Tech’s pick for governor, Matt Mahan, makes his case for running California

<p>He’s from the largest city in Northern California. You know, the one down south from us? Starts with “S.” Be careful poking fun at San Jose when you’re speaking with Mayor Matt Mahan. The gubernatorial candidate is a fierce defender of his city, one he says has made progress on housing and homelessness,  reasons he thinks he should become governor . A pro-business moderate, Mahan has attracted big donations from deep-pocketed techies, with his latest campaign total coming in at $8.5 million, according to a source familiar with the matter. An independent committee has raised millions more and spent $1.4 million for an  ad  during  the Super Bowl .  “My values are very progressive,” Mahan said during an interview this week on our podcast “Pacific Standard Time.” “My means are very pragmatic.” Here are four takeaways from our conversation with the gubernatorial hopeful. San Jose’s unaffordability could be Mahan’s liability While San Francisco is known as a pricey city, San Jose is the most expensive urban area in California,  a recent report shows. Mahan said San Jose has been unaffordable for decades, describing the city as a “victim of its own success.” He also pointed out the flip side: The area has provided unparalleled upward mobility, citing a  study  by Harvard economist Raj Chetty.  Mahan said housing reform measures are one way to bring down costs. But it remains to be seen whether he can successfully navigate affordability while his more progressive counterparts across the country, such as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have used the issue to criticize centrist Democrats. Fighting Trump isn’t one of his main priorities Mahan has taken a similar tack to San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, arguing that a well-run Democratic city is the best defense against President Donald Trump.  “I think that we have a duty to deliver and demonstrate that our values in California work in practice, that they actually create communities that are safer, more vibrant, more inclusive economically, and that create more opportunity for people,” he said. “That, to me, is the most important thing.”  The message stands in contrast to Mahan’s opponents in the gubernatorial race.  During a Feb. 3 debate , every candidate aside from Republican Steve Hilton expressed fierce criticism of the president. Mahan’s position could be strategic, as he is trying to woo independent and right-leaning voters ahead of the June primary. Unions could become a thorn in his side Mahan has had a strained relationship with San Jose’s unions, sparked by his strategies on housing for the homeless and pay increases for city workers. Asked about the teachers strike in San Francisco and what he would do about it as governor, Mahan voiced support for unions while noting that cities need to be fiscally responsible when it comes to salary increases. “We do have to operate within the realm of reality,” he said. “We’ve got to be able to say, ‘Well, if we only project revenue to go up 3% a year, we can’t give a 4% raise year after year without cutting services.’” That stance could cost him, as labor unions are expected to launch multimillion-dollar campaigns in support of their chosen candidates.  He’s trying to stay above the fray While Gov. Gavin Newsom regularly skewers Trump in provocative social media posts, Mahan is hoping that voters are hungry for a politician who’s not lashing out. In August, Mahan wrote an opinion article titled “ How about less time breaking the internet and more time fixing California? ” in which he argued that Newsom’s social media strategy “doesn’t solve real-world problems.” During the “PST” interview, Mahan said, “Sometimes our politics gets overly partisan and performative and just becomes contentless attacks and trolling and memes.”</p>

