Battling strong winds was the last of the worries that a diverse group of protesters had at a No on 98 rally yesterday in front of San Francisco's City Hall. They were far more worried about the hurricane winds of gentrification threatening to sweep away all but those with high incomes from San Francisco. With a steady wind constantly flapping their signs and banners, a richly diverse group of people came together to prevent the impoverishing of the city into a monochromatic gilded ghetto.

Their main objective was to rally around the opposition to Proposition 98. A measure whose most egregious feature, among many, would effectively end rent control not only in the city, but throughout the state of California.

Eric Quezada, from the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, vociferously spoke about keeping the dream alive for those young people who want to "stay in our city!" By contrast, Prop 98, according to Quezada, is about "killing this dream!" He ended his remarks in Spanish with a loud, "Si se puede!" "Yes we can!"

Just the first of the many languages heard during the rally; along with English, Tagalog, and Chinese. The crowd of those attending was even more diverse: Filipinos, African Americans, Asians, Latinos, Caucasians, and a long group of individuals from various other backgrounds. A human rainbow as colorful as the multicolored signs and banners many were carrying. As diverse as the many organizations that came together for the rally: from SRO Families United to the Sierra Club. Different from each other, yet united in a coalition to save the city from losing the riches of this diversity.

As Supervisor Aaron Peskin pointed out, the city would lose this world famous diversity if Prop 98 was approved. He predicted "it would end rent control and affordable housing. It's profoundly scary." He, along with every speaker, reminded everyone that only 12 days remained to organize people to vote against Prop 98. As every other speaker did, he called on everyone to go out and cast their vote.

Liana Villasenor, from the Community Housing Partnership, echoed this call in Spanish: "Salgan a votar!" "Go out to vote!" she cried out. In response to which the crowd started chanting in English, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, 98 has got to go!!! Hey, hey, ho, ho, 98 has got to go!!!" repeated again and again; energizing the crowd into a festive frenzy.

Dean Preston of Tenants Together did not hesitate to squarely confront the class dimension of Prop 98 mocking the "sneaky little landlords" and their terrible timing supporting a proposition at time when "incomes are dropping and rents are rising." Leroy Moore of Poor Magazine was even more explicit in his condemnation of the enrichment of the few at the expense of low income residents. The passage of Prop 98 would be nothing less, according to Moore, than a "giant eviction notice to working people."

So far a broad coalition of people, from Republicans like Pete Wilson to Democrats like Mayor Gavin Newsom, have come out against Prop 98. With such a wide array of people, it will be very difficult for the measure to succeed. Yet the fears of those at the rally are genuine. Even if Prop 98 is defeated much work remains to be done to make San Francisco a city that welcomes a diverse group of people, be they of different ethnicities, orientations or classes.

Last week, Mayor Newsom in a marvelous speech stood up to those excluded from marriage due to their sexual orientation. He valiantly fought the forces of homophobia. By opposing Proposition 98, he has stood up to those being excluded from the city due to their class status: being low income. This time around, he fights the forces of gentrification.

Yet, the crucial question remains: will he courageously continue to fight the forces of gentrification? Will he one day invite inside City Hall the people who stood outside it today? Will he bring to affordable housing the same passion and eloquence he has rightfully brought to gay marriage?
Will he support Proposition F? Or will he side with the Lennar Corporation?