Public investment has transformed our neighborhood. The playground is unique in that it serves a number of age groups, unlike many of the other properties, it serves small children with the childrens play grounds and clubhouses that has basketball courts, it has an outdoor soccer field and so there were a lot of people that came to the table that had their wish list and we did our best to make sure that we kind of divided up spaces and made sure that we kept the old features of the playground but we were able to enhance all of those features. The playground and the soccer field and the tennis fields and it is such a key part of this neighborhood. We want kids to be here. We want families to be here and we want people to have athletic opportunities. We are given a real responsibility to insure that the publics money is used appropriately and that something really special comes of these projects. We generally have about an opportunity every 50 years to redo these spaces. And it is really, really rewarding to see children and families benefit, you know, from the change of culture, at each one of these properties and as a result of, what you see behind us, more kids are playing on our soccer fields than ever before. We have more girls playing sports than we have ever had before. [ applause ] fp and we are sending a strong message that San Francisco families are welcome and we want you to stay. This park is open. Good morning, everybody. Welcome to the rebirth of Westside Courts which was the second oldest Public Housing development in San Francisco but also one of the most stable communities in San Francisco, and were here to celebrate today a new life, and youre going to hear more about what thats about today. My name is bill witte, im chairman of related california. On behalf of tabernacle cbc, im here to welcome you. Im here to welcome someone who needs no introduction, the first African American mayor of San Francisco, but more important, a woman who is fore, by and of this community. A leader not only of this community, but of the whole city. Our honorable and future mayor, london breed. [applause] the hon. London breed hello, everyone. Thank you so much for being here. First of all, i just want to say to the people who live in Westside Courts, congratulation do congratulations. This is truly your victory. I know were going to be swearing in the Resident Council here, and well get to that in just a moment. I just want to start by saying this is pretty amazing. I grew up, as many of you know, in the Western Addition community, and i grew up in Public Housing in plaza east, and the conditions of plaza east were over 20 years where i live were similar to the conditions that exist right here in Westside Court before this renovation. When i first became supervisor, i talked to mayor ed lee about Public Housing and how we werent meeting our obligation in Public Housing to allow people to live in dignity. It was very personal for me because of my own personal experience and frustration. So nothing was more important to me than trying to focus on making the kinds of changes that will better the conditions of the people who live here. Mayor lee agreed, and we worked really hard, and the r. A. D. Program is something when olson lee was director of the Mayors Office of housing, we brought that idea to the community. And a lot of folks were a apprehensive, because commitments had been made in the past but not the follow through. I am so proud now because we are renovating over 3500 Public Housing units all over the city and changing really the conditions of how people live. And again, some of the basic things that so many people take for granted because i understand what it feels like to live in a community where sometimes the windows are broken and the heat doesnt work and the water doesnt work, and the toilet is stopped up. And we never even had showers at plaza east, and the roaches and pests and all the stuff that frustrated me to no end has frustrated the residents that lived here for years. So this is about keeping a promise, a promise to change the conditions of a number of Public Housing units in San Francisco so they feel not only respected but they truly feel a part of the city and county of San Francisco as a whole. So a number of people contributed to making this happen, and i know one of those persons sadly is not here with us today. Michael palmer who worked for the Mayors Office of housing was a real advocate for something that i cared about, and that was making sure that we didnt displace the residents while we did the construction work so people didnt feel like we were trying to push them out. And his understanding of construction and combining that with his understanding and love of people made a difference not only in this project but in so many projects throughout the city that we are rehabbing. Michaels family is here today, and id ask you to stand and be acknowledged, and thank you for coming. [applause] the hon. London breed this place belongs to the community, and i just wanted to also take this opportunity to thank so many people for making this possible. Im glad we didnt make tom clader a heart attack, because he along with tabernacle spent so much time working with the people in this community. I want to thank bank of america for not only investing in this project but investing in other rehabilitation projects throughout our city, and i want to thank the Mayors Office of housing so much. This was really a partnership. Along with our spiritual leaders in the community, reference Arnold Townsend and reverend amos brown, thank you for making sure that the Community Takes front and