PST: The SF teachers strike + governor candidate Matt Mahan

San Jose mayor Matt Mahan enters gridlocked race for California governor

<p>He’s a popular Democratic mayor who’s been credited with helping turn around his large Bay Area city. He’s well-liked within deep-pocketed tech and business circles. He’s a married father of two who plays up his regular-guy bona fides on  social media . And now he’s taking the next leap into higher office.  No, we’re not talking about Daniel Lurie.  San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is running for governor, he confirmed in an interview with The Standard. The long-expected move adds an outspoken critic of Sacramento to an already bursting slate of candidates racing to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom this November. “I think the state’s at an inflection point,” Mahan said Wednesday while standing on the Embarcadero. “As mayor of a big city, one of the largest cities in the state, I’m closer to the problems we face and the solutions to those problems. The past three years that I’ve been mayor have become a model for how we start to move the needle on issues that many people have thought were intractable.”  Mahan’s entry is a major shakeup to the gubernatorial race. According to  polling , no candidate has established themselves as a frontrunner to replace Newsom, who oversees a state with the world’s fourth-largest economy and has become a symbol of resistance during President Donald Trump’s second term.  Mahan, 43, will undoubtedly face questions over why he is worthy of taking on one of the most important governorships in the nation. A relative newcomer to politics, Mahan began his professional life as a teacher before moving into tech. He entered elected office as a San Jose councilmember in 2020, then clinched an upset win for mayor in 2022 against a longtime South Bay politician.  In the governor’s race, he faces a field teeming with Democratic politicians who have   decades of combined experience, including Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Rep. Katie Porter, former Biden cabinet member Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former state Controller Betty Yee, and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. Other contenders include Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer — who is likely to throw big bucks into the race — and Republican Fox News contributor Steve Hilton. But Mahan does have some aces to play: He has won the ardor of some of California’s technology crowd, including Y Combinator leader  Garry Tan  and entrepreneur  Jesse Tinsley . That cohort alone could provide the millions needed to propel him to Sacramento. He has also carved out a moderate, party-bucking lane on homelessness and criminal justice that a large swath of voters might find appealing, as Democrats continue their soul-searching after the 2024 election. And in a political environment where bucking the status quo is in vogue, Mahan has been quick to criticize the state’s leadership, which could excite both disaffected voters and well-heeled donors.   Though Mahan’s closeness to tech should bolster his coffers, some have questioned how effective he will be in raising campaign funds. “Fundraising will be a major challenge for him if he runs,” Terry Christensen, professor emeritus at San Jose State University, recently  told San Jose Spotlight . “It takes a lot of money to be a serious statewide candidate.” As mayor, Mahan has pushed for stricter rules on unsheltered homelessness, is an advocate for interim shelter sites, and often rails against state regulations he says stymie housing production. He is considered an ally to business interests, and, like San Francisco’s mayor, has largely stayed out of national political conversations. He has instead argued that his energy should be spent on combating local issues. His term in San Jose runs until 2028, after he handily won reelection in 2024. On social media, he has portrayed himself as a neighborhood enthusiast, regularly sharing videos of him picking up trash. He has simultaneously cast himself as a tough-on-crime politician, posting  mugshots  of suspects, a practice that has fallen out of favor among Democratic leaders. In 2024,  Mahan supported Proposition 36 , a successful ballot initiative that stiffened penalties for theft and drug crimes. The measure was opposed by Newsom, creating a lasting fissure between the two elected officials   that for months has fueled rumors that Mahan was testing the waters for a run for governor.  Last year, Mahan’s critiques of leadership in Sacramento intensified, as he pushed back on Newsom’s  call for a special legislative session  to fight Trump and called out the governor over his  social media tactics , among  other   dustups . Asked what his signature policies would be as governor, Mahan said he’d like to introduce a plan for more shelter and treatment beds, describing a framework in which cities that don’t want to build capacity would have to pay those that do.  “If Los Altos Hills doesn’t want to build the 3.5 units of shelter or treatment that they’re allocated, we could set up a credit system where they pay San Jose to have those beds,” he said. “But we’re going to need to create a fair-share framework that gets everyone to adopt cost-effective solutions to homelessness and behavioral health issues, and create some accountability.” Mahan said he would also like to make sure Prop. 36’s rules are implemented across the state, pointing to San Diego as a locality that has successfully done so.  “We shouldn’t rely on a charismatic leader in each individual county to figure it out,” he said. “The state should be leading the way on implementation, because 70% of Californians agreed with the premise that people ought to be held accountable for getting treatment when their addiction is harming the broader community.” The son of a schoolteacher and mailman, Mahan grew up in Watsonville, an agricultural town in Santa Cruz County. He received a scholarship to Bellarmine College Prep, a prestigious all-boys Catholic high school in San Jose, whose alumni include Rep. Sam Liccardo, Mahan’s predecessor as mayor. As a student at Harvard University, Mahan met Mark Zuckerberg, who  persuaded him over dinner  to skip law school and instead pursue a career in tech. After a stint as a high school teacher until 2008, Mahan joined Causes, a startup that raised awareness about nonprofits. In 2014, Mahan cofounded Brigade, a startup that  acquired Causes  and received funding from Ron Conway, Marc Benioff, and Sean Parker.  Brigade wound down in 2019 ; its engineering team was hired by Pinterest, while its technology and data were sold to another firm.  Mahan, however, moved on to public service, winning a seat on the San Jose City Council, representing southwestern neighborhoods.  He rapidly climbed the ranks of San Jose politics, challenging labor-backed candidate Cindy Chavez in the 2022 mayor’s race. Mahan eked out a surprising win in a race decided by fewer than 10,000 votes. Whether he will be able to repeat the triumph in the June primary is now one of the biggest questions in California politics.</p>

‘Obviously exploitation’: Lawmaker targets low pay in SF street cleaning industry

<p>As San Francisco increasingly leans on private contractors to tackle its visible drug and homelessness crises, Supervisor Myrna Melgar is introducing new legislation on Tuesday that aims to ensure higher wages for frontline street cleaners. The Department of Emergency Management in December  awarded $32 million in contracts  to five organizations tasked with responding to homelessness, public drug use, violence, and trash. Some elected officials, including Mayor Daniel Lurie, have credited these for-profit and nonprofit entities with improving street safety and cleanliness. However, union leaders allege that outsourcing street cleaning work leads to subpar outcomes as employees are underpaid, undertrained, and under less scrutiny than city staffers.  Melgar’s legislation, the Clean Streets and Fair Pay Act, would require future contracts to pay street cleaners a wage comparable to what they would make if employed by the city. The requirement, Melgar hopes, would force the city to thoroughly evaluate whether its own employees could be used instead of contractors.  “Cleaning our public streets is public work,” Melgar said. “I think we shouldn’t be privatizing public services like this.” Street cleaning is one function often fulfilled by ambassadors who are also required to deter drug activity and homeless encampments on sidewalks. Melgar and union leaders credited recent reports in The Standard for spurring the legislation.   In December, The Standard  profiled Ahsing Solutions , a nascent for-profit organization tasked with responding to the drug crisis in the Mission, raising questions about the ethics and effectiveness of the growing street ambassador industry. Experts in security law say Ahsing and another large city contractor, Urban Alchemy, require ambassadors to do work typically performed by licensed security guards, though the organizations do not possess the required licenses. “They’re actually doing the work that a police officer should do, or a [Homelessness and Supportive Housing Department] worker, or a [Department of Public Health] worker,” Melgar said of the ambassadors. “Then turning around to pay their workers minimum wage. I just don’t think that’s right.” Ambassadors employed by the five organizations that signed new city contracts in December make between $52,000 and $62,400 annually. By comparison, a city-employed street inspector can make up to $134,000 annually, plus overtime, benefits, and other compensation that adds tens of thousands of dollars, according to Transparent California.  The proposed law is likely to cause controversy at City Hall as leaders search for creative ways to bolster essential public services despite growing budget constraints. Lurie has made addressing the street crises a priority of his administration. His office did not respond to a request for comment on Melgar’s legislation.  The street ambassador model, which employs formerly incarcerated or homeless people, among others, to monitor problematic street corners, has grown locally and nationally since Urban Alchemy launched in San Francisco in 2021. In 2024, the nonprofit reported annual revenue of nearly $84.9 million. Business owners and residents have praised the programs for clearing visible drug use and homelessness from San Francisco sidewalks. Critics say the initiatives are merely shuffling the crises out of public view and not necessarily resulting in significant financial savings for the city.  Last year, Laborers International Union Local 261, which represents employees of the Department of Public Works, blasted Ahsing Solutions, alleging it did not work collaboratively with city employees. However, the union said this week that it had reached an agreement with Ahsing, under which the company would no longer power wash the sidewalks.  The Department of Emergency management said in a statement that Ahsing doesn’t use a power washer and that the organization is still expected to “maintain a clean environment.”  Representatives of Ahsing Solutions and Urban Alchemy did not respond to requests for comment. The companies have faced criticism for having low-paid, front-line employees perform work similar to that of security guards without the proper licenses, training, oversight, or insurance, placing them in danger. In September, a man allegedly used a shotgun to kill an Urban Alchemy ambassador who had asked him to move, marking at least the third time one of the nonprofit’s workers was shot. “A city that tolerates exploitation is a city that abandons its values,”  civil rights icon Dolores Huerta  said in a statement. “Fair wages are not a luxury — they are the foundation of strong communities.” Proponents of the contractors argue that Urban Alchemy and others have some of the region’s most effective job programs for formerly incarcerated people. But Melgar contends that these workers would be better served in union jobs that offer better pay and upward mobility. “If you keep somebody in a role for four years cleaning bathrooms, that’s obviously exploitation,” the supervisor said. “We want to support the upward mobility that comes with a good union job.”</p>

