Airbnb Regulation Will Be Enforced

Pressure from housing activists such as the San Francisco Tenants Union and other voters pushed the San Francisco Supervisors to support enforcement of the rules for Airbnb. Illegal postings by Airbnb will face penalties. Airbnb removes affordable housing from the market and Ron Conway, Airbnb’s investor, funds politicians (such as London Breed and Scott Wiener)…

Cell Towers Hearings

A hearing is scheduled before the Planning Commission, June 16, 2016, to consider adoption of changes to the San Francisco Planning Code as they relate to: Wireless Telecommunications Services (WTS) Facilities (typically includes cell towers or cell antennas); and Articles 10 and 11 of the Planning Code (to clarify that Planning Department staff may also deny certain types of historic preservation…

Development without Displacement

New density bonus plan emerges for 100 percent affordable housing projects, proposed by Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Eric Mar. The new proposal replaces the Affordable Housing Bonus Program proposed by Mayor Lee, that could have displaced many low income tenants from affordable homes.

Teachers and Children Get Some Eviction Protection

A shortage of teachers in San Francisco due to rising housing costs led to legislation approved unanimously by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and signed by the Mayor that will stop certain no-fault evictions during the school year for teachers and children. The legislation was advocated for by Dean Preston and the San Francisco…

Airbnb Negotiation with Labor Union Fails

Due to pressure from union members (including Service Employees International Union/SEIU Local 1021 and Unite Here) and tenant activists including the San Francisco Tenants Union, the negotiations between Airbnb and SEIU fail. Labor and tenant activists oppose Airbnb since it illegally removes affordable housing from the market.