San Francisco Artists' Protest Eviction Notice From Market Street Space
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- It's a familiar story in San Francisco, artist tenants in a mid-Market area building have been given a 30 day eviction notice.
But they're not going without a fight.
On Thursday, 23 artist residents at 1061 Market street rallied, hoping their cries would rise above the din of so many others struggling to stay in San Francisco as rents and evictions continue to skyrocket.
Chris Baker lives down the street at 1049 Market. He told the crowd, "We need to put a pause on these evictions while we figure out how we can stop this dire hollowing out of the city."
Tommi Avicolli Mecca with the Housing Rights Committee says another two buildings in the Mission have received similar notices. "It's much more lucrative to rent residentially then commercially. We know that's what's going on here. Everybody knows that's the name of the game."
Back at 1061 Market, things look dire for the tenants. Second floor residents were evicted last year and three floors of the six story building are already commercial.
The tenants have a hearing at the San Francisco Rent Board at the end of April where they'll make a case they should be covered under rent control.
Until then, they're making their case on the street. "We need a place at the table." a recent evictee told the crowd, "We are the ones who are shaping the future and to get rid of us now makes no sense. Oakland is welcoming us but this city should really be fighting to keep us."
Calls to the landlord were not returned.
