Q&A with SOMCAN's New Tenant Counselor Gene Alejo

SOMCAN added a new tenant counselor to our growing staff! Please welcome Gene Alejo (son of longtime Galing Bata educator Tina Alejo) who will be providing tenant outreach, counseling, and legal referral services to the Filipino American community in the Excelsior and SoMa. 

Kapitbahay Times recently sat down with Gene to chat about his new job, what to do in case of an eviction notice, his current Pinoy teleserye obsessions, and a few other questions thrown in for good measure. 

KT: How does it feel to join the staff of SOMCAN?

GA: It feels very rewarding to be join the staff of SOMCAN because it’s an opportunity not only to give back to the SOMA Pilipinas community, but also to continue my advocacy on social justice issues, particularly community preservation and the fight against gentrification in our Filipino communities in SOMA and Excelsior.

KT: Any challenges or surprises you’ve encountered on the job so far? How have people been responding to you?

GA: Yes, there have been challenges and surprises since I started working here. On my second day of work, I joined three of my colleagues and traveled to Sacramento in efforts to repeal the Costa-Hawkins Law (regarding state rent control regulations) at the State Capitol. Even though Costa Hawkins was not repealed, it still felt rewarding to participate and voice our opinions at the hearing. I felt like I was representing tenants that are on the brink of unfair rent increases and evictions. It was also unexpected that I’d be involved in handling new cases and figuring out ways to ease the situation and refer clients to legal services. Since I’m still new, it’s quite challenging to establish trust with some clients but it also motivates me to do better and be humble with my job.

KT: What got you interested in tenant counseling in the first place? And why do you think there is a need for it, especially in the Filipino community? 

GA: What got me interested in the ongoing gentrification, skyrocketing rents and housing crisis in San Francisco, particularly in SOMA and the Excelsior. I also observed a massive exodus of families that no longer live in San Francisco because of the excessively high cost of living. We only have approximately 2,500 Filipinos left in SOMA and that number is decreasing. A similar decline is happening to the Filipino population in the Excelsior. Our goal is to keep our families in SF because they deserve to live well and thrive here and they are vital parts of the city’s fabric.

KT: Tell us a little about yourself and your connection to the SoMa and Excelsior communities.

GA: In SOMA, I attended Bessie Carmichael FEC from Kindergarten to 8th Grade and was part of the first 8th grade class in 2008. Even though I never lived in SOMA, I pretty much grew up in this community, not only because I attended school here but I was fairly well-connected within the SOMA Pilipinas community. Particularly, I witnessed the transition of FADF from the Mint Mall to the existing Bayanihan and of course the expansion of Bessie Carmichael FEC K-8.

As for the Excelsior, I have lived there since 2003 and recently observed the vulnerability of my neighborhood to gentrification. Both SOMA and the Excelsior have a large number of Filipino residents, but at the same time these numbers are at risk of disappearing if gentrification and displacement continues. Since gentrification is ongoing in both neighborhoods due to redevelopment, as a tenant counselor it is my obligation to protect families that are at risk of being displaced and let them know their rights as tenants and refer them to legal services. The Filipino population in both neighborhoods are declining, but we should not let that continue. We are here to stay in our homes so we can preserve our existing community.

KT: What would you advise to anyone reading this right now who just got home to an eviction notice posted on their front door?

GA: Even if you receive an eviction notice, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR EXISTING HOME. Second, document everything in a notebook or Word doc that can be used as evidence in a court of law. These include notices, forms of harassment or threats from your landlord, and unannounced visits. Third, do not be afraid because you deserve to fight for your rights and live in a stable home free from intimidation. That’s why I am here to help out when needed. Please do not hesitate to contact me at 415-552-5637 or tenantcounselor@somcan.org.

FASTTalk with Gene Alejo

KT: What’s the last good book you read cover-to-cover?

GA: On The Road by Jack Kerouac

KT: What’s your weeknight “go-to” Whole30 recipe?

GA: Whole30 Chicken Curry with Squash and Zucchini. Of course, paired with Cauliflower Rice.

KT: Are you more of a cat person or a dog person?

GA: Both. I love cats and dogs.

KT: Which Pinoy teleserye are you currently obsessed with?

GA: Kambal Karibal, Ika-6 Na Utos, The Stepdaughters, and Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka

KT: Nora, Sharon, or Vilma?

GA: Sharon!