center in any of those projects that we have worked onto rablth. And id also like to acknowledge our new castle state treasurer, fiona mah who is here today. Her office provided the tax credits. Thank you so much. Without those tax credits, we wouldnt be able to do this project. It takes a village and a lot of hard work. I think about so many of the projects that ive been able to attend a lot of these projects. As soon as im asked, im right there. I feel like this is something that i would have likes to have happen to me growing up in plaza east, but at this time, im so grateful that its happening here for the residents of plaza east. It did take a village. And i know royal and the folks who pointed from painted from this neighborhood and were able to provide this community with a place they so deserve. And we know there is a lot more work to do. When i think about today, i really think about mayor ed lee, and something he would always say. Its not just about making new promises, its about keeping old promises. And today, we keep a promise to this community to not only invest in the place that they live but continue to provide programming and resources and other things that will not only support this community but will make sure that this community thrives. So at this time, on behalf of the city and county of San Francisco, i would like to honor the members of the Tenant Association and thank you for your commitment and your leadership. And and i want to also say to all the residents here working on your behalf, thank you for your service, and at this time, we would like to swear them in. So come on up. [applause] the hon. London breed so jonathan street is not with us today, unfortunately. Hes the new president and hes not feeling well, but we have joe bullocks, cassandra walton, and mary jones. They are going to be sworn in and really excited to administer the oath of office, so lets do it at this time. All right. Are we ready . So please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I and state your name to solemnly answer to hold the office for which i have been elected. I promise to be committed to the rule and policies established by the United States department of housing and urban development in conjunction with the San Francisco housing authority, the Westside Courts lease and housing rules, and the Westside Courts Tenant Association bylaws bylaws. To enhance and increase the quality of life to the residents and to the work in a cooperative manner with the San Francisco housing authority, the city and county of San Francisco, and the Westside Courts ownership. And [laughter]. The hon. London breed and Property Management as well as other community partners. I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion and swear that i will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which i am about to enter. Congratulations. [applause] the hon. London breed all right. Congratulations. Thank you all so much for being here today. This is the new tenant council, and they will serve this community. Lets give them all the support they need to succeed. Thank you all so much. [applaus [applause] good afternoon. My name is randy walton. I am the treasurer of the westside Tenant Association. I am the treasurer now. I want the Vice President , but today, im the treasurer, and i welcome you all, and i just want to let you know that this is a journey that were on, and we all take it highly seriously. I want to i did hant have chance to think about this, to write a speech today, because i was asked to do this at the last moment. So i want to let you know that Westside Courts to me, its amazing because when i first came here, it was nothing like this. And i came from southern california. This is my first time limit in the housing projects, when i at the same to San Francisco. I had a lot of fare and a lot of apprehension about it. The manager when i first came here, said they changed it. It waesnt as explosive now as it was then. But its a safe place now. The council, we bind together to make things happen. We have a lot of plans that we want to make happen for the residences. We have a lot of plans for the kids. We have a lot of things that we hope to do, and we cant do it alone. We want to be able to do it for the kids, for the adults, and everyone included. Thank the management here at we we westside for working with us, todd, and everyone else. So as we go on our journey here, just be patient with us and know that were working for the residents. Were working for you, and have a blessed day. [applause] hello, everyone. My name is cassandra bennett. I am the secretary of the tenants association. As part of the council, i want no more than to see the tenants advance and have our Property Management and the people that are over Westside Court just treat the tenants with respect. And just tenants come together and love each other and embrace each other and look out for one another. Without a team effort, we have nothing, because divided we stand, and together we fall. Im just glad to be able to stand in front of you today, and hope the tenants appreciate the face lift, and it is a face lift. I must tell you, it looks really nice. Theres still work to be done, and as long as the tenants take care and work together, we can make things happen. I look forward with the rest of the team to make things happen here and away from here. I embrace change, not only here at Westside Courts but outside of Westside Courts. Nothing matters but your life. Your right to privacy, your right to dignity, your right to respect, period. So with that, i just want to say thank you. [applause] well, i dont think