Worst of S.F. Awards holds landlords accountable for gentrification

Community members came together on June 21 in a mock awards ceremony denouncing greedy landlord practices, tenant displacement and neighborhood gentrification. Born from a tenants’ rights struggle, the Worst of S.F. is a grassroots organization with broad support from many local community groups.

The Worst of S.F. coalition is taking up the struggle against gentrification in San Francisco.

For the course of well over an hour, the Castro community was entertained by host Visa De Klein, a well-known female impersonator who handed out mock awards to actors playing greedy property managers and some of the worst perpetrators of real estate speculation responsible for resident displacement within San Francisco.

The street-theater event was held outdoors at the busy intersection of Castro St. and Market St., complete with a red carpet, full orchestra and a local progressive rock band that sang tunes such as “Yuppie, Yuppie Stole My Pad.” Organizers had the opportunity to inform attendees about ongoing resident displacement in the Castro, Bayview and Mission districts.

This was the first in a series of community actions planned by the Worst of S.F. as housing prices and rents skyrocket in the Bay area and many working class residents are forced to flee the city.

Coalition participants included the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), Party for Socialism and Liberation, Queer Anti-Displacement Coalition, Freedom Socialist Party, Radical Women, Pride At Work, CitiSTOP, St. Peter’s Housing Committee, Castro Residents for Fair Housing, Brass Liberation Orchestra, members of the Harvey Milk Democratic Club, Gay Shame, and representatives of the San Francisco Community Land Trust.