Housing – housing – housing! While the Board is on summer recess, I continue to work every day to expand and improve affordable housing across the city. I am proud to report that my legislation to ban ‘rent-fixing’ software, like RealPage, has passed unanimously AND that I am working to implement legislation I authored to build housing for the ‘missing middle’ – at no cost to taxpayers. This is real progress for San Francisco.
See you in the neighborhood,
Aaron |
Groundbreaking Legislation to Put More
Rental Units on the Market
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The Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted legislation that I authored – the first in the nation – that bans the sale or use of software which enables price collusion among large corporate landlords for the purpose of rent-gouging.
The legislation addresses a new type of rental software that can increase rents and vacancy rates by allowing large landlords to collude on pricing decisions, according to multiple class action lawsuits, investigations by three state Attorneys General, and an inquiry by the Department of Justice. In his 2024 State of the Union Address and in subsequent briefings, President Biden identified algorithmic price-fixing as a threat to housing affordability and a policy priority in the fight against corporate rent-gouging, and we are leading the pushback locally.
Banning automated price-fixing will allow the market to work and bring down rents in San Francisco. Let’s be clear: RealPage has exacerbated our rent crisis and empowered corporate landlords to intentionally keep units vacant. We’re taking action to ensure our working renters can afford to live here.
Read more:
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Housing For the 'Missing Middle':
Implementing an Innovative New Financial Tool
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With essential workers from SEIU Local 1021, at a potential site for future housing
that is currently abandoned by developers.
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“Everyday workers like me commute from places like East Contra Costa County to serve the city we love,” said Brandon Dawkins, union worker and SEIU Vice President, at the site of an abandoned housing development at 5th and Shipley in SOMA. “Thousands of San Franciscans, who were born and raised here, are now forced to drive several hours because we can no longer afford to raise our families here. It’s time for our city leaders to act and demonstrate that they care about working people who are the backbone of our city.”
I proudly stood with Mr. Dawkins and fellow members of the city’s largest labor union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1021, to call on the city to build housing for San Francisco’s essential workers using an innovative new financing tool that we reported on last month: “WHAMI”, the Workforce and Middle-Income Housing Program.
This project, known to neighbors as ‘trash lake’, is just one example of market failure which can be solved with creativity and political will. I have called on the lender to sell this fully-entitled project to the city at a fair price, and for city leaders to take advantage of new tools to build housing at scale that bring thousands of essential workers and working families home to San Francisco. |
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Plans for the lot at 360 5th Street were abandoned by developers.
There are tens of thousands of approved units across the city,
undeveloped primarily for lack of financing.
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The same week I joined Muni workers and local leaders at Kirkland Bus Depot at Fisherman’s Wharf, another opportunity site for future affordable workforce housing. Long in the planning stages, the new financing tool can be used to fund this project with little or no city subsidy. |
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Potential housing for MUNI workers: Kirkland Depot, Some MUNI drivers commute to early shifts
from the outer edges of the Bay Area - before BART begins.
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Irwin Lum, a retired Muni driver and the first Asian-American President of the Transit Workers Union Local, conveyed the impact of high housing costs on the lives of Muni workers: “The majority of Muni drivers live outside the city because they can’t afford to live here. Many drivers work twelve to fourteen hour split shifts including their commute from the East Bay and beyond. Many drivers sleep in their cars in between shifts because they don’t have a home here to lay their heads. We need affordable housing to live in the city that we serve.”
The San Francisco Planning Department studied the site in 2017 and concluded that 284 units of affordable housing could be built at the site, in addition to a modernized bus depot. We can address our climate crisis through electrification and build affordable housing for our Muni operators at the same time. I am calling on the city to dedicate this site to the late Phil Chin, founder of Chinatown Transportation Research and Improvement Project (TRIP), who was a pioneer in transit equity for Chinatown and citywide, and whose dream it was for this site to become affordable housing for Muni workers like himself.
Read or watch more:
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Welcome Back to the Bay Area Vice President Harris
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| I am proud to have worked with Vice President Kamala Harris since her days as District Attorney of San Francisco. (In fact, we first met as kindergarten classmates!) She has always served the people of the Bay Area and will continue to serve all Americans and lead the country as our next President. |
School starts on Monday, August 19 and we wish all students and families a healthy, happy, and productive school year.
Along with the anticipation of the new school year comes the concern by many parents and teachers about the pending announcement of potential school closures. As I reported last month, I authored and passed a Resolution calling for SFUSD to include clear equity criteria in its ‘resource alignment initiative’ that takes into account the cultural and community importance of school sites and the potential impact of school closures on low-income, immigrant and BIPOC communities.
I am committed to working with any impacted communities as well as the school district team through this process. Upcoming ‘resource alignment’ dates from the SFUSD are as follows:
- Sept. 18: announcement of schools recommended for closure in the 2025-26 school year. Outreach to impacted schools follows.
- Dec. 10: Board of Education vote on recommended schools
Also, on the school-news-front, voters will decide on a proposed bond measure on the November ballot: the SFUSD School Improvement Bond. Funds are earmarked for meal services, modernization projects, and new school construction, including Mission Bay. The $790 million general obligation bond requires 55% voter support for passage. |
Only the Bold Swim in the Cold!
