On the Leaked Google Memo
January 20, 2014
Google and tech giants use the cultural diversity of San Francisco and access to private bus lines for the 40-mile reverse commute as perks to lure workers here. As these higher paid workers flood the market, real estate speculators capitalize on the new and generally younger, wealthier, whiter population by inflating rents, commanding up to 20% higher rates around the shuttle stops. This is exacerbating the displacement crisis, devastating neighborhoods and local businesses (ones with a long history in communities, not new ones that merely slap the word “local” on their signage). Ellis Act evictions are up 170% over last 12 months, no-fault evictions in general are up 83% over the last three years. Tenants, many who have spent decades here, are facing increased harassment, illegal or no-cause evictions, and/or are living in constant fear of being evicted. To them San Francisco is not a “perk.” It is their life, livelihood, family, chosen family, and safety net. One cannot monetize the disruption of their entire lives nor measure the impact of uprooting people in mere carbon levels. Nevertheless, the emission created through such devastation, in addition to the consumption levels of a wealthier population, far outweigh any savings these limo-buses may provide.
The leaked memo shows that Google is trying use its employees to do their dirty work and dodge responsibility for their impact on the eviction crisis and public system deficits. Corporations have historically had a giant footprint on public infrastructure, communities and the environment without paying for it, and Google is no different. They'll avoid paying for privatizing our bus stops like they avoid paying $11 billion in federal taxes. When a company's chairman publicly says, "We're proudly capitalistic. I'm not confused about this," you know Don't Be Evil was just a sick joke of the Googlezillionaires.
They're urging their employees to say they would drive if the not for the shuttle program to keep the "eco-friendly" excuse alive and continue using SF's tax-payer funded bus stops for virtually nothing. SFMTA has already published a survey that states 50.5% of private shuttle riders would not drive their own cars if these shuttles weren't available.Thirty-one percent said they wouldn't be able to make the trip at all, which implies over 5200 people would choose to live closer to their work in Silicon Valley. None of the surveys on the environmental impact of the shuttles are taking into account how many people have been priced out or displaced, who now have to drive from across the bay to their jobs in SF. Real estate speculators evicting folks and charging up to 20% more for properties near these stops should be reason enough to ban them from residential neighborhoods. The voters haven’t voiced that they’re willing to gift our public assets to incredibly rich private companies, and we should expect more of them to hold city officials accountable for their role in creating this two-tier system.
Google also wants their employees to sell that they benefit "local" businesses when it is public knowledge that they offer free food, laundry, and endless amounts of personal services on their campus as a way to keep employees working, which means they're not paying for such things in SF. The actual long-time local establishments aren't benefiting from the influx of tech workers because their clientele are being displaced and/or the new, wealthier residents aren’t frequenting their businesses. Also, long-time organizations and businesses are being evicted to make room for commercial tenants creating high-end boutique markets to serve the incoming wealth.
San Francisco is quickly becoming a city where the folks providing services to keep the city running can no longer afford to live here. Many benefiting from the boom are involved in the two speculative industries contributing to displacement: real estate and tech, both of which lobby city hall for special privileges. One dollar doesn't stop displacement. We will continue to push our representatives to put a moratorium on all no-fault evictions and make corporations pay for their use of our city. Tech workers, please start pushing your companies to NOT BE EVIL! They are nothing without you. Until you all come together and join the open source revolution where the rich and powerful don’t control and profit from personal data and public knowledge, perhaps you should unionize so that you can speak out against the corrupt paths of your overlords without fear of termination. Together you can force them to be accountable. Sabotage the status quo and help end the exploitation of our communities and common resources.
The leaked memo shows that Google is trying use its employees to do their dirty work and dodge responsibility for their impact on the eviction crisis and public system deficits. Corporations have historically had a giant footprint on public infrastructure, communities and the environment without paying for it, and Google is no different. They'll avoid paying for privatizing our bus stops like they avoid paying $11 billion in federal taxes. When a company's chairman publicly says, "We're proudly capitalistic. I'm not confused about this," you know Don't Be Evil was just a sick joke of the Googlezillionaires.
They're urging their employees to say they would drive if the not for the shuttle program to keep the "eco-friendly" excuse alive and continue using SF's tax-payer funded bus stops for virtually nothing. SFMTA has already published a survey that states 50.5% of private shuttle riders would not drive their own cars if these shuttles weren't available.Thirty-one percent said they wouldn't be able to make the trip at all, which implies over 5200 people would choose to live closer to their work in Silicon Valley. None of the surveys on the environmental impact of the shuttles are taking into account how many people have been priced out or displaced, who now have to drive from across the bay to their jobs in SF. Real estate speculators evicting folks and charging up to 20% more for properties near these stops should be reason enough to ban them from residential neighborhoods. The voters haven’t voiced that they’re willing to gift our public assets to incredibly rich private companies, and we should expect more of them to hold city officials accountable for their role in creating this two-tier system.
Google also wants their employees to sell that they benefit "local" businesses when it is public knowledge that they offer free food, laundry, and endless amounts of personal services on their campus as a way to keep employees working, which means they're not paying for such things in SF. The actual long-time local establishments aren't benefiting from the influx of tech workers because their clientele are being displaced and/or the new, wealthier residents aren’t frequenting their businesses. Also, long-time organizations and businesses are being evicted to make room for commercial tenants creating high-end boutique markets to serve the incoming wealth.
San Francisco is quickly becoming a city where the folks providing services to keep the city running can no longer afford to live here. Many benefiting from the boom are involved in the two speculative industries contributing to displacement: real estate and tech, both of which lobby city hall for special privileges. One dollar doesn't stop displacement. We will continue to push our representatives to put a moratorium on all no-fault evictions and make corporations pay for their use of our city. Tech workers, please start pushing your companies to NOT BE EVIL! They are nothing without you. Until you all come together and join the open source revolution where the rich and powerful don’t control and profit from personal data and public knowledge, perhaps you should unionize so that you can speak out against the corrupt paths of your overlords without fear of termination. Together you can force them to be accountable. Sabotage the status quo and help end the exploitation of our communities and common resources.
