Community mourns beloved advocate Roseanne Harris as new housing plan unveiled

During a recent government meeting, officials paid tribute to Roseanne Harris, a beloved community advocate and lifelong resident of San Francisco, who passed away. Born in 1935, Harris was known for her unwavering dedication to animal welfare, particularly for cats, and her extensive volunteer work in the Excelsior District. She earned the affectionate title of \"the cat lady\" due to her passion for feline advocacy and her collection of cat-themed items.

Harris was a prominent figure in local organizations, contributing her time and efforts to various community groups, including the Excelsior District Improvement Association and the Geneva Excelsior Lions Club. She was recognized for her leadership and community service with multiple awards, including the Neighborhood Empowerment Network Lifetime Achievement Award and a proclamation from Mayor Ed Lee declaring October 28, 2015, as Roseanne Harris Day. Her annual Halloween party became a cherished tradition, attracting over 35,000 children throughout the years.

In addition to honoring Harris, the meeting introduced a new ordinance aimed at addressing the city's housing crisis. The proposal seeks to reinvest union pension funds into local construction projects, creating thousands of union jobs while building rental housing that includes on-site affordable units. The ordinance would temporarily reduce transfer taxes for new housing projects that meet specific criteria, including a minimum of 12% affordable housing and the use of 100% union labor.

Officials emphasized the urgency of meeting the city's housing goals, particularly the need for 46,000 affordable units as part of a broader plan to rezone the city for an estimated 82,000 new housing units. The ordinance aims to ensure that construction workers can afford to live in the communities they help build, aligning with the city's commitment to supporting working families.