Visitacion Valley leaders hope for more resources from federal government through Congressman Mullin’s advocacy for a "forgotten valley"

(SAN FRANCISCO) Community leaders representing several organizations in the Visitacion Valley neighborhood hoped for more resources from the federal government to upgrade their community center.

Representative Kevin Mullin who was first elected to the Congress in November 2022 came to visit Visitacion Valley on June 27 to hold a round table meeting with community leaders and toured the neighborhood's commercial corridor on Leland Avenue.

Under the latest redistricting map in effect in 2022, Mullin's congressional district, 15th District of California, covers northern cities in San Mateo County and southeast sector of San Francisco including Visitacion Valley, Portola, Bayview and Excelsior neighborhoods.

Visitacion Valley, one of the largest Asian neighborhoods in San Francisco, has been called by residents as “Forgotten Valley” due to their services and needs are often overlooked by government agencies. Supervisor Shamann Walton who represents Visitacion Valley was invited and did not attend the meeting.

"We have been forgotten for the last 10 years," Jenny Mak who is a leader of the Visitacion Valley Neighborhood Association told Mullin in the meeting. "The Visitacion Valley Community Center does not have enough rooms to accomodate our elderly members who are in need of the service," said Mak.

The entire site of the Visitacion Valley Community Center comprises two buildings at 50 and 66 Raymond Street. The center was acquired by San Francisco 10 years ago and shared by 8 non-profit organizations including Mak's neighborhood association and the Asian Pacific American Community Center.

Visitacion Valley leader Marlene Tran recalled what had happened over 10 years ago when the community center was closed down by surprise with no electricity and water. The seniors, who went to the center everyday for activities and playing mahjong, brought their own water with them and stayed in the center until all dark in the late afternoon because they had nowhere else to go in the neighborhood.

Tran supported the seniors and joined the advocacy to fight for the reopening of the center for a couple years at City Hall before the center was acquired and renovated by the City. It was also how the Visitacion Valley Neighborhood Association was founded by Mak and a group of seniors 10 years ago. The center was ultimately reopened as a better equipped facility.

The majority of the neighborhood association's members are seniors and retirees. Mak has organized a dance fitness class in the community center and the class has grown to full capacity in the big room of the center.

Rex Tabora, Executive Director of Asian Pacific American Community Center, also shared the same concern as Mak that there has been lack of space for them to serve the monolingual residents in the Visitacion Valley.

"My top priority in Congress is to represent my constituents and that includes my constituents in Visitacion Valley. It was my great honor to meet with community leaders to learn about issues affecting residents and small business owners," Mullin told Wind Newspaper after the meeting. "Every month I spend a 'Day in the District' in different parts of my Congressional district to learn first-hand about the local needs."

“I will be following up on issues of concern for Visitacion Valley such as economic support for small business owners, disaster relief, community safety and crime prevention, especially AAPI hate crimes. I plan to continue to talk to local leaders and the residents to see what federal assistance can be provided," said Mullin. "Visitacion Valley will not be forgotten."