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SoMa residents press commission on canopy loss; Public Works agrees to pilot replanting and Urban Forestry Council review
Summary
Multiple SoMa residents told the Commission of perceived inequities in tree-planting and canopy loss after a recent public-works order; department staff said Public Works will survey sites, has committed to a replanting pilot on Tahama Street and the Urban Forestry Council will consider the issue in late September.
Residents of South of Market (SoMa) urged the Commission on Aug. 25 to investigate tree‑canopy losses and ensure federal grants and city programs prioritize environmental-justice communities.
Sean Auckland, a SoMa resident, told commissioners he had updated data showing the city's discretionary tree plantings over time are not correlated with environmental-burden measures and argued that a recent federal grant—he said a $12,000,000 Inflation Reduction Act award—was misdirected away from higher-need Environmental Justice census tracts. "The framework's priority 1.3 also requires neighborhood specific targets for tree canopy cover," Auckland said, and urged the Commission to investigate the grant allocation and demand compliance mechanisms for the General Plan’s environmental-justice framework.
Jasmine Gardner, a seven-year SoMa West resident, described a recent public-works nursery visit and said West SoMa is "scheduled to lose 28 of its canopy, which is roughly 700 plus trees," and urged the Commission to seek alternatives to removing trees, citing options such as alternative paths of travel and shared-street designs. Brandon Jackson, an HOA president in SoMa West, said he has observed more unfilled tree wells and declining canopy on immediate streets near his building.
Director Tyrone Juh reported follow-up work: Jesus Lozano, the department’s Urban Forestry Council coordinator, contacted Public Works Superintendent David Moore; Public Works has agreed to a replanting pilot on Tahama Street, will survey the blocks identified by community groups and produce a write-up. Juh said the Urban Forestry Council will place the matter on its next agenda for late September and staff will share Public Works’ findings when available.
Commissioners and staff noted the complexity of sidewalk width, ADA access and other regulations that shape tree-well decisions and said pilots are a prudent first step. The Commission received the public comments and staff update and expects further reporting after the Urban Forestry Council hearing.
The residents’ claims about grant misallocation and canopy-loss figures were reported to the Commission as statements from public commenters and are under further review by city staff.
