Seniors ‘alarmed’ by summit security plan
The owners of more than half a dozen buildings that house and serve San Francisco seniors said residents are “very alarmed” about security measures announced last week in light of the coming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
San Francisco will host the high-profile event — which is expected to draw more than 20,000 visitors (including executives, politicians and diplomats) downtown — during the week of Nov. 12. Security for the event will be overseen by the Secret Service, which last week announced a list of street closures and public transit modifications in several designated “security zones.” Secret Service Special Agent Jeremy Brown said Thursday that due to the event’s high security designation, “an impact to the normal daily lives of San Francisco residents and visitors is unavoidable.”
While intended to loop in the public, the details about the zones shared last week have sparked more questions. Concerned with how thousands of seniors living in properties in the security zone around Moscone Center — which will host the main APEC event — will be affected by the planned closures, affordable housing owner TODCO on Monday penned a letter to the city’s Board of Supervisors demanding answers on the effects on critical services for residents.
“Despite many months leading up to this mega event, the city has done no proper planning at all to, first, learn about, and then second plan for, the logistical needs for access and services for the 2,000 seniors living in the eight residences in (the Yerba Buena Center) neighborhood,” wrote TODCO President John Elberling. “No one has reached out to us in recent months. This is totally inept. This needs to be done ASAP.”
Per TODCO’s letter, the city has yet to address potential impacts or modifications to services targeting seniors in the Yerba Buena area, such as meal delivery programs and paratransit services.
The eight properties referred to in the letter include the 276-unit Clementina Towers at 330 Clementina St., which is owned by the San Francisco Housing Authority; the 257-unit Silvercrest Residence at 133 Shipley St., owned by the Salvation Army; the 206-unit Alexis Apartments at 390 Clementina St., owned by St. Patrick’s Parish; the 149unit San Lorenzo Ruiz Center at 50 Rizal St., owned by Caballeros Dimasalang; and four other properties owned by TODCO totaling 577 units.
There are also a number of community facilities — including a senior drop-in health center — within the confirmed boundaries of the main security zone around the Moscone Center, which are Market, Second, Fifth and Harrison streets.
Secret Service representatives said last week that the security zone means cars will not be allowed within that perimeter, and that a fence will be constructed in the zone surrounding the Moscone Center. People who live and operate businesses in the zone will have to undergo a security screening, including a bag check, during the conference.
Another security zone will be designated in the Nob Hill neighborhood north of Market Street — between Clay and Pine streets and Taylor and Stockton streets — that will affect residents as well as cable car service in that area. And on Nov. 15, an APEC-related event near the waterfront will require a maritime security zone along the Embarcadero from Battery Street to Broadway, which will also impact traffic and businesses there.
“In general, procedures that may work for the residents of the condos and apartment buildings in the area, which seems to be the current city/Secret Service approach, will not suffice for the special circumstances of the elderly and their supportive residences,” the letter states.
Elberling said TODCO has highlighted “practical problems” that are “probably all solvable.”
“But you have to do it — plans have to be made and people need to be advised,” Elberling said.
Supervisor Matt Dorsey, whose district includes the Yerba Buena neighborhood, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.
With details of the APEC security measures now finalized and made public, Jeff Cretan, of Mayor London Breed’s office, said that the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development is “leading neighborhood outreach for businesses and merchants.” The effort is underway, with door-to-door visits launching on Tuesday.
“While there is heightened security, residents and the public will still have access to the area, and deliveries and other services will still be allowed,” said Cretan, adding that the city will be providing a “specific response” to TODCO’s letter to “ensure the community has a response to their detailed questions.”
“The public will still have access to the area, and deliveries and other services will still be allowed.” Jeff Cretan, mayor’s office