Abby Chen, Curator & Artistic DirectorChinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco

1970- present

• San Francisco: a small, vibrant and impactful city where innovative public policy was created, because of the dedication of a group of activists and law makers who clashed, collaborated for over 4 decades. I personally know some of them.

• 1970 - 700,000 people. Whites 75%. African Am was about 15%. Chinese 7%.

• In 1990, Whites 60%, African Am 12%, Chinese 12%.

• By 2000, city population was 800,000. Whites 50%. blacks declined to 6.3%. Chinese now at 20%.

Words of Wisdom

• Success and failures of many battles. No short cut.

• Commitment of a group of dedicated activists who are willing to persevere no matter what.

• The movement is a cross sector collaboration that can include artist, progressives and corporate sectors.

• Do not limit leadership to 'just the activists'.

High TechCompanies

Silicon Valley

High Tech Companies, San Francisco

www.AntiEvictionMappingProject.net

www.AntiEvictionMappingProject.net

Gentrification History

• Hong Kong Immigrants influx post 1968

• Formation of San Francisco Tenants Union in1970

• Suburbanization of leaving San Francisco &

Emergence of Castro in 1970s

• DotCom boom in 1990 & comeback in 2011

Demographic Information

• In SF-- race question involves black and whites, Chinese, Mexicans and native Americans. Today we have AbC, FOB, 1.5 and the princelings from China.

• In HK-- race question involves expatriates/whites in the super class, HKC, Immigrant Chinese and laborer a from Philippines, Indonesia and other parts of Asia.

San Francisco Chinatown, where Chinese Culture Center is located in

San Francisco Chinatown Keywords School, Xu Tan and Community YouthA social practice project for creative space-making by Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco

San Francisco Chinatown Keywords School, Xu Tan and Community YouthA social practice project for creative space-making by Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco

San Francisco Chinatown Keywords School, Xu Tan and Site-before-MuralA social practice project for creative space-making by Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco

San Francisco Chinatown Keywords School, Xu Tan and Site-before-MuralA social practice project for creative space-making by Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco

Case Study of Chinatown

• Threats and opportunities (Central Subway, Empress, etc)

• Non-profit organizations join forces (Art, Community Housing, Labor, Legislature, Corporation)

• Creative Space-making and neighborhood-keeping (41 Ross, Democracy Walking Tour, California Excursion)

• Nothing black and white

Curator Insight

• Love and Art are the only possible hope I know to mediate rich and poor, high and low

• Culture and art create intangible asset that will increase property value and boost economic vibrancy in underserved neighborhood

• It’s not going to get better but we must believe so

San Francisco Tenant UnionFighting For Tenants Rights Since 1970

Rent Increase

• Based on Bay Area Consumer Price Index(inflation rate)

• 50% of bond rate

• Capital Improvement

Not Covered by Rent Control

• House built after 1979

• Low Income Housing

• Live within a single family house