Undercutting Lurie, YIMBY group to sue city over Family Zoning Plan

<p>Neighborhood NIMBYs aren’t the only ones up in arms over San Francisco’s Family Zoning Plan.  The pro-development advocates at YIMBY Law plan to file suit against San Francisco next month, claiming Mayor Daniel Lurie’s upzoning scheme fails to fulfill the city’s state-mandated allowance of housing, the organization’s executive director, Sonja Trauss, told The Standard. In response to the decades-long housing crisis, California officials have in recent years been pressuring local governments to loosen zoning requirements or risk losing state funding or land-use control. San Francisco is mandated by state officials to plan for 82,000 new homes by 2031. Of that, the city must rezone to reasonably allow for about 36,000 homes in the next six years.  The Board of Supervisors  approved  San Francisco’s rezoning strategy — dubbed the Family Zoning Plan — in December.  The Planning Department, which has been developing the Family Zoning Plan since before the Lurie administration, created  its own projections  using various models that estimate rezoning would allow for the creation of up to 64,000 homes. (That doesn’t mean all those homes will be built, as  planners often note .) However, an  analysis from Ted Egan , San Francisco’s chief economist, found that even in the most optimistic scenario, rezoning could create about 14,600 units over the next 20 years — a fraction of the benchmark set by the state. The report provided ammo for those pushing for more aggressive housing policies.  “Why do planners always make promises they can’t keep? They’re addicted to it,” Trauss said.  The plan met with fierce opposition from some residents who argued that wide-scale upzoning would change neighborhood character and function as a developer handout. Responding to those complaints, supervisors debated and approved a slew of amendments that included carve-outs and exemptions for specific areas. The potential lawsuit mirrors litigation filed by YIMBY Law and Californians for Homeownership against Los Angeles, claiming  the city  was not doing enough to rezone for new housing capacity as laid out under state law. If successful, the lawsuit could force sweeping rezoning or trigger the “builder’s remedy,” under which a city loses the ability to approve or deny housing developments. In a  preliminary review , California’s Department of Housing and Community Development found that the Family Zoning Plan meets state requirements, based partly on the Planning Department’s projections. City Attorney spokesperson Jen Kwart said the City Attorney would review any lawsuits once served and respond in court. She added Trauss said YIMBY Law would not push the city to repeal its rezoning plan but rather to expand it by increasing height limits in specific areas. She added that YIMBY Law will be seeking individual residents to sign on as plaintiffs in the case.  Charles Lutvak, a spokesperson for the mayor, emphasized maintaining local control in a statement. “As the cost of housing continues to rise, the Family Zoning Plan is going to help ensure that the next generation of San Franciscans can afford to raise their kids here,” Lutvak said via text message. “But our administration is not going to hand the keys to Sacramento—we’re going to meet state requirements while protecting what’s so special about our neighborhoods and our city.” Those on the other side of the issue — who think Lurie’s proposal means too much development —  filed a lawsuit against the city this month  over the state-mandated plan. The legal challenge was filed by the NIMBY-aligned groups Neighborhoods United SF and Small Business Forward. San Francisco has a deadline of Jan. 31 to adopt a finalized rezoning plan. Trauss said her organization plans to file its lawsuit challenging it in February. As for cost? “We’ll spend as much money as it takes,” she said.</p>

Daniel Lurie was the public safety mayor. Now he’s trying to be the affordability guy

This housing policy was too radical for CA Dems — until Trump embraced it

Year 1 of the Lurie era is done. Here’s how he kept — or whiffed — his biggest promises

SF’s real estate comeback is crawling. Repealing this tax hike might help it along

