Community

Theo Miller Seeks to Implement a Black Agenda in San Francisco

Published

10 years ago

October 27, 2014

The San Francisco Main Public Library auditorium was packed with Black students and parents as Theo Miller paced the floor. It was a Saturday morning in early September and, as the organizer for the African American Family Breakfast and Resource Fair, Miller wanted to make sure everything was right.

While he had been working for the city over the past year, it was also an important moment for him. He wanted to make sure the event was a success, and it was his first real introduction to San Francisco’s African American community.

As a special adviser to Mayor Ed Lee, Miller is his liaison to the African American community and director of the San Francisco Out Migration Initiative, which stems from the Out Migration report.

Commissioned by former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, the Out Migration report studied and looked at the decline of Black people living in San Francisco.

In 1970, there were over 100,000 Black people in San Francisco, as they made up 15 percent of the cities population. Today, those numbers have dwindled to just at 6 percent of the cities population and roughly 50,000 people.

The numbers dropped in part due to the Redevelopment Agency, which moved Blacks out of the Western Addition and parts of Bay View. But also due to the high price of housing and black families wanting to live in safer and newer neighborhoods.

In the last 30 years, of all the major U.S. cities, San Francisco’s Black community has seen the steepest decline of residents leaving the city.

The Out Migration report looked at some of the historic trends that led to the decline of Blacks in San Francisco, as well as coming up with remedies to grow the Black community in San Francisco.

One of the remedies was improving the education for Black students in the San Francisco Unified School District.

This breakfast meeting was seen by Miller as a step in trying to address long standing issues. Over 300 parents and students attended the networking event, as it connected parents to the various programs within the public school and non-profit education sector that can help African American students.

“We are trying to reach the African American community, letting them know about all of the educational resources available to them,” said Miller.

“It takes a village to raise a child. Not a mayor, not a supervisor, not a corporation. It takes everyone helping to make things work.”

It will be a daunting task to try and address the multitude of issues that impact African Americans in San Francisco.

The main three issues outlined in the Out Migration report that led to the decline of Blacks in San Francisco included the lack of affordable housing, lack of jobs and educational issues. If there is one who may be able to make a dent in these issues, it may be Miller.

A native of Los Angeles, Miller spent his summers in San Francisco, as he had a aunt that lived in Bay View Hunters Point.

A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, he practiced corporate law in New York for a few years before moving to San Francisco to practice law.

“Mayor Lee has been in city government a long time, and he trusts competent people who care about the issues,” said Miller. “I took this job, because I wanted to improve and help the Black community in the city.”

As the liasion to the Mayor, Miller is tasked with trying to come up with ways to keep Black people in San Francisco, by using public and private partnerships to improve the lives of Black people in education, housing and economics.

“San Francisco has a $8.4 billion budget, and one thing we can do, as a city, is to have the city government leverage departments across the city to make sure there are opportunities for African Americans in San Francisco,” said Miller.

Tyra Fennell, a Black community activist who works with the San Francisco Art Commission, called Miller a very intelligent man. But she wondered how much can he do to help African Americans in San Francisco?

“He gets a salary, but he has no budget to implement anything,” said Fennell. “He can partner with people and he is finding partnerships and being creative, but without a budget what can you really do?”

Ed Donaldson, a Black community activist and candidate for supervisor in District 10, also questioned how much Miller can do.

“Miller is a cool dude, but he is not going to rock the boat and make the structural changes that need to be made,” said Donaldson.

Miller is upbeat about the situation. He said that housing is starting to boom in certain areas, and more outreach is being done to keep San Franciscans in the city instead of moving to the suburbs such as Antioch, Pittsburgh and Vallejo.

The city government is making progress in hiring Blacks in city departments such as Public Works and Public Utilities Commission, according to Miller.

“There are 2,000 technology and pharmaceutical companies in San Francisco, that employ over 50,000 people,” said Miller. “There needs to be more Black folks working in these areas.”

Miller said that pressure needs to be put on companies to hire more native San Franciscans, as well as hiring Black people from other areas of the country.

“We need to have an increase in migration of Black professional people into San Francisco. Black folks from Memphis, Atlanta and the Northeast coming here,” continued Miller. “We need to recruit more Black professionals to San Francisco.”

He also wants city agencies to start recruiting people from some of the historical black colleges and universities. Currently, out of the 6 percent of Black residents in San Francisco, Miller said that 70 percent are low-income or working poor.

“The problems for Blacks in San Francisco are very complex,” continued Miller. “But if we have a commitment to address the issues, then we could really do something for this city.”

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Activism

S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System

Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church. Photo courtesy Third Baptist Church.

By Carla Thomas

San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church hosted a rally and meeting Sunday to discuss hatred toward African American students of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church, along with leadership from local civil rights groups, the city’s faith-based community and Black community leadership convened at the church.

“There has been an epidemic of racial slurs and mistreatment of Black children in our public schools in the city,” said Brown. “This will not be tolerated.”

According to civil rights advocate Mattie Scott, students from elementary to high school have reported an extraordinary amount of racial slurs directed at them.

“There is a surge of overt racism in the schools, and our children should not be subjected to this,” said Scott. “Students are in school to learn, develop, and grow, not be hated on,” said Scott. “The parents of the children feel they have not received the support necessary to protect their children.”

Attendees were briefed last Friday in a meeting with SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne.

SFUSD states that their policies protect children and they are not at liberty to publicly discuss the issues to protect the children’s privacy.

Some parents said they have removed their students from school while other parents and community leaders called on the removal of the SFUSD superintendent, the firing of certain school principals and the need for more supportive school board members.

