Rules committee hears residentsconcerns over conditions at Alice Griffith housing

San Francisco supervisors held a hearing April 7 on persistent maintenance, elevator failures, trash and pest problems at Alice Griffith public housing in Bayview-Hunters Point, with residents, city departments, the developer and the property manager reporting on responsibilities and resources.

The hearing, convened by Rules Committee Chair Shamann Walton and attended by Board President Rafael Mandelman and Vice Chair Supervisor Sheryl, focused on service lapses at Alice Griffith and what city agencies and private partners are doing to restore safe, habitable conditions for residents.

The hearing matters because Alice Griffith is publicly subsidized housing that serves vulnerable residents, including seniors and people with disabilities, and multiple city agencies have roles in inspections, funding and oversight. Committee members said the city will continue close review of the site.

Housing Authority CEO Dr. Tanya Letaju told the committee the authority is the ground-lessor and provides HAP (housing assistance payment) subsidies and inspections. She said the authority currently has a contract for 226 replacement units at Alice Griffith, with 191 leased and 35 vacant, and that roughly 42 units are presently in abatement. Letaju said HAP subsidy loss tied to abatements totaled about $1,700,000 over…