From the SF Tenant’s Union:
Mayor Lurie, greedy developers, and the Planning Department have proposed a plan to Upzone San Francisco with few protections for existing tenants and rent controlled buildings. By increasing heights, the plan incentivizes speculators to displace tenants, destroy sound rental housing and small businesses, and build luxury towers in their place.
They offer up a weak "right of first refusal" to evicted tenants but cannot guarantee that rental units will be replaced as rental units. If you manage to survive years paying market rent elsewhere and can qualify for a private loan, then you might be able to purchase a replacement unit. Whether the city will enforce on owners who do not follow through on this requirement is not assured. It certainly hasn't worked in cases of fire where tenants displaced rarely return to rebuilt apartments years later despite their "right of return."
Small businesses get even less from the plan as state law prohibits any sort of rent control or protections for commercial tenants.
The Tenants Union has thoroughly analyzed the proposal with an eye towards identifying loopholes, enforcement, and state law preemption that overrides the proponents claims. We have 45 years of experience watching speculators stay one step ahead of even well-intentioned legislation. We have serious concerns with the Mayor's plan because we know profit by any means necessary is the goal.
We need you to raise your voice to protect you and your neighbors on Thursday Sept 11 at noon.
Meet at the steps of City Hall (Polk St) to witness the Mayor's press conference. Lurie, YIMBYs, and a new Planning Director who is firmly in the pocket of market rate developers declare victory in a press event before the votes have been counted and regardless of the deep flaws in the plan for tenants and small business.
There is still time to change the plan.
OUR DEMANDS TO THE MAYOR
REAL TENANT PROTECTIONS
No by-right approval to demolish rent controlled buildings. The project must offer more than just "one additional unit than exists" in order to be worth the loss of sound housing and hardship for tenantsIf demolition is approved (through a commission vote) rental units MUST be replaced with rental units (not homeownership units)Tenants of all incomes deserve adequate relocation rental assistance while they move to temporary housingA trackable and enforceable right of return overseen by a city agency with legal powers to fine owners who don't follow through
STAND UP TO THE STATE
The number of units San Francisco is required to plan for keeps changing and our Planning Department refuses to show their math or offer alternative plans. Mayor Lurie, and his way too powerful but inexperience housing chief Ned Segal, have not pushed back on lobbyist demands because they don't understand the math or loopholes while developers and their own planning department run circles around them.
It is presented as accepted fact that this flawed plan is all we have and everyone must fall in line. No discussion. No proof. No debate allowed.