American Apparel wont be opening on Valencia street. Because of our (that means yours’ too) massive community effort, we have all accomplished the task of letting the city know what we do and don’t want in the Mission!

Thank you to everyone for writing letters, protesting, putting signs in your windows and coming to city hall!

=Monkey

Specifically, we found references to crime and the evolution of the Mission from an unsafe and undesirable place to a thriving business corridor as particularly offensive. Some comments, mostly from young white residents and business owners, referenced the idea that “we” made the neighborhood good, implicitly distinguishing themselves from other residents and businesses in the neighborhood, including the large Latino community.

Actually, long term residents HAVE been and continue to organize for a safe, clean, and thriving neighborhood, long before these newer boutiques moved in. The Mission Economic Development Association, the Mission Anti Displacement Coalition, and other concerned residents have been engaged in struggles against displacement and for economic justice for years.

Additionally, many of the small businesses argued that if formula retail enters Valencia Street, it would change the flavor, culture, and vibe of the neighborhood. However, this stance fails to acknowledge the neighborhood change that has already occurred. Boutique owners share responsibility for displacing family businesses and replacing them with businesses that sell specialty products that are not affordable for neighborhood residents.

Some comments referenced that our neighborhood can and should be divided into Valencia St. and the other Mission streets. In our excitement to keep out American Apparel, we must work together to fight against these sentiments and the splicing of our community. We hope to keep seeing small business owners call out what’s right, not just on Valencia but in important battles to come on Mission St. and other places in the neighborhood.

We are writing this as newer residents in the Mission, who are working to be responsible allies to long-term residents by forming relationships with our neighbors and people who have been in this fight for decades. It is our responsibility to listen and learn the histories of the neighborhood in order to join the movement for safe communities. Let us not forget that the safety of which many people spoke of today was won at the hands of long-term residents who have fought to increase safety in the neighborhood for their families and children.

For those of you who weren’t able to stay until the end, we would highly recommend listening to the Commissioners comments, specifically Commissioners Borden and Olague, who called out some of these contradictions and spoke passionately against displacement and for the neighborhood.

The community turnout for this issue was unprecedented and we hope to continue to harness this energy for the struggles to come. In the meantime, let us reach out to business owners and residents in the Mission. The Wal-Marts and the American Apparels of the world don’t want us talking to each other. Our struggle for our neighborhood will be stronger if we know each other and our stories.

-Emily Noll and Kendra Froshman

or

5 in one city.

Prop G was to trigger a review by the Planning Commission if a Formula Retail store was to try to move in.

Because of Prop G, and the hoop that AA has to jump through, we can all have a voice to oppose or support a chain store moving in.

We don’t want it. We think that they are paying $8,500 in rent, or 3 times as much as Ritual. Tell me that the rents arn’t going to go up…

We also think it will set an ugly precident, that Starbucks or Uban Outfitters can use.