SF Southeast Community Coalition
Community Needs
Meeting The Needs And Standards Of Southeast San Francisco
SFSEA is committed to reaching a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with Amazon that addresses critical equity, environmental, and quality of life issues in Showplace Square and surrounding neighborhoods, as well as the broader District 10. We are neighbors, community leaders, nonprofit and business organizations, labor organizations, and environmental advocates. We are united in our belief that Amazon, with their proposal to build a 650,000 square foot logistics facility at 900 7th Street must go beyond a business investment to a meaningful investment in our communities.
Amazon can and should agree to a CBA. Its estimated $325 million investment in the San Francisco location is insignificant in the context of overall yearly annual profits. Amazon is the largest and wealthiest retailer in the world. According to Forbes, Amazon had a record performance in 2020 with annual revenue up 38% totaling over $386 billion, a yearly increase of over $100 billion. Further, Amazon has committed to other community benefit agreements in the past, including one in Arlington County, Virginia where it agreed to such investments as $20 million to affordable housing, $14 million to green space, increased public transportation and pedestrian safety, a LEED Platinum building design, and $225,000 for public art.
The proposed location for Amazon’s logistic facility puts the company in the heart of the Bay Area, with the ability to move a fleet of deliveries into the City, Peninsula, and immediate East Bay. At the same time, it will generate significant long-term impacts on neighboring communities and throughout the District with increased vehicle traffic, poorer air quality and economic strain on locally-owned businesses. District 10 already suffers from systemic issues from a long history of neglect resulting in limited economic opportunities for residents, environmental injustices, health issues and lack of investment in infrastructure, community facilities and open space.
We believe that the proposed logistics facility can be a positive addition to Showplace Square and surrounding neighborhoods through a commitment to addressing key issues.
We are therefore united in our call for Amazon to commit to a CBA with our Alliance addressing each of the following commitments -
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Guarantee equitable jobs and training for District residents
We seek a commitment by Amazon to hire an agreed upon percentage of District 10 residents through creation of a job placement or community jobs program; job training opportunities (perhaps through a partnership with CCSF or local workforce organizations); guaranteed livable wages/benefits; and diversity in its workforce and management.
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Guarantee workers the right to organize a union and a project labor agreement (PLA) for construction of the facility
We seek a commitment by Amazon to sign a neutrality agreement allowing its workers to determine whether to unionize or not, without pressure or harassment by management. Further, Amazon commits to a PLA for the construction of the proposed facility.
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Investment in affordable housing programs for District 10
We seek a commitment by Amazon to invest in existing affordable housing programs for the District to address low income levels and racial inequities.
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Commitment to environmental and green principles
We seek a commitment by Amazon to invest in environmental and green principles beyond the mitigation measures identified in the City’s preliminary review. Such principles should focus on sustainability and climate change including the building of a zero emissions facility; 100% electric fleet vehicles; LEED Platinum facility; solar panels/microgrid; EV charging stations.
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Completion of funding for the Jackson Park renovation project, open space expansion and enhancements, and greening
We seek a commitment by Amazon for full funding to complete the Jackson Park renovation, street and sidewalk greening in Showplace Square, the elimination of the surface truck court, an access path between Berry and Carolina, and significant on site privately-owned public open space.
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Subsidized public transit, protected bike lanes and intersections, as well as pedestrian safety
We seek a commitment by Amazon to invest in alternative transportation options. Possible alternatives include shuttles to and from public transit sites; bike parking and bike share onsite; sidewalk improvements and walkways on and offsite; bulb-outs; protected bike lanes; and better street connections across the site.
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Support of locally-owned businesses in the District 10
We seek a commitment by Amazon to support local businesses in District 10, in particular in Showplace Square and surrounding neighborhoods, for example but not limited to the creation of assistance programs funds and funding for District businesses focused on training/assistance is increasing their presence on Amazon’s platform. We also seek a direct investment in brick and mortar grocery stores.
Ready to join our Alliance?
Meeting The Needs And Standards Of Southeast San Francisco
Amazon needs to make their proposed project about the community. Their desire to place a logistics facility in the district presents an opportunity for the company and the community to work together in addressing some of the area's critical needs. The facility will have long-term impacts on the area and, as the largest and wealthiest retailer in the world, Amazon can afford to invest in the community. According to Forbes, Amazon had a record performance in 2020 with annual revenue up 38%, totaling over $386 billion, a yearly increase of over $100 billion. Due to this increased demand for their goods and services, Amazon is working frantically to build its infrastructure throughout California and the entire U.S. with additional logistic facilities. The company paid $200 million to Recology for the 900 7th Street property, and it estimates construction costs to total $125 million. Amazon’s $325 million investment for the San Francisco location is significant but not when one considers their overall yearly annual profits.
Below are some of the more critical issues the Coalition is seeking to partner with Amazon to address.
- Amazon must agree that the 900 7th Street logistics facility be 100% union and must hire district residents.
The project should be built with a union-workforce and staffed by union labor. The
creation of good jobs with working-class wages and safe working conditions is a
necessary requirement for the project. And to the best of its ability, Amazon should
commit to hiring, at minimum, 50% of its new hires from residents of District 10. The
commitment to hiring local and allowing organizing rights will ensure that the jobs
created will be safe and sustainable.
- Amazon must invest in mitigating and improving the significant environmental impacts the logistic facility will have on District 10.
Existing environmental issues are prevalent throughout the District. Poor air quality is an ongoing issue and the project site itself is located within an “Air Pollutant Exposure Zone.” While there will be certain environmental impacts that Amazon will be required to mitigate per CEQA, Amazon must work with the community by investing in more open space and parks and commit to working on an ongoing basis to understand and address the needs of the district.
- Amazon must make a significant investment in addressing and improving existing and future traffic impacts and pedestrian safety.
The core aspect of Amazon’s proposal and services for this site are deliveries. The Logistics Facility will create a significant amount of delivery truck traffic into and out of the facility every day. It will generate a significant amount of employee vehicles into and out of the facility every day. This will result in new, significant additional traffic impacts to existing traffic in the District. Amazon must work with the community in finding practical solutions to improving pedestrian safety around the logistics facility. It must encourage its workforce to use alternative transportation (public transportation or bicycles) to arrive to and from work. Amazon should pursue GHG reducing technologies for its fleet, recognizing that there are significant localized environmental impacts related to truck and car traffic.
- Amazon must make a significant investment in providing more affordable housing options for District 10.
The lack of affordable housing options in District 10 is problematic. The fact that Amazon is seeking to generate PDR jobs with its logistics facility is important: jobs are a critical community need. However, this project does not help address the lack of affordable housing for Amazon workers or the area in general. Amazon must work with the community to investing in affordable housing that mitigate the demand created from this new facility.
- Amazon must make significant investment in our District’s locally owned small businesses.
The District’s small businesses are instrumental to the local economy. A majority of small businesses are owned by individuals that both live and work in the District. They send their children to local schools, they shop at other District stores, and they are vital parts of what makes a neighborhood and community. These businesses are dependent on foot traffic for their stores. The pandemic has exacerbated the strain small businesses and restaurants already experience on a daily basis. As with other major national chain retailers, small businesses cannot compete with Amazon on a level playing field. As such, Amazon must invest in District 10’s small businesses to ensure that they are doing their part to help the local economy thrive, and not just their bottom line. Because if the community and small businesses thrive, so too will Amazon in District 10.
