The SCAM that is City Build under Rhonda Simmons - the Mayor's Office of Economic Develop.

There is no doubt when you talk to the people that truly comprehend Work Force - we find out that City Build is doing a lousy job.

Some years ago the San Francisco County and Transportation Authority set aside $270,000 to created City Build. Out of this money initially $150,000 was allocated to one Laura Luster - who purported to write a White Paper! What audacity. Laura was backed by Sophie Maxwell - the District 10 Supervisor - and has been an abject failure.

I was at the Committee Meeting that had this agenda item on. I protested. In the end Laura Luster got $50,000 and she has not been seen at all.

A White Paper for mostly people of color - when in the first place - the ideas and concepts were taken from the community. If I am lying - ask Maurice Campbell. I was part of the group that put a model together - the model was stolen - and some scum bag got the money. This was five years ago.

This is what our City is know for - too much talk and very little action. There are so many problems with City Build - that very soon a couple of entities will reveal more then I can.

City Build has been conducting orientations and then starting apprentice classes. Most of the classes are small and much fun fair that been made about the graduations.

Where the rubber meets the road - is in the retention. Less then ten percent stay on the job - mostly because they have no skills and also because they do not want to work hard.

In some cases - the so called trained workers from City Build are laid off within weeks.

The problem with City Build is that the entity talks to much - but when it come to placement and long time hiring practices - it does not have a track record.

City Build has been around for about four years - planning and saying that they are doing something to place youth and others. But, if you look at the statistics - their performance is - pathetic.

I got involved from day one and tried my best to give City Build a break. I tried to look the other way and have for too long.

When I encounter the many youth that went to the City Build training and are now without a job - I felt strongly that I had to expose City Build for all the trauma they have imposed on so many innocent - folks.

In this hard time - with this Economic Crisis - we need compassion but we need to give our youth, Union workers hope - we can only do this by facilitating, helping, supporting, and giving them opportunities to have career jobs. Those that are trained - help them to feed their children, their families and pay the bills.

We will not tolerate JOKERS taking our innocent constituents for a RIDE. No more - this nonsense must stop - NOW.

The One Stop Centers are a joke. No one cares to audit and investigate these One Stop Centers. Millions are poured into the Centers - and one ones really laughing all the way to the bank - and those that MANAGE these centers.

At these centers - minimum counseling is offered, some help with the resume. Then you are sent for training - and after training that lasts a couple of months - some of the trainees are placed. After they are placed the trainees get no support.

The result is that some of the trainees are laid off - within weeks and there are cases of some within days. Working construction jobs is difficult - and the training given - especially the drab training does not equip the novices to face life - at ground zero.

City Build takes pride in the numbers - the statistics - that is what they are all about. You could work for an hour - and City Build will take credit that they place you. This must STOP.

Any general investigation will lead anyone to this conclusion. City Build has very, very poor retention results - so poor that the only word that describes their performance - is pathetic.

Journey men carpenters and other skilled workers have gone to City Build's orientation and they have NOT been called back. Others have been promised jobs - and made to wait. The City Build web site is about offering hope - but most that reach out get taken for a ride.

While all the time millions of tax payers money has been paid to the staff of City Build. The Director of City Building makes over $150,000 with benefits. There are others that make $125,00 with benefits - and it does not stop - there.

In all the years City Build has been in existence it has been a failure.

If the City and County keeps pumping millions into this CRAP program - too many people will be investigated - and when the TRUTH is revealed - most people will say they did not know anything about the nonsense that has been going on for years.

City Build got involved in the Apartment Investment Management Company project - an over $100 million project - three years ago. Workers were pitied against one another. Some of us in the community had to volunteer hundreds of person hours - free of charge - to save jobs and bring some civility to the project and the community.

People got shot on the job. Others got killed. You can get the Incident Report from the Bayview Police Station. Review the hours long hearing on AIMCO. You can hear first hand - the trauma that was imposed on Latino and Black workers. Contact La Raza and Renee Saucedo - if you really want the concrete - scoop. Contact Espanola Jackson and she will more to say about the - blatant crime that cause headaches and confusion - in our community at Bayview Hunters Point - by La Salle, All Hollows, Shoreview and so on.

