Civic Center Tenants Demand Seismic Retrofit on Earthquake Anniversary

by Rita Mandelenis, 2006-04-19

As the city held a variety of ceremonies commemorating the disasters that resulted from great quake of 1906, a group of activists staged a ‘die-in’ to dramatize a looming disaster that could happen should another quake occur. Lying amidst a variety of fake bricks and other rubble, the protestors demanded the 156-unit Civic Center SRO Hotel be seismically retrofitted immediately. The was supposed to be retrofitted two months ago, but the owners – Plumbers Union Local 38 - have yet to file for permits to begin work. The Civic Center is currently classified as a Risk Level 4 Unreinforced Masonry Building, meaning that the building is made from brick, was constructed before 1933, and in a large earthquake will probably collapse upon the people inside.

“San Francisco is patting itself on their back today!” said Emma Gerould, tenant organizer of the SRO Collaborative. “Lies!” shouted the crowd.

The protest was held in front of Moscone Center North, where the 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference is taking place. The conference is bringing together engineers, scientists and preparedness specialists.

“The truth is this building is unsafe and these people might die,” said Gerould. “This retrofit should be a priority for San Francisco.”

Organizers staged a “die-in” and showed onlookers what can happen in the event of an earthquake. They hoped to show the real cost of not retrofitting the hotel – namely, the possible death of many of its residents.

In addition, protestors pointed out that many of those residents are low-income people and people of color. As Hurricane Katrina showed, said the protestors, natural disasters often disproportionately harm the most vulnerable members of the population. An earthquake and its effect on the Civic Center Hotel would be no different.

“It is important for San Francisco to be a diverse city, I couldn’t live here without the Civic Center Hotel,” said Larry Pettit, a long-term resident. “Its important that not only the rich live here.”

One Civic Center Hotel tenant, who declined to be identified, said that plumber’s union is simply stalling because they would like to build high-end residential housing in place of the hotel.

“They definitely got money,” he said. “They just think that they can do whatever they want.”

For about two years the Plumbers Union ignored city law and did not install fire sprinklers, until they were in danger of being sued by the City Attorney. Tenants had to go to the Rent Board for the fire sprinklers, and have done so again for the retrofit.
The Union has known for 14 years they had to retrofit their hotel, which is full of seniors, families, people with disabilities, and long-term tenants. Now, their demand for city enforcement of the requirement that the Plumber’s Union retrofit the hotel has now been forwarded to the City Attorney, and tenants are waiting on action.

“The whole thing is just shameful,” said housing activist Tommi Avicoli Mecca. “This shows the hypocrisy of all the events today. The mayor should be here to show some support. Today’s events are just for the rich and the tourists.”