<div class="content-grid article-content"><div class="Metadata_container__fxAzw"><div class="flex flex-row gap-x-md"></div><div class="Metadata_metadata__W_0LF"><span>By <a class="" href="https://sfstandard.com/author/kevin-v-nguyen/">Kevin V. Nguyen</a></span><time datetime="2025-12-16T14:00:00.000Z">Published Dec. 16, 2025 • 6:00am</time></div></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">A moderate faction of the Board of Supervisors and members of the mayor’s office explored a repeal of Proposition I this year but put it off to focus on getting the <u><a data-post-id="38a05df3-a8ba-4582-a163-601c5740637a" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/12/02/family-zoning-supervisors-vote-daniel-lurie/">Family Zoning Plan approved</a></u>. But sources say an effort to repeal the voter-approved transfer tax increase will be renewed next year. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Prop. I in 2020 doubled the transfer tax rate on the sale of properties valued at $10 million or more from roughly 3% to 6%. On a $25 million sale, the seller pays $1.375 million, versus $687,000 before the measure passed.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">A spokesperson for Mayor Daniel Lurie declined to comment. TheOffice of Economic and Workforce Development has not prepared any legislation or studied the fiscal impact of a transfer tax cut, according to a spokesperson, but remains “keen to remove city barriers to construction.” </p></div><div class="!p-0 !m-0"></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">If such efforts begin next year, the office and the city economist would have to explore the full impact of such a cut and negotiate with supervisors to offset any reductions in funding. Of the supervisors who <u><a href="https://webbie1.sfpl.org/multimedia/pdf/elections/November3_2020.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sponsored or endorsed Prop. I in 2020<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u>, only Shamann Walton and Rafael Mandelman are still on the board. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The renewed interest comes amid a broader movement to overhaul San Francisco’s tax system, which the business community says makes it too costly to invest in the city. Last year, voters passed both Prop. M, which <u><a data-post-id="83aee1de-c259-44b2-8478-f053a494114a" href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/10/31/sf-election-2024-prop-m/">reshaped business taxes</a></u> to assist small and large companies, and Prop. C, which <u><a data-post-id="002fa084-7477-49b3-bec4-18f348e77f08" href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/03/05/san-francisco-election-2024-prop-c-result-office-conversions/">waived taxes on office-to-housing conversion projects</a></u>. The latter made it easier for the Board of Supervisors to reduce, suspend, or repeal the transfer tax without putting those decisions to a citywide vote. </p></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">San Francisco has already <u><a data-post-id="85f1c56e-95ec-42e3-9d9f-7f203136bbac" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/02/san-francisco-incentivizing-office-conversions/">dropped some fees and affordable housing requirements</a></u> in an effort to incentivize housing development.  </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">But political divides are starting to reemerge. Business and labor groups are <u><a data-post-id="078ffa90-3efd-465c-9132-5e14c19553dd" href="https://sfstandard.com/opinion/2025/12/15/childish-spat-speeding-ballot-san-franciscans-caught-crossfire/">walking back earlier compromises</a></u> from the Prop. M negotiations, and there are growing fears of voter “tax fatigue” as residents face multiple <u><a data-post-id="6dae264f-1321-444b-a97d-df405822d8db" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/12/09/save-muni-tax-how-much-youll-pay/">local</a></u> and <u><a data-post-id="f92d768b-49f4-4f45-874c-2581bb65e462" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/10/13/bay-area-transit-tax-ballot-measure-2026/">regional tax proposals</a></u> next year.</p></div><div class="!p-0 !m-0"></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Even though a transfer tax cut would not require voter approval, concerns about the loss of revenue could determine which supervisors would support such a move.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The debate is unfolding as San Francisco’s real estate market continues to struggle despite signs of a mounting recovery. More than 20 million square feet of office space in San Francisco remains vacant. Once-thriving commercial corridors like <u><a data-post-id="29e0ce5d-84a9-4cfb-b0b7-9e18db992511" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/07/16/powell-street-vacancies-leasing-momentum/">Powell Street</a></u> and <u><a data-post-id="e2ac7db5-bcfe-4f90-ab4c-fa1a80c953d0" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/12/01/1000-van-ness-ave-legal-issues/">Van Ness Avenue</a></u> are still riddled with empty storefronts. The city’s largest mall, the San Francisco Centre, has been <u><a data-post-id="45c43bbb-3164-4bea-8dbc-6b95a6089f8f" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/08/21/panda-express-san-francisco-centre-mall/">reduced to a single Panda Express</a></u>. </p></div><div class="w-full bg-warm-gray-50 border border-warm-gray-300 rounded-xl flex flex-col gap-md px-lg py-[20px]"><div class="flex flex-row text-medium leading-[1.1] text-black font-inter gap-xs"><span class="italic font-normal">More about</span><a href="https://sfstandard.com/tag/commercial-real-estate/"><span class="font-bold underline decoration-highlight decoration-[3.2px]">Commercial Real Estate</span></a></div><ul class="flex flex-col gap-md"><li class="flex flex-row gap-sm pb-md border-b border-warm-gray-300"><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/12/16/texas-real-estate-investment-san-francisco/" tabindex="-1"><div class="flex-none w-[90px] h-[60px] overflow-hidden"><img alt="A stylized map of Texas with a blue star section inset shows the state divided into three parts colored blue, white, and red, framed by a rope." class="object-cover w-full h-full