"Shame On You" Twitter Protest - Stop Corporate Hustling! Stop the Land Grab!

Family, friends and allies:

Please join SOMCAN, our members, TL residents and other community stakeholders to tweet - Twitter in person a message: "SHAME on YOU!" for being "socially irresponsible". We want them to stay, but they gotta pay! Stop Corporate hustling! Be a genuine neighbor!

WHEN: Tuesday, March 29th

WHERE: In front of Twitter's office - 795 Folsom Street (c/s: 4th St.) -- YUP they are already in the SoMa! ... Our rally needs to be respecful of the seniors in the surrounding area. Twitters office is by TODCO senior housings (just a quick note)

TIME: 10am

WHY: 1) Twitter claims it is “socially responsible” and it will engage meaningfully in the neighborhood, but they never talk to the community nor offered a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). The CBA is the only accountability that community groups have ask of Twitter through Supervisor Jane Kim's office and they have not commit to 100% of key components of it that would comprise of a meaningful community benefit agreement and will ensure preservation of our neighborhood.
2) They are a giant tech company that is taking advantage of a City that is desperate for a creative economy and revitalization. They want corporate tax break, but yet they demand they have THEIR OWN muni bus lines and police foot patrol designated specially for them. Those things cost money! Who will pay those cops and bus drivers? The City (well really us since our money goes into the City)!

3) There are over 7,000 residents in the Central Market and surrounding are that Twitter wil be neighbor with. There are no protection to the residents and small businesses that once Twitter moves in the landlords won't raise the rent on their tenants that will force them to leave their homes. Though the City has alot of renters right law there are also alot of loopholes in the law that landlords will use. The City needs to close the loophole in the current law. District 6 is the last last affordable area in the City. If our families can no longer to afford to live here, what will happen to them?

Twitter should demand the Mayor with the community that their neighbors should be protected when they move in. But are we hearing that from Twitter since they "care" about local issues? NO all they talk about is what they want and need!

WE DEMAND:

Commit 100% to the community version of the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA)!


Remove the Tenderloin in the Payroll tax exemption ordinance!

Pass a companion legislation that will protect the SoMa and TL residents from displacement!

More info. will follow ... Link with our cause at http://www.facebook.com/SOMCAN
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Angelica Cabande
South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN)
Organizational Director

1070 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415.202.5688 direct line
415.348.1945 office