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href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/08/02/BA8KRBF742.DTL&type=printable">http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/08/02/BA8KRBF742.DTL&type=printable</a><br>
<h1>Ministers have financial ties to developer</h1>
<h2>Hunters Point shipyard condos safe and important, they say - some
with health fears outraged</h2>
<p class="byline"><a href="mailto:mkuruvila@sfchronicle.com">Matthai
Chakko Kuruvila and Leslie Fulbright, Chronicle Staff Writers</a></p>
<p class="date">Thursday, August 2, 2007</p>
<span id="articlebody">
<p>Two of the San Francisco church leaders who this week praised plans
to build condominiums on the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard have
an economic stake in the development - as partners with the project's
main developer, the Lennar Corp. </p>
<p>While the ministers say they have been up front about their
involvement, it came as a shock to some community members. </p>
<p>Some residents of Bayview-Hunters Point are protesting the
development because they say dust kicked up from the site is causing
health problems, such as asthma and nosebleeds. Hundreds of supporters
and opponents of the project turned out Tuesday at a Board of
Supervisors meeting about the health concerns. </p>
<p>The ministers - the Rev. Arelious Walker of True Hope Church of God
in Christ and the Rev. J. Edgar Boyd of Bethel AME - said at the
meeting that there is no proof that naturally occurring asbestos and
dust are a danger, and they urged the project to move forward. The city
Public Health Department and other agencies said it is impossible to
test the health effects of the dust and there is no proof it is a
danger. The Board of Supervisors voted to let the project continue. </p>
<p>Boyd, in his testimony at the public hearing, did not acknowledge
his financial relationship with Lennar. Walker said that he represented
Tabernacle Affiliated Developers, but did not explain what that is. </p>
<p>The ministers acknowledged the financial relationship when asked
about it on Wednesday by The Chronicle. </p>
<p>Boyd and Walker are part of a 2-year-old development team -
Tabernacle Affiliated Developers - that includes the Rev. James McRay
of Jones Memorial United Methodist Church, the Rev. Donald Green of San
Francisco Christian Center and Calvin Jones of Providence Baptist
Church. Under their contract with Lennar, the Tabernacle group will
build about 200 affordable homes, Walker said. The profits from those
home sales will go to Tabernacle and the five ministers. </p>
<p>They pointed to press releases and Web sites explicitly disclosing
the relationship, and said they regularly tell their parishioners about
their development efforts, which don't involve church money. They said
they began their affordable housing development efforts to stanch
African American flight from the city to cheaper suburbs. </p>
<p>Redevelopment has historically driven African Americans from
neighborhoods like the Western Addition, said Walker, 76, a lifelong
resident of the Bayview. </p>
<p>The area's toxic land, lack of jobs, inadequate housing and high
crime all are problems, Walker said. But, he added, because
construction dust cannot be proved to be a health issue, the
development should move forward. </p>
<p>"We need some strong economic development to change the paradigm for
quality of life," he said. </p>
<p>Bayview community activist Marie Harrison said she was outraged to
learn that local ministers are working with Lennar as developers. </p>
<p>"Some of these pastors can't decipher between church and politics,"
she said. "When I found out J. Edgar Boyd was in business with Lennar,
my stomach did loops. </p>
<p>"I really think there should be a separation between religion and
politics. He doesn't even live in this community nor have a church in
this community. He has no connection." </p>
<p>Christopher Muhammad, a Nation of Islam minister who runs a school
in the area, said his students suffer health problems from the dust and
called for a halt to the development until health tests are done. </p>
<p>"I am in pain because I do see a community so wounded, so
ill-affected by its economic deprivation over the years that they are
forced to choose between their health and jobs," said Muhammad. </p>
<p>Kofi Bonner, president of Lennar's urban land division and the
company's leading executive in San Francisco, said the company is
required to work with "community builders" as part of its redevelopment
agreement. Faith-based groups are among the options, he said. </p>
<p>"It's all very aboveboard," Bonner said. </p>
<p>Boyd said the community will gain from Tabernacle's involvement. </p>
<p>"Our company will profit but also offer opportunities for the
community," Boyd said. "You cannot help someone off the ground if you
are on the ground yourself. </p>
<p>"We will get above ground and then reach back and assist."
</p>
<p><i>E-mail the writers at <a href="mailto:mkuruvila@sfchronicle.com">mkuruvila@sfchronicle.com</a>
and <a href="mailto:lfulbright@sfchronicle.com">lfulbright@sfchronicle.com</a>.</i>
</p>
</span>
<p id="url"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/02/BA8KRBF742.DTL">http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/02/BA8KRBF742.DTL</a></p>
<p id="pageno">This article appeared on page <strong>B - 1</strong> of
the San Francisco Chronicle</p>
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