i could say it any better than our last couple of speakers did. As mayor breed said, this is a partnership, with the residents and the city. Our plan is to own this pretty much forever. Tabernacle cbc who was at first led by just a partner, but who is now a friend, the reverend james mccray who himself has a history in the Western Addition. Reverend mccray . [applause] mr. Witte, thank you very much for that very kind introduction. I noticed that he introduced me as reverend. That changes what i was going to do just a little. I would like to ask all of the related team, if youre here, stand up. And i would like to ask, if theyre here, all of the tab tabernacle team, standup. [applause] all of the r. M. H. Team, standup. [applause] reverend banks, if youre here, standup theyre working. I think the others have that i wanted to thank have been thanked. The city, the bank, the community, but id now like to ask all of us to standup, and id like to ask the leaders to come back and stand here a minute. And turnaround, and i just want all of us to extend our hands towards the leaders in our community and just in our own way wish them strength, courage, and then, my favorite, peace. Because if they have peace, they can extend hope, and what we need today is hope. What this project and the others in the community are about is extending hope. This is the first facility primarily built for African Americans has been brought over into the 21st century. Hope related, and the city and the community and the banks have found a way to put together a package that will enable such a venture to come to reality. Hope, and along the way, organizations have been created, like tabernacle and f. R. H. That now have an ability to carry the hope on. Thank you, San Francisco. Im so glad to be able to go around this country and say im a native. Weve got a lot of problems, but we are struggling to keep the hope alive as the problems of this 21st century bombard us. Leaders, thank you, because your legacy carries the hope on, and thanks to each and every one of you. [applause] i am now really happy to introduce your supervisor, vallie brown. Again, someone who doesnt really need an introduction in this Community Whos been active in this community and the communities in district five for really decades, bringing a level of excitement and kpi and commitment that you dont often see in city hall. The mayor and when vallie brown was her top aide, they pushed forward a priority to allow residents to stay here who were already here in Public Housing. Please welcome supervisor vallie brown, who has to stay here. Remember that in the next year. [applause] supervisor brown hello, everyone, and thanks for being here. I was just reminiscing this election, when mayor breed won the election, she said vallie, i need you to come down and work again for me. We asked her, i remember, mayor breed, she said, my number one priority is Public Housing. Whats your second priority . Public housing. Whats your third priority . Public housing. And after the third time, we said, we got it. Public housing is your priority. We came over to Westside Courts. You know, its the second oldest Public Housing in the city. We walked, and we talked we talked to residents about their situation here, what they were thinking, how that they you know, how did they feel about living here . A lot of everybody was grateful, but also, we realized this needs work. This complex needed work, and it needed rehab. And when then mayor ed lee came in, he talked about r. A. D. And one of the things that i was really passionate and so is mayor breed, when we build housing or remodel housing, there is no displacement. That is something we felt strong about, no displacement when youre building housing or rehabbing housing. Because as you know, and many people that live here, this community here is the heart of this area. They are the ones that have been here, have raised and made this community what it is, this really strong, heartfelt community. So there was no way that anyone could move or be moved out and displaced. And when i come when i became supervisor, that was one of the first places i visited was west side courside court, what was happening to the residents, because i needed to make sure that we save this wonderful asset, and we have to make sure that our residents are safe. And so im just really proud to be here today as your supervisor and say that whats one of my priorities . Public housing, yes. So thank you, everyone, and i hope you get to walk around and just look at this. Its absolutely beautiful. Thank you. [applause] so mayor breed made reference to all of the partners, the Mayors Office of housing. Kate hartley and her staff are here today, provided a lot of money and lets just say moral support. But bank of america has had an outsized role in this r. A. D. Program, not only in Westside Court, but in every development of the city, providing virt reall of the debt and equity financing. And i think the total financing is up in the 700 or 800 million range, which is pretty remarkable when you think that one institution has been responsible for that. With that, id like to call to the podium liz minnick, an executive with bank of america in the bay area. [applause] thank you, and good afternoon are we on . There we go. Thank you and good afternoon, everyone oops. I can talk really loud. I can probably do it without it. [inaudible] all right. Okay. Thank you so much, and bank of america is actually so pleased. Its actually 2. 2 million in financing. So when you think about the rental assistance demonstration and the ability of Public Housing within this amazing city of San Francisco, bank of america was so proud to be able to step up and provide that commitment of the 2. 2 million. Just to put it in perspective, we financed 4. 4 billion around the country, and 2. 2 came right here in the city where we were founded. Its so exciting to see the rehabilitated Westside Court, and be a part of it. Wed like to continue the work with the Mayors Office, with kate and her team at the department of housing, and all of our Wonderful Bank of america teammates that made this possible. Thank you so much. [applause] how often does a state official come to an event like this . Fiona mah has a long history as a san franciscan of serving this city, as a supervisor, state emly, in the board of equalization, and now as recently elected treasurer in the state of california. Just so you know, its the treasurer who facilitates all of the lowincome bonds and tax credits that finances this and all other projects like it. So shes a really good person to know. So its my pleasure to introduce a really good friend, state treasurer fiona mah [applause] thank you so much. Its my honor to be here. Some of you know, i started out as a District Representative to john burton back in 1995. And back then, you know, i was just learning and many of the people that i was working with are still here, the reverend mccray, reverend townsend, amos brown, and todd clader are still here, and we are still here, right . Still here. And then, to the new leaders, our dynamic mayor, london breed, and supervisor vallie brown, thank you for continuing to lead us here in San Francisco. Ive been living here in San Francisco for 30 years, but bill witte was here actually longer, and he was one of the senior consultants, advisors to Dianne Feinstein when she was mayor, and his commitment to lowincome housing, bar none, is one of the best examples of what developers should be doing, could be doing, and we welcome doing more. To the members of the westside tenants association, welcome. Everyone is going to be sending you text messages, emailing you, calling you. So welcome. I was a Tax Collector on the state board of equalization. Now that im your state treasurer, i have money, and i have grants and bonds and loan programs, and i am just so honored to be here today working with all of you. I have to tell you, our tcac and cdlac, because of folks like bill witte, we are going to revamp those two agencies. We want to be forward looking and oriented and also forward looking. We had a meeting yesterday, and we talked about some of these properties, and how somethingment is not doing their jobs. Were putting together a list of the good actors and bad actors, and those that are bad actors are not going to get anymore tax credits moving forward until they cleanup their act. We also talk about displacement when these applicants come before us at tcac and cdlac, if you are going to rehab these units, where are the tenants going to go . And then also making sure that we are a onestop shop. So when Developers Come to us, and they have projects, we want to help. We want to put together the deals with you instead of thank you very much, you dont qualify, click. We want to say you dont qualify for 9 , but how about 4 . How about if you put housing along with daycare or a coop or food clinic . We have the money for all of this at the treasurers office. I just want to say call me any time. We want to be part of the solution. Thank you so much. [applause] there was of course a lot of work to get this development to the condition that it is today. And theres a bricks and mortar side, and theres a people side. And the bricks and mortar side, i want to thanks a few people. Particularly, lisa grady, our project manager. Lisa . [applause] and our Property Management team, one of the good ones, i like to think, our regional director, danny rivera, and site manager, shamika rochelle. [applause] and two people that weve worked with a long time on a lot of developments and are going to hopefully continue to work with a lot more. First of all, bob nibi, the president of nibi contractors. Bob . [applause] they have to work with the community, with some local subcontractors to get to where we are today. And Mimi Sullivan, the architect who labored with us, we were talking earlier about making sure we got just the right colors on the new building, and hopefully, the residents will tell us if we need to fix that, so thank you, mimi. [applause] but its not just about bricks and mortar, and early on, working with tabernacle, my friend of 100 years, reverend Arnold Townsend, and his partner, gary banks, it was about this has to work for the residents. And i say to you today that i hope and expect that five and ten years from now, youll hold us to this standard. This isnt just about finishing the project, this is starting the project. So gary, arnold, todd, and everybody, thank you for that. To conclude the program now, i think it is particularly fitting that my friend, reverend Arnold Townsend, come up and lead us in maybe a little bit of prayer. I mean, i dont know that anybody speaks for the Western Addition better or longer than arnold. Arnold . [applause] if you, and its just wonderful to see everyone, and let me just say a couple of things real quick. I know that you all are sitting, looking at me, and what youre thinking, ive been last on the program before. And when youre last on the program, you know that everybody in the office just wants you to hurry up. So i am going to try to hurry up. Let me say but a couple of things. Im glad you said the staff, bill, so i dont have to. It was some outstanding work going on. We had to be tough to get it done, but everyone did their job, played their role. Big and i like i said, we go back a very long ways. Hes not quite as old as i am, but hes close. Hes close. And really, you know, we knew each other around the times of the feinstein days, and the mon cone moscone and agnos days. But whether you know it or not, we used to play basketball, and bill used to have a pretty good point guard game. He played east coast style, you know. They dont do much outside shooting, but they can go to the hoop pretty good. He can go to the hoop pretty good. So he called me and said, arnold, im doing some work in the Western Addition. Im coming back to town to do some work, and i need you to come help me. I said bill, im flattered, but the days of me coming into the office at 9 00 is over. He said no, no, its pardon ti parttime. You wont have much to do. But he was generous and wrote me in, and i came back, and im so glad i did. I finally did something smart after all these years of living. I said bill, im older, and i dont do much heavy lifting. I have my friend and Association Younger brother that i need to have come on the project. He said who is he . I said hes gary banks. He said well, i dont know him, but we talked, and gary came on, and it was one of the most brilliant things ive ever done. Im serious. What gary put together here and at pitts plaza, but the people who worked directly with the residents, dealing with problems they had and i mean things you wouldnt think of, but everything from Child Support helping people that have Child Support issues, so people can go to work, help with g. E. D. S, they did it. It wasnt necessarily what they were told to do, but he put together a team, danielle banks, who kind of manages things, and then robin and darlene and now tiana. He put together a team that didnt look at the job description, but when a problem came into the door, they set out to solve it. And they were absolutely brilliant, and if i keep talking about it, im going to get emotional because i love seeing people uplifted. Let me say to the residents here, we can talk about all these people that have been in here before you. This development team, we can at some point come in and build you a howuse. We can do that, but it takes the people inside to make it a home. Thats your responsibility. But the point im making is do what you have to do so that you have a decent home to live in, and dr. Mccray was right, your number one priority for you, your children, your grandchildren, your neighbors, is peace. You want peace at home because when i got tired of all the cacophony in the streets, i go home. So as we as we adjourn and theres food back there, i assume. I sure hope so why dont we do this. Whatever your discipline may be, whatever your culture requires, your faith culture, if youre not attached to anything that you believe is greater than you, then im going to pray for you to my god. And whatever name you may call god, do it now, and lets just ask blessings upon this event. We thank everyone for this event and blessings upon the food that we are about to receive, that it will nourish us, not only in body, but in mind and spirit, and that that spirit will not rest until it gets the amount of love out of each of us that it needs, and let everyone say amen. Thank you. [applause] well, first of all, arnold, thank you for dating me. But where i come from, east coast style is a compliment, so ill take that. [inaudible] but arnold youre right about that. Arnold, you dont get the final word. Todd clader from tabernacle has been involved in the bricks and mortar, and the people side, and everything in between. Hes been with us in the beginning and has kept everything together and is going to continue to do that. Todd . [applause] good afternoon. Well, i guess were still in the morning, so ill make this quick so we can get onto the afternoon. First off, thank you all for being here. I want to acknowledge mayor breed, supervisor brown and state treasurer fiona mah for their remarks and participation in this momentous occasion. Well, i had a whole thing, you know, mapped out about who i was going to mention and recognize this morning, and i really become so engaged in what everybody else said about the key players in this project that im not sure theres a whole lot more that i can add. What i will say is that this project has been a threeyear saga, and it has involved many planning and community and Team Meetings at various levels that have made it possible for us to celebrate today. Id like to refer to the history of this property as a world war ii era construction complex. And while the mayor noted that, you know, it takes a village to build a Community Like this, what i want to add is it takes an army to modernize a world war ii era concrete block set of buildings and grounds. And we had a fantastic team, you know, to execute this task. First off, i want to invite lisa grady up to the podium. Shes been the voice of reason when it comes to the redevelopment of this property. And i have to say through the ups and downs together, weve been able to make the lives of the residents better and expect that this is not just a statement about what we can do today, its a statement about what we intend to do, its a statement about the generations ahead. So what i want to impart to you is that our relationship has grown. You know, not just from work here at robert g. Pitt. So i want to embrace lisa for all that shes done. [applause] i also want to acknowledge some of the Ground Troops that have made this project a a success. In particular, with respect to engaging the residents, i want to acknowledge the f. R. H. Team, some