We are being silenced by the City on a proposed plan that will have irreparable harm on the SF Japantown neighborhood, one of only three Japantowns left in the nation.  We must speak up.

Japantown and our neighbors were blindsided by news from the Department of Homelessness & Supportive Housing announcing their plan to purchase the Hotel Buchanan in Japantown and transition it to 131 permanent units for the unhoused. 

Many received our letters on August 20th which gave us LESS THAN ONE WEEK before they scheduled a meeting for August 26 to learn the details.  THEN we were told this would be the ONE and ONLY meeting where Japantown & surrounding neighborhood residents, small businesses, churches and the public could ask questions and air our concerns.   

ONE week's notice and ONE meeting are attempts to minimize our voices, ram this through and push us to the sidelines.   Who is dictating to us that there shall only be one meeting?  Who is dictating the future of Japantown and these areas of the Western Addition & Lower Pacific Heights neighborhoods?   Who is marginalizing us?

Because this shall be permanent housing, this plan shall impact the destiny of Japantown and the area forever.  Our ancestors rebuilt Japantown after returning from their unjust incarceration during WW II.   They rebuilt this area at great human sacrifice.  All of us who now live, work, have businesses and worship in this Japantown/Western Addition/Lower Pac Heights neighborhood want to have decision-making in any plan that impacts the area and our lives.

 We want our place at the table. 

This online petition was created to send a clear message to San Francisco Mayor London Breed, the Board of Supervisors and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing to pull the Hotel Buchanan from the purchase plan.  The Japantown/Western Addition/Lower PacHeights neighborhood wants the input and respect denied to us, so there can be a collective and inclusive process.