My best friend in San Francisco is a beautiful, gay, black man. I jokingly call him my National Treasure and beg him to keep fighting to stay here, because he’s the Last Gay Black Man In San Francisco. If you were following me this past year or winter, you will recall that his life partner of more than 22 years passed into immortality after a fierce and decades-long battle with AIDS and Cancer.
The other night, my sweetheart came over to grace me with his presence. Unfortunately, it was so that I could help him with a bit of legal correspondence and strategizing. He is once again battling, but this time it is the infamous Bornstein & Bornstein, rapacious Residential Real Estate Attorneys for greedy slumlords. What horrible thing has my bestie done to deserve this attempt at more than doubling his rent?
Nothing. He has been an ideal tenant and neighbor. He even has a Master’s in Architecture from a prestigious university and completely remodeled, redecorated, and repaired the place throughout his tenancy. His partner, whom he originally rented the apartment with more than 11 years ago, died. He took care of him throughout his end of life. The last 3 years with both disabling AIDS *and* Cancer were especially difficult and required round-the-clock assistance. His reward for all this is that his landlady’s attorneys want to use the death as an excuse to more than double their rent. Lovely.
Sitting out in the backyard, sipping on hot tea and listening to slamming tunes, enjoying decades of dear friendship and camaraderie, highlighting passages of new Rent Board Regulations in Draft Version of the Tenants’ Union Manual. What did y’all do last night for fun? You know. Battled our evil landlords together. A very typical San Francisco evening plan (if you’re female, gay, or non-Nazi [aka “non-white”]).
The New York Times gets what’s wrong with this picture, but our own tech transplants, real estate professionals, and elected County representatives don’t?
You want our beloved elders to move to Antioch?
“Your kind of people?” We are Native San Franciscans and People of Color and we have every right (and responsibility) to be here and STAY HERE. You’re welcome, very much.
