Neighborhoods United SF (NUSF) strongly supports Board President Aaron Peskin’s legislation aimed at reinstating vital components of our planning code and preserving the integrity of San Francisco's iconic waterfront against the threat of high-rise development.
The legislation, introduced by Board President Aaron Peskin, seeks to rectify inadvertent changes made during the rezoning of downtown areas for office-to-housing conversions in Commercial Business Districts (Board File No. 231079). We were encouraged by the Board of Supervisors' approval of this legislation by a vote of 8-3. Notably, Supervisors Engardio (D4), Dorsey (D6), and Melgar (D7) cast the dissenting votes.
However, our optimism was dampened when Mayor Breed vetoed the legislation on March 14, 2024. As the legislation heads back to the Board of Supervisors for a vote to override the Mayor’s veto, we urge the Supervisors who previously voted in favor of the amendments to maintain their support. Specifically, we call on Supervisors Chan (D1), Stefani (D2), Peskin (D3), Preston (D5), Mandelman (D8), Ronen (D9), Walton (D10), and Safai (D11) to uphold their yes votes.
President Peskin's response and key points we wish to emphasize include:
- Supervisor Peskin’s legislation ensures that any density increases along the waterfront are carefully planned and appropriate, rather than allowing for oversized skyscrapers catering to the wealthy.
- The Mayor’s actions, including her recent veto, underscore a broader trend of implementing policies that prioritize developer profits over people, endangering affordability, renters, small businesses, and the needs of our communities.
- The Mayor's veto represents politics over policy, evident in her dissent despite the approval of her appointee to the head of the Planning Department and the affirmative votes of her Planning Commission appointees.
- The allegations of the legislation violating the Housing Element are baseless given the unanimous approval of the amendments by the Planning Commission, City Attorney, and the review by Supervisor Catherine Stefani, a knowledgeable legal expert on the Board.
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