Lennar’s financial freefall prompted Melita Rines, who chairs the India Basin Neighborhood Association, to predict, according to the Tuesday Chronicle, “They’re going to pull out, and we’re going to be stuck with a big parking lot full of dirt.” Photo: Francisco Da Costa

When those with no moral compass - the kind who will do anything for money and greed - cross the line and harm innocent children, elders and those that cannot defend themselves and think they can stomp on the rights of others with impunity, we will look them straight in the eye and fight.

Lennar is on the run - its shares of stock reduced to junk bond status. "Amid the credit crunch and real estate downturn, Lennar reported the worst results in its 53-year history, a $513.9 million third-quarter loss after writing off nearly $1 billion to account for depreciating assets. It has cut 35 percent of its staff and sold more than 10,000 lots or units to shore up its balance sheet. Its stock plummeted nearly 70 percent this year," reported the Chronicle on Tuesday. CNNMoney.com reported Dec. 3 that "Lennar Corp. has dumped a portfolio of 11,000 properties for 40 percent of their previously-stated book value."

That bad news prompted Melita Rines, who chairs the India Basin Neighborhood Association, to predict, according to the Tuesday Chronicle, "They're going to pull out, and we're going to be stuck with a big parking lot full of dirt."

Lennar will never be able to settle down and build homes in San Francisco, much less anywhere near Bayview Hunters Point.

In the year 2007 we were very diplomatic. In 2008, we will fearlessly exercise our rights.

We do not have to use violence, but we will make it so difficult for Lennar that Lennar will wish it had never, ever set foot in California, much less San Francisco.

Our elected officials and Black sell-outs should be ashamed of themselves. We will be watching them very carefully in 2008.

In the interim, the spiritual movement has grown very strong and the supporters educated on the issues. For sure they know their rights. It has been over one and a half years and the movement is growing week by week.

Many professionals, lawyers, scientists, radio show hosts, journalists, college and university students, the SF Board of Education, the SF Youth Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Environmental Protection Agency, the SF Health Commission, the SF Police Commission, the SF Board of Supervisors and many more organizations are fully aware of Lennar and its adverse impacts on the Bayview Hunters Point community.

The fight has not been easy, but the world knows about Lennar and more about those that support this rogue company. We are a grassroots community taking charge of our state of affairs and so far God has showered us with blessings.

We want to thank the many diverse communities, from the Mission, from the Fillmore, from South of Market Area and from all over San Francisco for lending their support. We thank you all from the bottom of our heart. We look forward to working with you to bring down those forces that will harm children, elders and those innocent folks who cannot defend themselves.

We want to thank the many decent people who have supported our movement while working for city, state and federal agencies. Not everyone is corrupt - America has many folks who are decent and will stand up for what is right.

We want to thank Grace Tabernacle Community Church, where the members have strongly supported us. We hold most of our town hall meetings at this church. Everyone is warmly invited to join us every Thursday, 6 p.m., at 1121 Oakdale at Ingalls just outside the Shipyard.

We want to thank the Nation of Islam and especially our leader, Minister Christopher Muhammad. The many Sisters and Brothers of the Nation of Islam we admire and hold dear to our hearts.
We want to thank the many youth and community-based organizations like POWER, PODER and HOMEY, not forgetting Rudy Corpuz and his United Playas. They have studied, strategized, organized, gone door to door and testified at countless hearings.

We want to thank Bishop Ernest Jackson, Archbishop Franzo King, Pastors Joe, Santana, Solsberg and the many lay folks who have made too many sacrifices but for a just cause.

We want to wish you all - all our dear supporters: children, women and men of good faith - all the very best in 2008. Let us all stand together to go to a better place. Let us do right. Let us exercise our moral compass. God bless you all.

To learn more about the Shipyard, visit www.hunterspointnavalshipyard.com. For the latest on the town hall meeting movement, call 1 (866) 475-6907.

Francisco Da Costa is the director of Environmental Justice Advocacy and can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or through www.franciscodacosta.com. This story was originally published at www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/12/31/18469482.php. Bay View staff contributed to this version.

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