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Photo credit: Heather R. Smith
A perspective from Elizabeth Boyarsky, Public Policy Intern
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When President Peskin invited the summer interns to accompany him on one of his morning swims at the South End Rowing Club (SERC), I immediately said yes. I start most mornings of the week with a plunge at Ocean Beach with my group and had been curious to test out the waters of the bay for an Aquatic Park Cove swim for a while. The day before our swim, President Peskin presented a Certificate of Honor to the newly retired SF Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson at the Board of Supervisors meeting for her 30 years of public service. Pres. Peskin had taken Chief Nicholson out on her first open-water swim years ago at the South End Rowing Club, and she became hooked, leading her to join the club. As he acknowledged Nicholson's hard work and good character, he exclaimed, "Only the bold swim in the cold," a popular slogan amongst the SF Bay open water swimming community.
The morning of our swim, I eagerly waded out into the invigoratingly cold greyish-blue and green bay water, equipped with a pair of fins borrowed from District 3’s representative. Aaron, as we refer to him in the office, kindly gave me a tour of the SERC before, and I was inspired by the camaraderie and dedication of the community there. He checked the forecast for the current velocities and the daily tidal cycle from the club’s booklet inside. I noticed one swimmer dunking in an ice bath before she jumped into the bay as part of her training for the Dál Riata, a swim from Scotland to Ireland.
“President Peskin, is that you? Good morning!” was heard several times as we swam out to the buoys. Aaron is recognizable even with goggles and swim gear on and is a popular swimmer there. He told me that he has taken lots of friends, colleagues, and community members out for their first swim in the bay, including his postman, and other public servants. Our swim was fantastic, and now I am hooked and want to go back. I appreciate President Peskin’s eloquent, comprehensive explanation of the history of SERC and his concise open-water swimming instructions.
From my work as an intern this summer, I am filled with admiration and respect for the hardworking, dedicated legislative aides of District 3. President Peskin’s integrity and ability to listen, connect with others, and problem-solve using tools and services available within our local government has been inspiring to witness. Our team of interns brought positive energy and innovation to District 3's office every day, and we worked in synergy. I learned a different way to be of service to our diverse community. I welcomed this work as a breath of fresh air and feel invigorated to start the school year and resume my work as an educator in the fall. |
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Retiring Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson accepts a special commendation for her service from
Pres. Peskin and the Board of Supervisors.
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Neighborhood News and Events
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| Chinatown Artist Registry: Call for artists! |
Chinatown is having the largest public art call for artists in its history.
A reminder that the San Francisco Arts Commission and the Chinatown Cultural Center are promoting this historic registry which will be used to select artists to be commissioned for a range of public art projects through 2027, including the creation of three key infrastructure modernization projects: Portsmouth Square, Chinatown Public Health Center, and Him Mark Lai Chinatown Library. There is still time to apply! The deadline to submit qualifications: Sept. 11. |
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Saturday, August 17
Hungry Ghost Festival: Downpour, Uproar!
The second annual music and art festival sponsored by the Chinese Cultural Center (CCC). This is one of the only community festivals in the U.S. that commemorates the Ghost Month. Chinese folklore has it that this is the month when the gates to the Underworld opens so that spirits can return home to visit their families, and families will leave their ancestors' favorite food out to welcome them home. CCC has turned this tradition into a cultural celebration for the entire community!
4:00pm – festival kick-off parade with opening remarks by Supervisor Peskin; Chinatown-Rose Pak Station, 943 Stockton St.
4:00pm – 9:00pm - performances, art activation, community booths around Chinatown
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Sea Music Festival
Presented by the San Francisco Maritime National Park, this event celebrates sea music from around the world. A multi-stage, live-music event!
11:00am – 7:00pm
Stages across Aquatic Park and Fisherman’s Wharf
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Union Square in Bloom
Celebrates the district’s floral legacy. This is the finale event features Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, food, awards show, and beautiful blooms.
3pm – 6:00 pm
Union Square Plaza |
San Francisco Pizza, Bagel & Beer Festival
Award-winning pizzaiolo and legendary restaurateur, Tony Gemignani, in collaboration with the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club Foundation, host San Francisco’s first annual Pizza, Bagel & Beer Festival in the heart of historic North Beach.
Noon – 4:00pm
Event covers two blocks of North Beach on Stockton and Filbert Streets along Washington Square. |
Traffic Control Update
Traffic control for filming of a tv commercial. Temporary and no stopping signs to be posted. Contact: SF Film; filmsf.org; 415-554-6241
Coit Tower, Pioneer Park, Telegraph Hill Blvd.
Aug 19, 6:00pm - 9:30pm
Aug 20, 6:30am - 9:30pm
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August is Black Business Month
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Dedicated to celebrating and acknowledging Black-owned businesses across the U.S. Check out some of the District 3 businesses or citywide listings from San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce.
Da Flora
Gourmonade
Peacekeeper
Peaches Patties
ReLove
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Be in touch with your questions or comments.
City Hall: 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 224
Phone: 415-554-7450
Email: Aaron.Peskin@sfgov.org
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Board of Supervisors | District 3 | Aaron Peskin
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