SNA member and Sunnyside resident David Tejeda was one of several people interviewed for a recent SF Chronicle article “Bay Area Housing Crisis: Six YIMBYs on a mission”.  [paywall]

An excerpt:

David Tejeda

Occupation: Contractor

Neighborhood: Sunnyside

Story: Tejada stands out in a room full of YIMBYs. At 70, he’s twice as old as most of the people active in the movement. He’s also the owner of a home he bought two decades ago near the Balboa Reservoir. It’s a neighborhood where many residents are opposed to a redevelopment plan calling for about 1,100 new housing units.

In his words: “A lot people in my age group have the attitude, ‘I’ve got mine. If you don’t have yours, it’s your own fault.’ At the same time, they complain that their grown kids are living in their basement. Well, if there were more places for them to live they wouldn’t have to stay in the basement. I’m a firm believer that you don’t pull the drawbridge up.”

As a note: the current board of Sunnyside Neighborhood Association supports the Balboa Reservoir Project, as did the previous board. SNA has been involved from the beginning of the community engagement process. Many residents here look forward to new neighbors and a new park, and more housing for the city.