lazyloaded" data-nimg="1" decoding="async" height="666.6666666666666" loading="lazy" src="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_7u7iq63ni569f3ltiu77edpo3u/-C100.00%25x100.00%25%2C0.00%25%2C0.00%25-S2048x1365-FPNG" srcset="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_7u7iq63ni569f3ltiu77edpo3u/-C100.00%25x100.00%25%2C0.00%25%2C0.00%25-S1024x683-FPNG 1x, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_7u7iq63ni569f3ltiu77edpo3u/-C100.00%25x100.00%25%2C0.00%25%2C0.00%25-S2048x1365-FPNG 2x" style="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:1.5;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 1000 666.6666666666666'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=='/%3E%3C/svg%3E&quot;)" width="1000"/></div></a><a class="h-fit" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/12/16/texas-real-estate-investment-san-francisco/"><h3 class="text-medium sm:text-lg leading-[1.3] font-medium text-warm-gray-900 font-ivar-headline">Giddy up! Texas money is flooding into cheap San Francisco real estate</h3></a></li><li class="flex flex-row gap-sm pb-md border-b border-warm-gray-300"><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/12/11/downtown-oceanwide-center-commercial-real-estate/" tabindex="-1"><div class="flex-none w-[90px] h-[60px] overflow-hidden"><img alt="Aerial view of an urban construction site with exposed steel frameworks and adjacent traffic." class="object-cover w-full h-full lazyloaded" data-nimg="1" decoding="async" height="2962" loading="lazy" src="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_2nn38pjnn14sn83uer1sfpio2l/-S3840x2157-FPNG" srcset="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_2nn38pjnn14sn83uer1sfpio2l/-S3840x2157-FPNG 1x" style="color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 5272 2962'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=='/%3E%3C/svg%3E&quot;)" width="5272"/></div></a><a class="h-fit" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/12/11/downtown-oceanwide-center-commercial-real-estate/"><h3 class="text-medium sm:text-lg leading-[1.3] font-medium text-warm-gray-900 font-ivar-headline">Downtown’s $1.6B ‘money pit’ is close to getting scooped up by local buyers </h3></a></li><li class="flex flex-row gap-sm"><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/12/11/goodwill-silicon-valley-new-hq/" tabindex="-1"><div class="flex-none w-[90px] h-[60px] overflow-hidden"><img alt="Office building with reflective blue windows, a Goodwill Institute for Career Development sign, bare trees, and a palm tree in the foreground." class="object-cover w-full h-full lazyloaded" data-nimg="1" decoding="async" height="1728" loading="lazy" src="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_cueebeuiop36374dct9ppce27i/-S3840x2560-FPNG" srcset="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_cueebeuiop36374dct9ppce27i/-S3840x2560-FPNG 1x" style="color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 2592 1728'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=='/%3E%3C/svg%3E&quot;)" width="2592"/></div></a><a class="h-fit" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/12/11/goodwill-silicon-valley-new-hq/"><h3 class="text-medium sm:text-lg leading-[1.3] font-medium text-warm-gray-900 font-ivar-headline">Your favorite thrift store just became a San Jose office landlord</h3></a></li></ul></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Many properties stuck in purgatory require mass transformation or redevelopment. Incumbent owners rarely make that bet. After the downturn, they’re <u><a data-post-id="69c98ece-a1fb-4d63-853b-498945c8d9b5" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/10/20/san-francisco-office-tenant-protections/">either underwater or out of patience</a></u>. But new buyers can, particularly when they <u><a data-post-id="9100d467-62ac-411f-8b0f-21bcf2e9c078" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/10/06/presidio-bay-san-francisco-office-revivial/">get in at discounted prices</a></u>. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Essentially, San Francisco needs more properties to trade hands to accelerate its real estate comeback. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">A way to grease the wheels would be to lower the cost of transacting. San Francisco has some of California’s <u><a href="https://www.californiacityfinance.com/PropTransfTaxRates.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">highest transfer tax rates<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u>. Voters helped make it that way by passing four tax-rate increases on properties sold for more than $5 million since 2008; most recently, Prop. I.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Those increases made sense during the city’s boom times and have helped fund critical services like emergency rent relief and acquisition of land for affordable housing development. Between 2021 to 2024, Prop. I generated $324 million in additional revenue for San Francisco, according to <u><a href="https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/2024-06-12_HSFOB_Report_-_Final.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Housing Stability Fund Oversight Board<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u>, which was established to monitor how the funds were allocated. </p></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">But today, the measure is more likely to have a chilling effect on real estate transactions, especially on properties that are primed for redevelopment after trading hands. According to the Controller’s Office, the tax increase from Prop. I added the equivalent of $64 per square foot in costs on nonresidential development and more than $32,800 per unit on residential development. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Independent of any local effort, there is an initiative by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association to introduce a statewide measure <u><a href="https://calmatters.org/housing/2025/10/measure-ula-howard-jarvis-ballot-mansion/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">to cap any city’s ability to raise transfer taxes<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u> and raise the threshold needed to pass voter-backed tax hikes from a simple majority to a two-thirds vote. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Should that initiative pass next year, it would make certain existing taxes null and void two years following enactment.</p></div></div>

