Activists urge San Francisco commissioners to deny expansion of 45 Bernard Street project

The San Francisco Planning Commission meeting on July 4, 2025, focused on significant concerns regarding evictions and housing displacement in the Mission District. Community members voiced their frustrations over the impact of recent evictions, particularly highlighting the plight of Asian residents who have been disproportionately affected.

Jerry Drantler, a local resident, reported that 59 residents from a specific block had been evicted over the past two decades, with 90% of those evicted being Asian. He detailed a recent case involving the eviction of 11 Chinese immigrants during the pandemic, which he described as a "renoviction." Drantler urged the commission to deny construction proposals that would benefit the project sponsor financially while displacing vulnerable tenants. He called for a relocation plan for the remaining tenant and for the illegal accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to be placed under rent control.

Ozzie Ram from the San Francisco Land Use Coalition echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that such evictions are a common occurrence in the city. He criticized the planning department for failing to take meaningful action against gentrification and displacement, despite having drafted policies aimed at addressing these issues. Ram urged the commission to consider the legality of collecting rent from tenants in illegal units and to reject the proposed expansion of the project, which he argued would only serve to enhance the property’s resale value.

The discussions highlighted the ongoing challenges of housing affordability and tenant rights in San Francisco, particularly for immigrant communities. The commission's decisions in this case could set a precedent for how similar situations are handled in the future, underscoring the importance of protecting vulnerable populations from displacement.