HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
This month, we honor Tenderloin Black History by shining a light on the legacy of Leroy Looper – a Tenderloin activist and leader, as well as TLCBD’s staff member, Esan Looper’s late father. As Randy Shaw once wrote soon after his passing in 2011 – “Leroy Looper forever changed San Francisco.” Leroy led the charge of protecting the Tenderloin with affordable housing, got City Hall to recognize the importance of the Tenderloin as a neighborhood, spoke out on community-wide inequities, and built lasting coalitions to move the Tenderloin forward. TLCBD’s existence is thanks largely to Leroy’s leadership and partnership with our Founding Executive Director, Elaine Zamora (pictured together). To this day, TLCBD is inspired and led by residents, property owners, and small businesses who continue the work that Leroy Looper started – and we’re a strong neighborhood because of it.
GUIDING THE TL’S FUTURE WITH COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PLANS
TLCBD is proud to play an active role in ongoing infrastructure improvements aimed at making the Tenderloin a more inviting place for residents and visitors. As Tenderloin Community Action Plan (TCAP) Outreach partners, we’ve worked to amplify community voices, identify strategic investments, and shape the Tenderloin Investment Blueprint—a guide for neighborhood priorities over the next 2–5 years. Additionally, we contributed to shaping the Biking and Rolling Plan, now in its second iteration, which highlights and recommends key SFMTA investments to improve mobility across the city.
We’re grateful to our community and city partners for their collaboration and remain committed to advancing these efforts together.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Stay Informed & Stay Safe! Know your rights, protect yourself and others. The TLCBD has created a handout for employers to be prepared in emergencies. Download it here for more resources.
COMPTON’S CAFETERIA: A NATIONAL LANDMARK
The Tenderloin—home to the nation’s first Transgender Cultural District—has long been a center for trans activism, resilience, and history. Now, Compton’s Cafeteria at 101-102 Taylor St. has been officially added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its role in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The Compton’s Cafeteria uprising was one of the first recorded acts of trans resistance in the U.S., years before the Stonewall Riots. The recognition of this site ensures that its legacy—and the broader story of trans liberation—will not be forgotten.
For those who want to experience this history firsthand, the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot Play, hosted by our friends at the Tenderloin Museum, offers an immersive experience and lesson about this historic site. GET TICKETS TODAY!
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