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The History of the Committee Against Nihonmachi Evictions (CANE)
edited by Mike Liu
posted 3/1/04
Based on the thesis of Dave Okita with some additonal notes from interviews. We welcome any comments, corrections, or suggestions. Click on the forum link at the end of the article.
copyright by Richard Wada
Seeing a need that wasn't being met by San Francisco's Redevelopment Agency or the Nihonmachi Community Development Corporation (NCDC), an organization called the Committee Against Nihonmachi Evictions (CANE) was formed in February of 1973 around concerns about tenant rights. CANE developed out of the housing committee of the J-town Collective (JTC), an Asian American Movement group. During this time period, redevelopment was at a high level in Nihonmachi. NCDC was actively redeveloping its four-block area, and the Redevelopment Agency initiated demolition of many other sites in Nihonmachi. Residents and small businesses were finding it hard to relocate in Nihonmachi and were forced out of the community. Promises of Redevelopment Agency relocation assistance were not being fulfilled.
It was under this kind of environment that CANE was founded. A community dinner in January of 1973 drew approximately 300 people to hear about redevelopment and tenant rights. The first CANE meeting was held in February of 1973 with about 30 people attending. Subsequent meetings in February and March drew up to 100 people as word got out about CANE. Basic questions were brought up around how the Redevelopment Agency works and the rights and responsibilities tenants have. The need for an organization to advocate for tenant education and rights became apparent. With this mandate, CANE became active in the redevelopment struggle in Nihonmachi. It operated out of a four-story gray Victorian house. Its two principles were:
1. Stop the destruction and dispersal of the Japanese community and keep Nihonmachi a residential and small business area.
2. Uphold the rights of residents and small businesses.
One of CANE's first project was support for the Japanese American Religious Fellowship (JARF) housing project. Of major concern was to speed up "Redevelopment Agency commitment to support the project and to get federal funds secured for the project. Also of importance was the relocation of residents and small businesses who occupied the proposed site. CANE met with JARF and the Redevelopment Agency several times during the middle of 1973 to discuss the project.
Since the Redevelopment Agency was virtually unchallenged in the past about its relocation policies, the Agency was somewhat lax in its procedures for evictions and relocation services. During the Summer of 1973, CANE took matters in its own hands and found sites within Nihonmachi for several tenants about to be evicted from the JARF site. CANE also won an extension of an eviction notice in court when the Redevelopment Agency did not follow proper procedures.
CANE's second major struggle was to oppose the construction of a Kintetsu owned high-rise motel on the corner of Sutter and Buchanan Streets. Since this project was within NCDC jurisdiction, it resulted in CANE's first major confrontation with NCDC. CANE tried to appeal the demolition permit for the site, but lost and the motel was built.
As a grassroots, community lased organization, CANE suffered from the usual problems that plague these types of groups. Relative inexperience about dealing with a well established governmental body such as the Redevelopment Agency and the huge task of educating and organizing a community hindered CANE's efforts to counter the Redevelopment Agency and NCDC. However, CANE's membership grew in numbers and they became a force that the Redevelopment Agency and NCDC had to recognize. By mid 1974 CANE's membership was over 200 individuals, and by 1975 membership was over 300. CANE was portrayed by the Redevelopment Agency, NCDC, and the local press as "young, misguided, radicals," but CANE reports that in 1975, two-thirds of its 300 members are over the age of 36. Also the CANE coordinating committee at that time consisted of about half "older” and half "younger" members. However, it is true that young community activists played a leading role in CANE.