Workers had their pay checks taken from them.

Others will beaten and forced to hand over their checks.

We had a hearing at City Hall.

The Hearing revealed a lot about City Build. City Build was called to give an explanation - but when the City Build representative spoke - he said very little - further complicating the situation.

The workers sued and the matter is in court. The lawyer handling the case one Bob Salinas.

The community put the workers back and when everything was said and done - Rubecon and its owner Ruben Santana - had over sixty three percent of the workers from the community working.

A diverse work force - that completed the project - but had to fix the many mistakes that were done before - when City Build said they would take care of business. Rubecon lost money on this job - but, I can say saved the community many headaches.

At that time we did have a meeting with Rhonda Simmons and the AIMCO workers were present. Rhonda and her workers that work under her were present.

When we asked Rhonda questions - all we heard were excuses. " You know in San Francisco the developers can hire whom they want" and so on and so forth.

Well, we the constituents of of San Francisco want to known why do we have to tolerate a lousy, inept, worthless entity like City Build - that waste millions of dollars. That has a very poor record - and the retention of the work force - is less then ten percent.

I have spoken to Union Stewards and they are disgusted with City Build.

I have spoken to youth that were trained by City Build and most of them feel - cheated.

Then, after hearing the woes many a time - I have to fix the problem. Check this out - no one pays me but I have placed more folks then City Build. Does City Build want to challenge me?

Now, I hear the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency (SFRA) wants to give City Build an opportunity to further SCREW up the work force and make a FOOL of themselves. SFRA wants City Build to play a lead role - and further cause untold misery to the Work Force.

City Build has no clout to place workers. City Build says a lot but when it comes to placement it is pathetic. The Manager of City Build could run for dog catcher and would be disqualified.

This nonsense has been going on for too long. City Build must be scrapped. Better sense must prevail.

Suggest that my good friend Fred Blackwell and Jim Salinas from local 22 meet and figure out how best to help all San Franciscans. I can facilitate without being present - physically.

There are others that can brain storm but we need to start some where. The City Build nonsense must - stop.

Fred Blackwell could call in Ruben Santana and see what he has to say.

If Fred Blackwell wants a White Paper on Work Force that works - I can write one - free of charge. But, I will not have an incompetent person like Rhonda Simmons - run a program that I have something to do with.

There is too much politics with City Build.

Its assistant came from the an organization that is being investigated.

The organization that is investigated is run by James Bryant. A brother who will smile and say he is doing was should be right - but he does it for money and for all the wrong reasons. Such sell outs destroy what some of us do. They hoodwink the innocent - and rake in thousands.

James Bryant says he is into work force - that he helps and works with City Build. Check his record and you will see - corruption stacked up to the sky.

Fred Blackwell better pray over this decision to give City Build - more responsibility.

If not all hell will break loose. There are hundreds that have contacted me - and I have been very - patient.

There are jobs out there. Our Union workers need jobs. Our sisters and brothers need jobs.
We need to review this situation in a holistic manner and not divide our work force.

Do no think for a single second - we cannot get rid of Rhonda Simmons - she should do back from where she came - Oregon.

Do you want to tell me in all of San Francisco we do not have a single San Franciscan that understands genuine Work Force.

Some one - that the developers respect. Here we have a person - who does not have a personality - and all she does is pander to the City authorities. All she wants is her pay check. Send her back to Oregon.

Next check the credentials of the Assistant Director - he has NO credentials he once worked for James Bryant and before that Pacific Gas and Electric. He was given a job - because he fought the community and was for Proposition G and Lennar.

Well, I was the Proponent for Proposition F and proud of it. We spent $5,000 - Proposition G spent over $1 million fighting the community.

We wanted to give opportunities to the community working with those that care. But, the sell outs joined forces and the plan is going - no where.

Well, we all know Lennar is sinking in the cesspool of its own making. Now, I am telling you as I did with Lennar - City Build is history. It will sink in a worse CESSPOOL of its own - making.

It is time the authorities that be - first audit City Build and then some private entity investigate the few pointers - that I have declared - in this article.

Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy