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Bayview Hunters Point speakers press SFPUC for community control of Southeast facility
Summary
Residents and community leaders told the SFPUC on Oct. 25 they expect the Southeast community college site — given to Bayview Hunters Point as mitigation decades ago — to remain under local/community commission control and asked the PUC to stop staff actions they view as overriding that mandate.
At the Oct. 25 meeting of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, several Bayview Hunters Point residents urged the commission to honor mitigation commitments tied to the expansion of a sewage plant decades ago and to leave decisions about the Southeast community college site to the community-led Southeast Facility Commission.
"I want you all, as of this day, I want you to have your staff to cease and desist and make a decisions for what go on at Southeast Community College," said Espinosa Jackson during public comment, urging direct community control and warning that community promises have been ignored for decades.
Jackson recounted the history of community efforts dating to the 1960s and 1970s and said 6.5 acres were set aside as mitigation when the sewage plant expanded. She said the community wanted a college on that land and that the Southeast Facility Commission was the designated forum to make decisions about the site.
Commissioners and staff responded that they respect the history and pledged continued engagement. "Promises that were made are promises that have to be kept," a PUC representative said in the exchange and the general manager and staff offered to meet with community leaders to review documents and next steps.
Other local speakers echoed Jackson’s request. Oscar James urged returning university partnerships (Berkeley, San Francisco State) to increase programming and use of the facility. Francisco de Costa asked for elder-led, focused meetings so any decisions have local legitimacy.
Commissioners acknowledged the need for further dialogue; the general manager's office said staff would engage with the Southeast Facility Commission and community stakeholders and report back. The meeting record shows no formal action or change in policy at this session; the matter remains under discussion and community stakeholders requested written confirmation of next steps.
The commission did not vote on the Southeast facility during the Oct. 25 meeting.
