By the Numbers: The City Policy Turning SoMa's Green Alleys to Concrete

By Shaun, on behalf of the "Save SoMa's Alley Trees" working group

When I moved into my condo on Tehama Street a few years ago, I noticed the empty, dirt-filled square in the sidewalk out front. I assumed I could work with the city to get a new tree planted. I was shocked by the response. Instead of a new tree, I learned that not only was I forbidden from planting one, but I was also legally required to fill the empty well with concrete or face a fine.

That single notice started me on a journey. I learned that this was not a one-off decision, but the result of a 2018 city policy, Public Works Order 187246, that bans the replacement of trees on most of our neighborhood's narrow sidewalks—specifically, any sidewalk narrower than 7.5 feet, even when there is sufficient, legally-compliant ADA passage.

This policy forces us to choose between two futures. The vibrant, green SoMa we are fighting to preserve, and the bleak, concrete future this policy is creating, one empty tree well at a time.

This is not just about aesthetics. It is a matter of justice.

Did you know that our SoMa neighborhood is one of 13 officially designated Environmental Justice Communities in San Francisco? This is not just a label. It is a formal, data-driven designation based on the fact that our community bears a disproportionate burden of environmental health challenges, including high asthma rates, significant air pollution, and the least amount of green space.

Here is the profound contradiction we now face: in 2023, the city officially adopted an Environmental Justice Framework into its legally-binding General Plan, committing to reduce these health risks and expand green infrastructure in neighborhoods like ours. Yet, the older Public Works order does the exact opposite. My analysis of the city's own data shows this single policy guarantees the elimination of 764 trees in the SoMa West CBD, a staggering 24% of our neighborhood's entire tree canopy.

Every red dot is a tree in our neighborhood that, under the current policy, can never be replaced.

The city is actively hollowing out the tree canopy in the neighborhoods that need it most. As this data shows, the policy ensures that SoMa, already one of the least green neighborhoods, is on track to become the absolute last in the city for tree canopy.

Trees are not an amenity; they are essential infrastructure for public health, for calming traffic, and for creating the sense of place and dignity that every neighborhood deserves.

There is good news. After escalating this issue to the Mayor's Office, with the crucial support of our CBD Director, Alex Ludlum, SF Public Works has agreed to a formal review of this policy. We now have a seat at the table, with key meetings scheduled in the coming weeks.

This is our chance to move beyond just reversing a bad policy. This is our chance to define what true tree equity means for our community.

Success is not just preventing our tree canopy from falling to 2.8%. True equity is an ambitious greening plan for our main roads, our alleys, our yards, and our parks that brings us up to at least the city average of 13% canopy cover. It is a future where our neighborhood is no longer at the bottom of the list, but is a model for urban livability and environmental justice.

This vision is achievable, but we cannot do it alone. The most important step right now is to build a strong, informed, and organized group of neighbors ready to make our collective voice heard.

If you believe, as I do, that our neighborhood's future must be green, please join us.

To get involved, stay updated on key decisions, and help us advocate for change, please join our community "🌳 Save SoMa's Alley Trees 🌳" WhatsApp group.

Together, we can fight for the neighborhood we deserve.