1. Understanding the Root Cause

What problem is this group trying to address?

What do you understand to be the root causes? Are they clearly identified?

What’s one insight you gained from how this group framed the issue?

2. Stakeholder Complexity

Whose interests were most considered in their analysis?

Who seems underrepresented or missing from their stakeholder map? Explain why this matters.

Pose one thoughtful question about power, influence, or accountability among stakeholders.

3. Creative Intervention as Experiment

What intervention did they propose? What stands out about it?

What do you think is brilliant, bold, or risky about their approach?

If you could tweak or expand this idea, what would you suggest? Why?

The document below shows which group’s project you are assigned to review and you will submit a generative critique that addresses the following prompts. You can respond in a written document (500–700 words), a slide deck, a 1-page zine-style visual, or another creative format of your choice. You will be graded based on the rubric (below).

Chinatown

TEAM 2 BUS 682-03

SROs

SROs are essential low-income housing for immigrant and

elderly residents.

Many buildings are poorly maintained, posing serious health

and safety risks.

These issues require urgent policy reform and culturally

competent solutions.

San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the oldest and most

densely populated Chinese communities in the U.S.

INTRO TO ISSUE

Root Cause Analysis

Systemic Causes:

Historical housing discrimination and exclusionary zoning confining Chinese immigrants to segregated

areas like Chinatown. Buildings were not upgraded from their original design (short-term use) to meet current resident

needs. Chronic neglect (e.g., broken plumbing, pest

infestations) worsened by weak city enforcement. Legal action (e.g., KRON4 report, April 2025) exposed

unsafe and illegal unit conversions.

Political Factors:

Tenant underrepresentation in housing policymaking and enforcement.

Reactive code enforcement allows dangerous conditions to persist.

Language barriers and lack of translated materials block access to support.

Protests highlight resistance to budget cuts, but institutional support remains fragile.

Root Cause Analysis

Cultural Barriers:

Many are elderly or first-generation monolingual immigrants.

Language isolation and fear (especially among undocumented tenants) limit advocacy.

Social disconnection leaves seniors unaware of or unable to access resources.

Tenant organizing exists but often relies on community-led efforts, not government

support.

Economic Exploitation:

Tenants live on fixed or low incomes in one of the most expensive U.S. cities.

Substandard housing causes health impacts: respiratory illness, stress, sleep deprivation.

Few housing alternatives keep residents trapped in unsafe units.

Landlords exploit loopholes to maximize profit through neglect or illegal conversions.

Gentrification intensifies displacement pressure on already vulnerable residents.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Local Artists and Media Use storytelling to raise awareness and support justice Influence public opinion through cultural work

Tourists / General Public Largely unaware of housing issues Can be educated through exhibits and campaigns

Policymakers (Mayor, Supervisors) Hold legal and funding power Motivated by public support and visibility

SRO Residents Low-income, mostly Chinese immigrant families and elders Value safe, stable housing near cultural services Barriers: language, eviction fear, limited legal access

SRO Owners / Landlords Motivated by profit; delay repairs unless forced Often exploit legal loopholes

City of San Francisco (DBI, DPH) Enforce housing and health codes Understaffed; act mostly after violations are reported

Chinatown Community Orgs (CPA, CCDC) Educate and support tenants Advocate for fair housing and cultural preservation

STAKEHOLDER MAP

CREATIVE PLAN CONCEPT:

EXHIBIT DETAILS:

GOALS & METRICS

Immersive public exhibit + digital campaign

highlighting life in Chinatown SROs.

Life-sized SRO replicas in high-traffic areas: 41 Ross Art Gallery,

Portsmouth Square, Union Square, public libraries

Partner with artists of 41 Ross Gallery to create exhibits

(Chinatown art gallery)

Real resident stories in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English

Sensory experience: visual storytelling + authentic soundscape

15% increase in awareness (10,000+ in-

person/online visitors in 3 months)

10% boost in engagement (2,000 stakeholder

pledges to officials)

20% media coverage increase (targeting SF

Chronicle, KQED, NBC Bay Area, etc.)

Campaign Execution: Execution Plan Partner with SRO residents for story-

sharing and co-creation

Commission local artists for exhibit builds

Host VIP media preview with journalists,

community leaders, and advocates

Digital Extension: Launch a micro-site with virtual tours, stories, and

shareable content

Promote with hashtag #RoomsForJustice to drive

user-generated content

Conclusion

Chinatown’s SRO housing crisis stems from:

• Systemic neglect and cultural marginalization

• Political exclusion and lack of tenant protections

• Discriminatory housing policies and profit-driven priorities

THANK YOU!

• “Rooms of Resilience” campaign responds by:

• Centering storytelling as a tool for visibility and advocacy

• Amplifying the voices of SRO residents

• Bridging the gap between tenants, the public, and

policymakers

• Driving community-centered activism for lasting change

RESOURCES

Cheang, Ko Lyn. “S.F. SRO Landlords Face Big Fines for Problem Chinatown Properties.” San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2025,

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/chinatown-sro-settlement-20265097.php. Accessed 3 May 2025.

Chinese Progressive Association. Substandard Housing Conditions in San Francisco Chinatown: Health Impacts on Low-Income Immigrant Tenants. Aug. 2005,

https://dacdev.cpasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CPA-Chinatown-Substandard-Housing-Health-Report.pdf. Accessed 3 May 2025.

City Attorney of San Francisco. (2023, October 10). San Francisco sues Chinatown SRO owners over unsafe living conditions.

https://www.sfcityattorney.org/2023/10/10/san-francisco-sues-chinatown-sro-owners-over-unsafe-living-conditions/

City Attorney of San Francisco. (2025, April 8). City Attorney secures $810,000 from Chinatown SRO owners who profited off of unsafe units.

https://www.sfcityattorney.org/2025/04/08/city-attorney-secures-810000-from-chinatown-sro-owners-who-profited-off-of-unsafe-units/

Martinez, Jose. “San Francisco Chinatown SRO Residents Rally Against Proposed Budget Cuts.” CBS News Bay Area, 14 June 2023,

https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/san-francisco-chinatown-sro-residents-rally-against-proposed-budget-cuts/. Accessed 3 May 2025.

San Francisco Department of Building Inspection. (n.d.). Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Task Force. https://sfdbi.org/single-room-occupancy-sro-task-force

Substandard Housing Conditions in San Francisco Chinatown: Health Impacts on Low-Income Immigrant Tenants. Chinese Progressive Association, Aug. 2005,

https://dacdev.cpasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CPA-Chinatown-Substandard-Housing-Health-Report.pdf.

Wu, Zhe. “In SF’s Chinatown, Few Works by Asian Artists. That Could Change.” San Francisco Public Press, 22 Aug. 2024, https://www.sfpublicpress.org/few-asian-

american-artists-chinatown-tool-registry-could-change-that/. Accessed 3 May 2025.

“Chinatown Tenants Win Public Housing Rent Strike.” FoundSF, https://www.foundsf.org/Chinatown_Tenants_Win_Public_Housing_Rent_Strike. Accessed 3 May 2025.

“City Attorney Secures $810,000 from Chinatown SRO Owners Who Profited off of Unsafe Units.” City Attorney of San Francisco, 8 Apr. 2025,

https://www.sfcityattorney.org/2025/04/08/city-attorney-secures-810000-from-chinatown-sro-owners-who-profited-off-of-unsafe-units.