Caller asks San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission to schedule landmark hearing for the Mother's Building

Richard Rothman asked the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission during general public comment on Sept. 2, 2020, to schedule a hearing to designate the Mother's Building a city landmark. "These are very important murals," Rothman said, adding the works "were all done by women artists that were leaders of the time." He told commissioners that staff had told him in June they would look into the nomination and said, "I think waiting 9 months is long enough."

The comment came during a brief, virtual meeting convened under COVID-19 emergency orders that allowed remote hearings. No commissioner took up the request immediately on the record; staff later told the commission that the landmarks program is undergoing analysis "through the lens of racial and social equity" and that an informational hearing on program priorities is expected to be calendared next month, according to Elizabeth John Keir, speaking for the department's citywide cultural resource survey and landmarks manager.

Rothman asked commissioners to direct planning staff to set a date or otherwise update the public on progress. The commission closed general public comment and proceeded with departmental announcements and consent items; the staff equity review was presented as an upcoming agenda item rather than an immediate action on the Mother's Building nomination.