After a longtime Mission resident and her family were denied service at a local restaurant, the community has demanded an investigation at the city level.
“We did not want to think that we were turned away because we are all Latino but there was no reason why we were turned away,” Sandra Cuadra wrote in an email, in an effort to mobilize the community feeling that she and her family had become victims of discrimination.
Cuadra sought solidarity by sending a letter to some 52 community members, including city employees, non-profit representatives, local business owners and vecinos. El Tecolote was among the list of recipients. Shortly after, it became evident that for many, this incident was the last straw.
A throng of emails ignited by Cuadra’s experience quickly evolved into a forum for pent up frustrations about gentrification—for longtime Mission residents and newcomers alike. The heated exchange of approximately 50 emails stirred up a conversation many community members felt was long overdue.
In the midst of the Cesar Chavez Day celebration on April 20, Cuadra and her family of 5 approached Local’s Corner restaurant at 23rd and Bryant streets expecting to be seated with ease. However, they were denied service by a waiter at the establishment who told the family that he was unable to accommodate them without further explanation.
Shocked and disheartened, Cuadra wrote a formal report to District 9 Supervisor David Campos, who confirmed via email that he is taking the matter seriously, and has since sent the report to the Human Right’s Charter for further investigation.
Cuadra stated that “ the emails that were sent around show me that these types of incidents keep happening.”
In a meeting with the Cuadra family, Yaron Milgrom, owner of Local’s Corner, sympathized with Cuadra but stressed that this issue did not arise due to a racial preference on behalf of the business.
Local activist Roberto Hernandez, and Eric Arguello of the Lower 24th Street Merchants and Neighbors Association, who were also present at the meeting, conveyed the sentiment of displacement on behalf of many Latinos in the neighborhood.
“You need to understand that what they went through, it’s what we’ve all been going through here in the neighborhood,” said Hernandez. “You are welcome here, but we’ve been here—we have grown up here, we have seen evictions, and we have seen gentrification here.”
Milgrom suggested that avoiding such incidents in the future would mean learning how to co-exist in the rapidly changing neighborhood.
“Our interests—when we align them—are more likely to happen than when we fight,” he said. “We’re not working together to make it better as a shared community; I think it’s a lost opportunity when it becomes brown versus white.”
Milgrom noted that the diversity of the Mission is what initially attracted him to the neighborhood, adding that “ I don’t want to be here if it’s any different.”
While some of the anger and allegations were diffused during the meeting, both parties agree that it was only the beginning of a much-needed dialogue in addressing gentrification.
“How do we take a negative situation and turn it around?” Hernandez asked, adding that “business owners and new residents have the responsibility to be a part of the community, and not just benefit from the income and culture.”
It is incredible that anyone would be denied service but especially a community leader like Sandy Cuadra. She has done more for the community than that restaurant could even dream of. A former on air personality of KMEL, a highly respected city worker, an organizer in countless Mission District events, a lifelong resident of the district. I can go on and on about how Sandy Cuadra has helped the community but in short it’s pretty shameful that a business will come to the Mission and feed off of the cultural vibe but not feed the culture and/the people of that culture. Damn shame.
Did anyone explain or give reason why she was denied service? Or was it just a blatant discrimination?
Please write more about this. I want to know what the owner plans to do to ensure this does not happen at his restaurant again. I want to know how many people of color work in that restaurant whose owner says the “diversity of the neighborhood” is what attracted him. I want to know who the waiter was. I want to hear from the waiter the reason this family was refused service. I want to know if this restaurant only allows people in who are dressed in a certain way. I want to know if the owner is afraid of the neighbors in this diverse area he says he is attracted to. And it seems to me Milgrom is flipping the script… when he says “Our interests—when we align them—are more likely to happen than when we fight,” he said. “We’re not working together to make it better as a shared community; I think it’s a lost opportunity when it becomes brown versus white.” What, exactly, has Milgrom done to make it a better community? His restaurant turns a long time mission district family away and HE says “we’re not working together to make it a better as a shared community”????! Por favor.
Yes, exactly; thank you for putting it so clearly Rose.
I can speak to Yaron’s character, and I know him to be a caring member of the community who volunteers his time and listens well. Part of working together for a diverse and inclusive community can be to ask the questions that are important to you, and then listen to the answers. If the answers make you mad, you can invite a dialog and reach out rather than widening the divide.
The owner did respond, and this paper did post a follow-up: http://eltecolote.org/content/2013/05/owner-of-mission-eatery-responds-to-controversy/. That link is at the bottom of this article, but it’s teeny-tiny, and very easy to miss.
I come frm a puerto rican family that came here n 1956 . My grandmother along wit her 8 children to the mission all of my uncles n aunts went to school here n the mission n at that time there waz alot of italyn n irish familys but when latinos started movin n the mission they recieved us all wit open arms! ! Im very upset n how these
I’m so sorry Lucy, but your post hurt my eyes and head so I wanted to post it in a manner that was easier to read: I come from a Puerto Rican family that came here in 1956 . My grandmother along with her 8 children to the mission all of my uncles n aunts went to school here in the mission n at that time there was a lot of Italian and Irish families but when Latinos started moving in the Mission they received us all with open arms!! I’m very upset.
Lucy – I want for you to be heard. But can you please just type out the words. It doesn’t take much longer to type out “in” instead of “n”. When you write this way, people can easily dismiss you because you seem ignorant. I want your voice to be heard.
White ppl thats how ima say it can come n to the mission 4 many past yrs n presant n go to restarunts taqurias n our markets our fckn neighborhood becuz they r drawn to our culture n muals food n weather … n now they want to treat us like shit fck u … im all bout change byt this is bullshit we latinos will not go away! !!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK Lucy, I guess my efforts are meaningless if you are going to post complex sentences that are not structured correctly. And, my friend, Latino are going away. Let us all face facts. Unless you own, you will be forced out.
I feel the most important thing for new people coming into any neighborhood, is to learn about it. You need to learn what is important to the neighborhood and not try to change it.
Recognizing and excepting that people have been in the neighborhood for decades before you moved in. Learn the culture of the Mission. We are not like any other. Many come into this neighborhood not understanding it, then create problems for the community.
Many who were born here or grew up here know that on warm days we have barbecues on the sidewalks. We sit on our front steps and talk with our neighbors and watch the kids from the block play. We play music on Saturdays from our cars or homes. Paint our homes with bright colors. Many are church going and after go have some pan dulce and cafe con leche or they have tamale sales to raise funds for the church.
These are but a few.
Now your new neighbor calls the fire dept when you have a barbecue.
Calls the police when you are sitting on your front steps becuase you look suspicious. Calls the DPH on the church because they are selli g tamales and to check for permits. Don’t talk to you because they don’t like the color of your house and call the dept of building and inspection.
I say learn acknowledge and respect and then it will be returned.
The link to the response is down. Error 404 – File missing. Please restore it so we can get both sides of the story.
Jua – scroll down just a tiny little bit to the “most commented” box below this – that link works.