J.R. successfully led the effort to increase the amount of housing at the Pier 70 redevelopment project. Thirty percent (30%) of that housing will be at affordable rates. 

J.R. advocated for residents’ needs on the Bayview-Hunters Point Express Working Group, which reestablished the 15 Muni Route and provided an express connection between Hunters Point, key cross-town Muni routes, and Downtown.

When the community was divided on installation of a protected bike lane on 17th Street, J.R. convened meetings and listening sessions to address major concerns and allow the project to move forward. J.R.’s work for safer streets continues through his efforts on the Safer Illinois Initiative.

J.R. worked to secure Friends of Jackson Park’s non-profit status and guided it through negotiations with the City and contractors  to design and develop a fully approved, shovel-ready park renovation project.

J.R. is working with community members to finalize plans to create a new box-step trail that would connect the Potrero Hill Recreation Center to the Potrero Annex housing complex, Dogpatch and Caltrain. This new trail would be a major improvement over the existing rock and dirt path that is too steep for many residents to safely navigate.

As a part of the Power Station entitlement process, J.R. negotiated and drafted key provisions of the Development Agreement to ensure that fees from the project would fund neighborhood priorities related to safe streets, transit and open space.

J.R. has negotiated with developers to deliver neighborhood enhancing amenities, ranging from retail spaces, midblock passages, new open spaces, street improvements and funding for community led projects.

When the 22 Fillmore was routed off of Potrero Hill, J.R. led the effort to lobby the SFMTA for a new bus line that would not simply replace the 22, but would better connect key community destinations. The result was the 55 Dogpatch.

J.R. has successfully advocated for family-friendly housing construction, pushing developers to exceed the required amount of multi-bedroom units. When the Planning Code was modified to imperil family-friendly development, J.R. worked with the Board of Supervisors to develop legislation instituting additional safeguards and further incentivizing more bedrooms in development. 

As a member of the Friends of Dogpatch Community Hub, J.R. worked to secure funding and a location for the Hub. He then worked to hire an Executive Director, oversaw the build out of the space for community events and tracked day-to-day operations.

When UCSF expanded its footprint into Dogpatch, J.R. passionately made the case for a comprehensive set of investments to cushion the university’s impact on the community. As a member of the Dogpatch Community Taskforce, J.R. helped secure $10.55 million that supported the needs of the growing neighborhood.

As an officer of the Potrero-Dogpatch Merchants Association, J.R. has worked with merchants in navigating parklet, streetscape and public safety issues. In his professional capacity, J.R. has worked to set up neighborhood merchant groups throughout the City. As a board member of the San Francisco Counsel of District Merchants Associations, J.R. is advocating for merchant protections in the face of broad-based upzoning throughout the City.

J.R. has served on the Potrero Gateway Steering Committee since its earliest days, where he worked with neighbors and City agencies to remediate the 17th Street/101 overpass and create a welcoming portal into Potrero Hill.

As a longtime board member of the Potrero Hill Democratic Club and as President of the Potrero Boosters, J.R. has kept neighbors up to date on developments in the District and the politics of the City. He has moderated discussions with department heads and debates with candidates for supervisor, district attorney, and assembly, in addition to leading countless other discussions of community interest.

J.R. worked to bridge the gap between the Recreation and Parks Department and the community on the design of the Esprit Park renovation project. The resulting renovation has rejuvenated the park and meets a greater diversity of community needs.