Time to build: Supervisors approve Lurie’s upzoning plan for 36,000 new homes

<div class="content-grid article-content"><div class="Metadata_container__fxAzw"><div class="flex flex-row gap-x-md"></div><div class="Metadata_metadata__W_0LF"><span>By <a class="" href="https://sfstandard.com/author/han-li/">Han Li</a></span><time datetime="2025-12-03T01:17:39.511Z">Published Dec. 02, 2025 • 5:17pm</time></div></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">After a lengthy debate Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved Mayor Daniel Lurie’s plan to rezone large sections of the city to build taller buildings that could provide tens of thousands of homes.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The supervisors approved what Lurie has dubbed the Family Zoning Plan in a 7-4 vote that divided the board’s moderate and progressive factions. The legislation, which needs a second board vote before heading to Lurie’s desk for a signature, aims to add roughly 36,000 units by 2031 to meet a state mandate for local governments to build more housing, amid what regulators in Sacramento estimate to be a shortage of <u><a href="https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/94729ab1648d43b1811c1698a748c136" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2.5 million homes.<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u></p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Lurie has for months warned critics that the state could <u><a href="https://missionlocal.org/2025/10/sf-lurie-sunset-rezone-town-hall/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">take control<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u> of local housing decisions if supervisors did not approve his plan.</p></div><div class="!p-0 !m-0"></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“With this plan, we will add affordable housing, support small businesses, and protect the character of the neighborhoods that make San Francisco so special,” Lurie said in a statement after the vote.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Supervisor Myrna Melgar — a former planning commissioner and chair of the board’s Land Use and Transportation Committee — called the vote a historic moment for the city’s efforts to mitigate the affordability crisis.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“We can move ahead with other important strategies to jumpstart more affordable housing, to incentivize the project that we want to see, and to ensure that tenants and small businesses are provided the strongest protection,” said Melgar, who helped negotiate amendments and shepherded the proposal through the legislative process.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Newly sworn-in Supervisor Alan Wong, who represents the Sunset District, also voted in favor of the plan.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Getting board approval for such a plan would have been much harder a year ago, when progressives maintained a majority vote on the 11-member panel. San Francisco has for years resisted aggressive efforts to build housing, especially on the north and west sides, where Lurie’s plan will have the biggest effect. </p></div><div class="!p-0 !m-0"></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The Family Zoning Plan drew staunch opposition from NIMBY-aligned groups across the city, which argued that more development would destroy their neighborhoods, and from tenant activists worried about how upzoning might displace residents. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Progressive Supervisors Connie Chan, Shamann Walton, Jackie Fielder, and Chyanne Chen tried to <u><a data-post-id="7d7194d1-9716-429a-9fae-79b932916a03" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/10/20/lurie-family-zoning-housing-supervisors/">water down the legislation</a></u> with amendments to address those concerns. All four voted against the measure.</p></div><div class="flex flex-col p-md xl:px-lg bg-warm-gray-50 border border-warm-gray-200 rounded-xl" data-count="1"><div class="flex flex-row gap-x-xs text-black text-md"><span class="italic">Listen to</span><span class="font-bold underline underline-offset-[7.5%] decoration-highlight decoration-[20%]">The Standard Podcasts</span></div><div class="border-t border-warm-gray-200 my-md"></div><div class="flex flex-col gap-y-xxs"><div class="flex flex-row justify-between items-center"><span class="bg-warm-gray-200 text-text-primary px-xs py-xxs rounded-2xl text-xs uppercase">Pacific Standard Time</span><span class="text-xs text-text-secondary uppercase">6 days ago</span></div><div class="flex flex-row justify-between gap-x-sm"><div class="flex flex-col gap-y-xs items-start"><h3 class="text-sm text-text-primary font-semibold line-clamp-3 can-hover:hover:opacity-60"><a href="https://sfstandard.com/pacific-standard-time/2025/11/26/lurie-sunset-beya-alcaraz/">How dead mice delivered Lurie his first big fail</a></h3><div class="relative"><button aria-controls=":R2db6cj536:" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="dialog" class="button button-blue button-xxs text-sm text-semibold flex flex-row gap-x-xs items-center" type="button">Listen </button><div aria-hidden="true" aria-labelledby=":R2db6cj536H1:" class="z-[1001] p-lg bg-white fixed md:absolute motion-safe:transition-all motion-safe:duration-300 md:motion-safe:duration-150 bottom-0 md:-bottom-xxs w-full md:w-[393px] flex-col gap-md shadow-default rounded-t-[40px] md:rounded-2xl hidden translate-y-full md:translate-y-none opacity-0 pointer-events-none md:scale-75 left-0" hidden="" id=":R2db6cj536:" role="dialog"><div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-md"><h1 class="font-bold text-text-primary" id=":R2db6cj536H1:">Select Your Platform</h1><button type="button"><span 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new tab)</span></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="fixed top-0 bottom-0 left-0 right-0 transition-opacity bg-warm-gray-900 md:bg-transparent -z-50 opacity-0 pointer-events-none"></div></div><a class="block w-[100px] h-[100px] min-w-[100px] min-h-[100px] can-hover:hover:opacity-80" href="https://sfstandard.com/pacific-standard-time/2025/11/26/lurie-sunset-beya-alcaraz/" tabindex="-1"><img alt="A man in a suit stands at a podium with a San Francisco seal, looking toward a digitally stylized woman in a blazer against an orange and blue backdrop." class="object-cover object-center rounded-lg h-full w-full !aspect-square lazyloaded" data-nimg="1" decoding="async" height="2000" loading="lazy" sizes="300px" src="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S3840x2560-FPNG" srcset="https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S80x53-FPNG 80w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S120x80-FPNG 120w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S240x160-FPNG 240w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S350x233-FPNG 350w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S450x300-FPNG 450w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S512x341-FPNG 512w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S640x427-FPNG 640w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S750x500-FPNG 750w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S768x512-FPNG 768w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S828x552-FPNG 828w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S1024x683-FPNG 1024w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S1080x720-FPNG 1080w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S1200x800-FPNG 1200w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S1920x1280-FPNG 1920w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S2048x1365-FPNG 2048w, https://assets.sfstandard.com/image/994911177489/image_494nht6emd5ofcvha160hr3733/-S3840x2560-FPNG 3840w" style="color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 3000 2000'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=='/%3E%3C/svg%3E&quot;)" width="3000"/></a></div></div></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“I am disappointed that we are not choosing the path to figure out a way to either negotiate or, frankly, to fight some of these mandates,” Chan said.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Pro-housing and YIMBY activists celebrated the win as a long-overdue step to building housing in San Francisco, which has an estimated 82,000-unit shortage.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Graeme Joeck, director of advocacy at Abundant San Francisco, said the Family Zoning Plan reflects a city that welcomes families, builds for the future, and supports neighborhoods where everyone can afford to stay and put down roots.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Abundant San Francisco was part of a coalition of volunteers that fanned out across the city to rally support for the plan. Over the past three months, volunteers held house parties and community events, peppered neighborhoods with flyers, sent emails, and attended hearings to vocalize their support. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“This is exactly what residents have been asking for, and we thank everyone who worked to get this legislation through,” Joeck said.</p></div><h2 class="heading-block article-body text-left">Taller buildings</h2><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The plan targets the western and northern parts of San Francisco for upzoning, meaning areas where development has for decades been more limited could soon see a construction boom.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">The plan calls for buildings up to 10 stories in most west-side commercial corridors, or up to 20 stories along some Geary Boulevard intersections. Sites at the Geary–Masonic crossing could reach 40 stories.</p></div><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Van Ness Avenue, a major transit corridor, could experience the most dramatic changes, with towers up to 60 stories. Developers could build even higher because of state or local rules that allow for more housing units if a certain portion is reserved for low-income residents.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Most residential neighborhoods would keep their four-story height limits, but a demolished single-family home could be redeveloped into multi-unit apartments.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Even so, <u><a data-post-id="94a3edbb-e222-473e-8087-e7162392f7f5" href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/10/29/family-zoning-report-housing-construction/">an October city economist report</a></u> said the rezoning plan would produce half the amount of new housing in twice the time required by state authorities. </p></div><h2 class="heading-block article-body text-left">Supervisors soften the plan </h2><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Though the plan easily passed the board, supervisors have for weeks negotiated amendments. While tweaks put forth by progressives largely failed, moderates were more successful in blunting the plan’s impact. </p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Among the changes that made it into the final legislation:</p></div><ul class="list-block ListBlock_List__NF3JL article-body"><li>Melgar amended the plan to protect rent-controlled buildings with three or more units from redevelopment into larger housing projects. </li><li>Supervisor Danny Sauter, who represents downtown neighborhoods, made an amendment to incentivize housing developments that include space for commercial use.</li><li>Board President Rafael Mandelman, who represents the Castro, exempted historic buildings from demolition.</li><li>Supervisor Stephen Sherrill <u><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/11/17/one-lawmaker-shielding-wealthy-neighborhoods-mayor-s-housing-plan/">carved out</a></u> the Marina Boulevard Safeway, Ghirardelli Square and its adjacent block, and a seniors home and dialysis center on Geary Boulevard from development, while increasing allowable building heights on Van Ness.</li><li>Sherrill, Sauter, and Chen included amendments that push for more multi-bedroom units.</li><li>Chan restored a previously cut mandate for the city to hold hearings before approving the demolition of residential flats.</li></ul><div class="floats"><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Chan and Chen unsuccessfully pushed for amendments that would have exempted coastal areas, all residential neighborhoods, and low-income communities from the plan. Planning officials said those changes were noncompliant because they would significantly reduce the number of projected housing units under the plan without providing viable alternatives.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">Chen is pushing through the board a separate tenant-protection ordinance, which will likely pass as a majority of supervisors have signed on as sponsors.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">But the fight may not be over. Critics of the Family Zoning Plan are considering a <u><a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/lurie-housing-plan-21025719.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ballot measure<span class="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span></a></u> next year to effectively roll back the legislation.</p><p class="paragraph-block article-body undefined text-left">“The mayor has failed to provide a commitment to funding any meaningful expansion in affordable housing,” said Yolanda Porrata, a business owner and a board member of Small Business Forward, an outspoken group opposing the plan. “The mayor’s plan will displace small business workers for new housing they cannot afford.”</p></div></div>

