On the eve of a month long recess, the Board of Supervisors moved to postpone consideration of the Central Market Community Benefit Districts (CBD) until September 12th. Supervisor Daly expressed his sincere gratitude to the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Work Force Development and the Market Street Association for their unwavering cooperation in settling the issue. But despite a “flurry of meetings” leading up to Tuesday’s board meeting, more discussion is required to reconcile the requests of community stakeholders and the organization putting together the plans for the CBD, the Central Market Steering Committee.
CBDs, though new to San Francisco, have become economic staples of several of the larger cities of the United States. With nearly 2,000 nationwide and the largest concentrations in New York and Los Angeles, districts that comply with the policy essentially practice economic self-determination. Property owners in a community benefit district subject themselves to an additional tax intended to provide additional funding for community services. The property owners determine the way in which the revenue is appropriated.
To propose an election to determine if the tax will be levied, 30% of community stakeholders must express their interest in the tax. After assessment, revision, and passage by the board, the resolution is then voted on in the district and settled by a majority vote.
Though Central Market seems destined to hold an election of their own within the coming two months, the specific services the community wishes to direct its funds towards is still undergoing debate. While the city provides baseline funding for certain services including street cleaning and the maintenance of public property, additional factors go into upholding a safe, clean neighborhood. The Central Market Steering Committee and other CBDs throughout the city work to hone in on their communities most pressing needs.
According to Chris Daly’s office, there is still discussion within the community outside of the Central Market Steering Committee as to what benefits their district should receive. One particularly contentious issue is the Steering Committee proposal for increased levels of security in the neighborhood. This would include the employment of private security officers as well as the compensation of police officers providing overtime service.
The South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN) argues the push for increased police presence veers from the true intent of the CBD. And furthermore, that their district suffers primarily from basic quality of life issues a suffocating police presence will not fix.
Director of SOMCAN, April Veneracion, explained the action network is committed to defining what “community benefits” should mean for their neighborhood. The community leaders of SoMa are “coming together to form a platform around affordable housing, job protection, beautification, pedestrian safety, and the preservation of cultural institutions”. Though discussion has taken place, Veneracion asserted the two sides are yet to engage in a substantive dialogue.
Historically, SoMa has lacked a political forum encouraging citizens of all classes to weigh in on community-wide decisions. But SOMCAN is working to reverse this trend. The organization pioneered the Platform for Community Stabilization last year and in doing so asserted its right to evaluate new area plans and development projects based on the “existing assets and needs” of the community. Shockingly, their definition of needs extends to the low-income, non-property owning residents of the neighborhood, a constituency long ignored.
With those interests in mind, SOMCAN has taken a very critical stance towards development in the mid-Market area. The group wants assurances that owners do not pass the costs of the CBD tax on to low-income residents and small businesses.
The Central Market CBD began discussions with community groups late in the game, risking cooperation with the all too often ignored leaders of the district. Fortunately, it was better they began talks late than never. Though Veneracion acknowledged conversations are just in their “beginning stages”, she expressed a firm commitment to working with the Steering Committee to create a truly innovative piece of legislation.
The discussions that will follow offer the promise of economic revitalization without the cost of the communities’ rich cultural heritage. If the newly agreed upon terms are passed before the Board of Supervisors on September 12th, the election to determine the fate of Central Market will take place on October 31st.
