Displaying a remarkable degree of unity for such a diverse community, Tenderloin residents, businesses and non-profits joined together yesterday to approve a Community Benefits District (CBD). A tally of votes from all property owners in the neighborhood released yesterday revealed 65 percent of the neighborhood voted for a CBD, making it all but certain the Board of Supervisors will give it final approval when it votes on it next Tuesday. The two-thirds approval rating topped other CBDs in the Castro and Noe Valley made public yesterday, both of which received approximately 60 percent of their neighborhoods' vote. The CBDs will create a small tax on local businesses for improvements in the area, including street cleaning, graffiti abatement, and sprucing up public space. The Tenderloin alone will net $932,000 over the next year, which will be in addition to baseline city funding.

More than 30 residents and organizational representatives spoke in favor of the district, including developers such as Walter Shorenstein, non-profits such as Asian Inc., and neighborhood activists such as John and Michael Nulty. This diversity, some said, showed a consensus on the issue that cut across political ideologies and class identifications.

"It's remarkable," said developer Art Evans. "It's an unbelievable bringing together of businesses and non-profits. I've never seen anything remotely close to it, what is happening here today."

Many speakers directed a lion's share of the credit for the CBD's creation to attorney Elaine Zamora, who spearheaded efforts to develop neighborhood unity on the issue. Zamora steered the process along its year-long journey - a tough one for a low-income community - which included two neighborhood votes and countless hours spent convincing business owners it was in their best interest to support the CBD.

"This is a true self-help plan, with all benefits going to the whole community," said Zamora. "I want to give a lot of credit to the businesses who stepped up to say they would pay their share towards improving the neighborhood."

Many of those who spoke in favor of the CBD cited the historic neglect of the Tenderloin as an important reason for its passage. Supporters cited dirty streets, graffiti, and unsafe conditions for children as reasons to take steps towards cleaning up the area, and many applauded the self-directed nature of the CBD as a means towards doing so.

"This will help create a clean and safe community," said resident Michael Nulty. "By neighborhoods using these funds collectively through the CBD, neighbors will take pride in themselves and others."

Several people weren't in favor of the CBD, however. One claimed that the ballots for the vote were only delivered in one language, which the City Attorney revealed to be untrue. Another argued it would only help out drug dealers and "investment bankers in limousines who come to the neighborhood to but their crack."

In addition, some property owners did not attend the hearing to declare their opposition, but because the vote was public, their position will soon be available to anyone.

Interestingly, the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) lobbied strenuously behind the scenes against the CBD, but ultimately abstained from voting. Although TNDC tenants strongly supported the CBD, the move to improve the neighborhood was strongly opposed by TNDC leader Kelly Cullen.

Ultimately, however, the CBD enjoyed widespread support. In the light of yesterday's CBD victories, some wondered if the alliances it created could lead to bigger and better things for the city.

"I look around at this room," said community activist Otto Duffy, "and just as a student of the neighborhood, I'm amazed by the divergent viewpoints on the same page. What might this unity bring about?"