Asian Art Museum

Office of the City Administrator

Adult Probation Department

Airport

Arts Commission

Office of the Assessor-Recorder

Board of Appeals

Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

Office of the City Attorney

Department of Children, Youth and Their Families

Controller's Office

Planning Department

Civil Service Commission

District Attorney's Office

Department of Building Inspection

Department of Early Childhood

Department of Emergency Management

Department of Police Accountability

Department of Public Health

Department of Public Works

Office of Economic and Workforce Development

Environment Department

Ethics Commission

Fine Arts Museums

Fire Department

Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing

Human Rights Commission

Department of Human Resources

Human Services Agency

Health Service System

Juvenile Probation Department

Public Library

Municipal Transportation Agency

Office of the Mayor

Public Defender's Office

Police Department

Port

Public Utilities Commission

Recreation and Park Department

Department of Elections

Retirement System

Rent Board

Sheriff's Department Office of Inspector General

Sheriff's Department

Department of Technology

Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector

War Memorial

Department on the Status of Women

General City Responsibilities

General Administration & Finance

Culture & Recreation

Community Health

Human Welfare & Neighborhood Development

Public Works, Transportation & Commerce

Public Protection

SF Civil Grand Jury

The Abatement Appeals Board provides a final review process for City permitting decisions. It ensures fair and efficient adjudication of permit-related disputes before an impartial panel. The board holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals concerning notices of abatement.

Abatement Appeals Board

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 1

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 2

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 3

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 4

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 5

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 6

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 7

The Access Appeals Commission provides final reviews for a wide range of City permitting decisions. It ensures an efficient, fair, and expeditious permit issuance process through an impartial panel. The commission holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals related to City permits.

