Victory for Legacy Businesses! Plus, No on Props D & K and Mayoral Voter Guide

October 2024

Neighborhoods United SF

In This Issue

Victory for Our Legacy Businesses

Vote NO on Propositions D & K

Mayoral Voter Guide

Victory for Our Legacy Businesses

The Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted interim controls to protect small, neighborhood-serving businesses that have been part of our communities for over 30 years. A big thank you to everyone who sent emails and provided public comments—your voice truly made a difference.

Supervisor Peskin's legislation is a temporary 18-month measure set to expire around June 2026, giving the city time to study and implement permanent protections for legacy businesses. It requires property owners in select areas to obtain conditional use authorization before filling or demolishing retail spaces previously occupied by legacy businesses. This measure provides a crucial, though temporary, buffer against Mayor Breed's plans to upzone commercial corridors resulting in unbridled housing development—plans that risk undermining the vibrancy and character of our neighborhood corridors.

Board President Peskin's Press Release

Excerpt: “It is irresponsible for the city to be pushing an upzoning plan on neighborhood commercial corridors without first putting forward a comprehensive plan to protect small businesses and tenants.” said Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin. “These new protections are meant to send a signal to real estate speculators that they must deal honestly and constructively with small businesses and neighbors instead of imposing their own vision on neighborhoods for profit.”

“Our city’s identity and ethos is based on the uniqueness of the small businesses that drive our economy.” said Vanick Der Bedrossian, owner of Cafe La Mediterranee. “Billionaire landlords have purchased so many blocks of our street where we have run our family business for forty-five years and are refusing to engage in any discussion with us and other long-time tenants. The city must do everything it can to level the playing field for small businesses who want to stay in our city.”

SF Supervisors Strengthen Legacy Business Protections, Hoping to Save La Mediterranee and Others - SFist

S.F. Sups Agree to Protect City's Legacy Businesses from Potential Displacement - Chronicle

Protect Your Neighborhoods—

Vote NO on Propositions D and K!

NUSF is opposing two propositions that exacerbate the Mayor's upzoning plans.

Vote NO on Proposition D! (Yes on E)

Proposition D claims to streamline city government, but it strips neighborhoods of control over upzoning and development. It would:

Give the Mayor control over the Planning Commission and Board of Appeals by appointing the majority of members
Eliminate the Board of Supervisors' oversight of these appointments
Abolish key commissions like the Historic Preservation, Small Business, Library, and 20 others, including Arts, Public Works, Health, and Environment

Proposition D threatens neighborhood voices—don’t be fooled.

Vote NO on Proposition K!

Proposition K, the proposed closure of the Great Highway, is a disguised land grab by developers and YIMBY lobbyists. With no funding for the promised park transformation, this move will only increase the value of oceanfront land for luxury development, leading to more congestion and pollution in nearby neighborhoods.

This is another attempt, following Senator Wiener’s SB 951, to undermine the Coastal Commission’s authority and hand over control to developers.

YIMBYs are using well-meaning residents, park imagery and cyclists as distractions to push for high-rise towers along the coast, jeopardizing both existing communities and the environment.