have controlled the city for generations – real-estate, finance, now tech, and the politicians who have taken their money and done their bidding.
And most of us on the left have spent much of our time fighting back – responding to someone else’s agenda.
This time around, we would like to see a progressive, community-based agenda – something we can support, not oppose.
So 48hills – with the help and support of Matthew Guinasso, a summer intern from the Masters in Urban Affairs Program at USF — is convening a series of forums to discuss what a Just Recovery looks like. We’re going to focus on economic justice, racial justice, and climate justice – with the full understanding that these are all intersectional.
This is an inclusive process; we are asking community activists to join us on panel discussions, but they will also be open to anyone who wants to join in. We are looking to come up with a Just Recovery plan that has input from and the support of the wide and wonderful spectrum of the progressive movement in San Francisco.
We at 48hills have no illusions that we have the answers – but we have no doubt that our friends and allies in the movement do.
The first forum – on Economic Justice – is happening Thursday/29 at 6pm. Anyone who wants to join the discussion is welcome; just email tim@48hills.org and I will send you a Zoom link.
Our panelists so far include Anand Singh, president of UNITE HERE Local 2; Claire Lau from the Just Recovery Campaign Coalition (Chinese Progressive Association, Jobs with Justice & SF Rising); Preston Kilgore, aide to Sup. Dean Preston; Calvin Welch, longtime affordable housing activist, and Paul Boden, Western Regional Advocacy Project.
We welcome community input.