Access Appeals Commission

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 1

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 2

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 3

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 4

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 5

The Adult Day Health Care Planning Council advises on the development and improvement of adult day health care services. It provides expertise in healthcare planning, policy recommendations, and program evaluation. Key responsibilities include assessing community needs and advising on service delivery enhancements.

Adult Day Health Care Planning Council

Adult Probation Department supervises individuals on probation and facilitates their reintegration into the community. It provides reentry and rehabilitative services, including victim restitution and financial assistance for crime victims. The department values public safety, offender rehabilitation, and community partnerships.

Cristel Tullock

The Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners evaluates arts and crafts applicants and monitors program compliance. It conducts studio visits and public screenings to ensure adherence to established criteria. Members also revise program criteria and undertake additional tasks as needed.

Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners

The Advisory Council on Human Rights advises on anti-discrimination laws and racial equity initiatives. It provides expertise on reparations and public policy impacts on Black communities. It guides efforts to establish partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in San Francisco.

Advisory Council on Human Rights

San Francisco Airport manages air traffic operations and ensures safe aircraft movement. It provides parking facilities and maintains airport infrastructure to accommodate travelers and staff. The department oversees ground transportation and coordinates with airlines for efficient passenger services.

Mike Nakornkhet

The Airport Commission oversees policy and strategic planning for San Francisco International Airport. It makes key decisions on airport development projects and financial management. It ensures compliance with regulations and collaborates on initiatives like terminal naming.

Airport Commission

Airport Commission Commissioner 1

Malcolm Yeung

Jose F. Almanza

Mark Buell

Susan Leal

Airport Director

Animal Care and Control Department manages animal sheltering, adoption, and emergency response services. It enforces animal-related laws and regulations, ensuring the humane treatment and safety of animals. The department also provides public education on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

Animal Care and Control Department

Virginia Donohue

Animal Care and Control Department, Director

The San Francisco Arts Commission oversees the integration of arts into city life and ensures public access to cultural experiences. It makes decisions on public art programs and allocates grants to support local artists and performances. The commission actively shapes policies affecting the arts ecosystem in San Francisco.

Arts Commission Commissioner 1

Arts Commission Commissioner 2

Arts Commission Commissioner 3

Arts Commission Commissioner 4

Debra Walker

Suzanne Ferras

Jessica Rothschild

Seth Brenzel

JD Beltran

Marcus Shelby

J Riccardo Benavides

Nabiel Musleh

Charles (Chuck) Collins

Lydia So

Arts Commission Commissioner 15

San Francisco Arts Commission invests in a vibrant arts community and shapes cultural policy. It enlivens the urban environment through public art programs and supports diverse artistic expressions. The commission facilitates meetings and discussions to engage the community in cultural development.

Ralph Remington

Arts Commission, Director of Cultural Affairs

The Asian Art Commission determines policy and administers the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. It oversees museum operations and collaborates with the Asian Art Museum Foundation on fundraising efforts. Commissioners ensure the museum's strategic direction and financial sustainability.

Asian Art Commission

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 1

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 2

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 3

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 4

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 5

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 6

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 7

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 8

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 9

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 10

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 11

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 12

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 13

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 14

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 15

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 16

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 17

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 18

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 19

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 20

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 21

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 22

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 23

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 24

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 25

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 26

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 27

Asian Art Museum showcases Asian art and culture through exhibitions and educational programs. It offers diverse collections and hosts special events to engage the community. The museum fosters cultural appreciation and understanding by providing access to its extensive art collections.

Dr. Soyoung Lee

Asian Art Museum, Director

The Assessment Appeals Board #1 hears property tax assessment appeals in San Francisco. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine property values. The Board has the authority to make final decisions on assessments regardless of property type or value.

Assessment Appeals Board #1

Assessment Appeals Board #1 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #1 Commissioner 2

Richard Lee

Stephen Wasserman

Adena Gilbert

Paul Bellar

Quirina Mitchell

Hilary Winslow

The Assessment Appeals Board #2 adjudicates property tax assessment appeals for San Francisco taxpayers. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine accurate property values. The Board exercises authority to render final decisions on residential properties and specific real estate assessments.

Assessment Appeals Board #2

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 3

Claire Ervin Lee

Louisa Mendoza

Joyce Lewis

Nicholas Goldman

Michelle Domingo

The Assessment Appeals Board #3 provides a platform for San Francisco taxpayers to contest property tax assessments. It conducts hearings where evidence from both taxpayers and the Assessor is evaluated. The Board makes binding decisions on property assessments based on presented evidence.

Assessment Appeals Board #3

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 3

Marc Dickow

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 5

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 6

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 7

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 8

Assesses property, applies exemptions, collects transfer taxes, and records official documents.

Assessor-Recorder

Joaquín Torres

The Ballot Simplification Committee ensures voter materials are clear and understandable. It reviews and revises ballot language to accurately reflect propositions and measures. The committee advises on simplifying complex legal and technical terms for voter comprehension.

Ballot Simplification Committee

The Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee provides policy advice on planning and land use matters in Zone 2 of Bayview Hunter's Point. It offers expertise in land use policies, zoning issues, and urban development. The committee advises the Board of Supervisors, City Boards, and commissions on relevant projects and initiatives.

Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee

The Behavioral Health Commission advises on mental health policy implementation and quality service delivery. It reviews and advocates for effective mental health services, ensuring policies meet community needs. It educates stakeholders to integrate mental health considerations into broader health strategies.

Behavioral Health Commission

The Bicycle Advisory Committee advises on making bicycling safer and more accessible in San Francisco. It provides recommendations to city agencies to address traffic violence and climate change. The committee advocates for cyclists and addresses biking-related complaints.

Bicycle Advisory Committee