Community advocates discussed boycotting the schools and creating Freedom Schools led by Black leaders and educators, reassuring parents that their child’s wellbeing and education are the highest priority and youth are not to be disrupted by racism or policies that don’t support them.

Virginia Marshall, chair of the San Francisco NAACP’s education committee, offered encouragement to the parents and students in attendance while also announcing an upcoming May 14 school board meeting to demand accountability over their mistreatment.

“I’m urging anyone that cares about our students to pack the May 14 school board meeting,” said Marshall.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

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Bay Area

Mayor London Breed: State Awards San Francisco Over $37M for Affordable Housing

On April 30, Mayor London N. Breed announced San Francisco has been awarded more than $37.9 million in funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as part of the State’s Multifamily Housing Program (MHP). The HCD loan will provide the final funding necessary for development of Casa Adelante – 1515 South Van Ness, a 168-unit affordable housing project located in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed (File Photo)

By Oakland Post Staff

The HCD loan will provide the final funding necessary for development of Casa Adelante – 1515 South Van Ness, a 168-unit affordable housing project located in San Francisco’s Mission District.

The new development at 1515 South Van Ness Ave. will provide 168 affordable homes to low-income families, formerly homeless families, and persons living with HIV earning between 25-80% of the San Francisco Area Median Income (AMI).

In addition, the project is anticipated to provide family-friendly amenities and ground floor community-serving commercial spaces that preserve the prevailing neighborhood character of the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District.

“This funding unlocks our ability to move on building affordable housing units for families in San Francisco at a crucial time. We understand the level of need for more housing that is accessible, and like the state, the city continues to face a challenging budget cycle,” said Breed. “1515 South Van Ness is a good example of what can be achieved in San Francisco when you have strong community partnerships and an unwavering commitment to deliver on critical needs for our residents.”

“From the beginning of my term as Supervisor, I have fought to bring affordable housing to 1515 South Van Ness” said Supervisor Hillary Ronen. “In the interim, the site has been utilized for homeless services and shelter, and I am thrilled that HCD has recognized the value of this development, and we are finally ready to break ground and bring 168 affordable homes to low income and formerly homeless families in the Mission.”

Owned and occupied by McMillan Electric Company until 2015, the City and County of San Francisco purchased 1515 South Van Ness Avenue in June 2019 with the intent of developing new affordable housing.

In November 2020, the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) released a Multi-site Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking qualified developers to build affordable housing on the site, and subsequently selected Chinatown Community Development Corporation (CCDC) and Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) in May 2021 to develop the site.

The project is expected to begin construction in winter 2025.

“A strong, long-term push by Mission advocates to make this site 100% affordable is now paying off, with 168 family units that include services and childcare. People of color communities know what they need, and we are excited to be in partnership with a team, consisting of MEDA, CCDC, and MOHCD, that listens,” said Malcolm Yeung, Executive Director at CCDC.

“We are excited to be in partnership with CCDC, yet again, and for the opportunity to develop intergenerational affordable housing in the City’s Mission District,” said Luis Granados, executive director at MEDA.

Increasing housing affordable to lower-income and vulnerable residents is a key priority in the City’s Housing Element which calls for additional funding for affordable housing production and preservation, as well as Mayor Breed’s Housing for All Executive Directive that sets out the steps the City will take to meet the bold goal of allowing for 82,000 new homes to be built over the next eight years.

Tuesday’s funding announcement emphasizes the importance of regional and state collaboration in order to reach our housing and climate goals.

“We are thrilled—not just to bring a project of this size to a community with great need — but to do so with community-based developers and their partners who understand the neighborhood and sensitivities around cultural preservation,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez.

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Community

Opening Soon: Vibe Bistro Is Richmond’s New Hub for Coffee, Cuisine, Community and Culture

Vibe Bistro, located at 1503 MacDonald Ave., Suite B, Richmond, CA, is announcing its grand opening week, May 21-26, 2024. The café will be a hub where people can come together to enjoy coffee, cuisine, community, and culture, according to the establishment’s owner, Free Brown.

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Vibe Bistro Logo

By Y’Anad Burrell

Vibe Bistro, located at 1503 MacDonald Ave., Suite B, Richmond, CA, is announcing its grand opening week, May 21-26, 2024.

The café will be a hub where people can come together to enjoy coffee, cuisine, community, and culture, according to the establishment’s owner, Free Brown.

“Vibe Bistro is Richmond’s neighborhood haven for soulful coffee, delicious food, and vibrant experiences. Vibe Bistro is not just a coffee shop; it’s a place where ‘coffee meets community” says Brown.

It occupies the space formerly known as the Richmond Food Hall, which was also the former location of OakStop Richmond.

During the grand opening week, folks are invited to join in celebrating the spirit of community. From Tuesday, May 21, Vibe Bistro will be open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, serving specialty coffees, convenient grab-n-go options, and delicious breakfast and lunch selections.

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 23, from noon to 2 p.m., followed by surprise festivities that the owners say you will need to experience in-person to fully enjoy.

Vibe Bistro’s art exhibition opens May 23, through Sunday, May 26. It features a special artist talk led by renowned curator Jowhari Trahan, a story on glass, and a mural unveiling by Richmond’s own Nakari Syon.

Additionally, the community is invited to immerse themselves in artistic expression throughout the week with art and craft classes.

Get ready for ‘Feature Fridays’ at Vibe Bistro, where they will showcase the culinary creations of local food businesses. This initiative is not just about food, it’s about fostering a spirit of collaboration and community.

All local businesses are invited to be part of this exciting journey, says Brown.

For more information, visit www.VibeBistro.com, sign up for the newsletter to stay connected, and follow all social media platforms at @TheVibeBistro.