who have moved on and some who are new to the property. As noted by reverend brown, darlene and arnold were very essential reverend townsend, darlene and arnold were very essential in allowing us to meet the resident where they are and allowing change. Because this is a thing change. Also, i want to acknowledge Alonso Torres and the maintenance team. Their work is largely unseen until you actually come back to the property after they have made their mark. Its really a statement to their commitment to this property. I want to thank our relocation specialist. That woman has had the probably the most arduous task of all, helping residents relocate to temporary quarters and all of the preparations that are necessary to get them out of their old units into temporary units and then back into their original unit. Thats jessica garlett. Is she here today . Maybe she didnt make it, but kudos to her. [applause] yes, she deserves a round of applause. There are a couple of key residents that i want to recognize for prevailing with us. One is the former Tenant Association president , emma casey. Emma was really my voice of the community because she never failed to pull my coattails to beat me down, what i needed to do and what i needed to do more of. Emma is a champion for this community, and i appreciate all of her service. [applause] i also want to recognize the work of randy walton, who spoke earlier. Hes now the treasurer. He was the Vice President and has been the coordinator of the food bank for these past three years that weve been here with this project. And let me tell you, having to move the food bank from one unit to another and coordinate, you know, the deliveries and make sure that folks get food who arent always able to attend the food bank when its open. You know, its its a monumental task, and i have to say he has been steadfast in his commitment to see to it that people have the food that many rely on, you know, for for their sustenance, and im looking forward to him and the community room, now that were looking forward to them moving in and operating there well into the future, so thank you, randy. [applause] so theres some design and construction folk that need recognition about this morning, as well. You heard Mimi Sullivan mentioned earlier, and her crew at her design firm. And i also want to acknowledge the other design team members, including dan morris of merle morris, our landscape architect, who did a great job lets just say breaking up some of this concrete. You wouldnt believe what a concrete jungle this was, but now, it looks like people live here. So thats a tribute to a lot of the work put in by dan and his team. Also, i want to acknowledge the construction engineer. If youve ever dealt with a world war ii era building, you know theres a lot of concrete put in that had to be over come from over the years. And then, boy, nibi contractors is one of the San Franciscos is a San Francisco treat. I just cant tell you how proud we are of having them be our contractor. They have been responsive they not only have been responsive to the developer, they have been responsive to the residents. Residents have stopped them in the middle of, you know, a hammer and saw activity to help them overcome whatever little, you know, nuance needed to be addressed, and i appreciate them, and i want to just mention kieran daly. Hes a brandnew dad, and so im glad he could make it. [applause] and then, i also want to recognize the guy, you know, who keeps all the contractors workers in line, jim galloway. [applause] hes the supervisor that worked with us at robert g. Pitt. [applause] then, theres colby, looking all skate boardish. He didnt go home sometimes at night, making sure everything got done right. Then i want to acknowledge dennis denman, the construction staff man with construction associates. She was the person who was looking over the contractors shoulder over these years, so thank you, devon, and our boss, harvey mendoza. So with that, i just want to conclude with this is only the beginning, folks. We are continuing to transform lives here at Westside Courts. We will continue with our commuter literacy courses sponsored by the citys office of digital equity. We have alex hahn here, whos joined us, who heads up that office to provide the not only Free Internet access for our residents but also courses together with c. T. N. , the Service Provider who is provider training to the residents on basic computer literacy, internet access, and advanced courses in computer training. So were really excited about that. And we are also going to continue to look to f. R. H. And gary banks and joanne, Antoinette Hopkins as they continue the work of providing job training and placement for our residents. This is about the holistic evolution about this community and this is the model that tabernacle and related are now carrying forward in our work in this in this city and across the state. And, you know, while ive got fiona sitting here, you know, with her rapt attention, yes, we will be calling you because this very rule of adapting the rules to folks doing the work, that is music to our ears because that has been the impediment. If youve got to check all these boxes that fit into certain protocols, thats going to eliminate a whole lot of others who are really capable and willing to do this work. So any way, i wrap up with that, and amos brown told me thats enough. [applause] oh, yes, and let me mention, we are going to be offering tours starting at 12 15 . 12 40. 12 40. So you can grab a drink or a bite and meet us at this table just over to my left if you care to join us for a tour, 12 40. Thank you