It’s been a busy and successful month fighting to expand rent control, protect legacy small businesses, revitalize downtown, and ease congestion with access to clean modes of transportation.
Thank you to the many business leaders, neighborhood activists, and fellow legislators who have joined me to pass these critical pieces of legislation. Working together, we are preserving what’s best about San Francisco without giving away the store to greedy billionaires, while applying solid planning principles to strengthen our City.
To the many families and teachers who are struggling with the delayed news about potential school closures—which may happen today: SFUSD has been in crisis mode for too long. Instead of focusing on teacher hiring incentives and the bare necessities to take care of the families we have now, they are contemplating poorly conceived school closures that will lead to a loss of even more families. I have initiated many meetings with SFUSD leadership both during the pandemic and after to offer city support for its myriad issues and stand by my offer of partnership.
Stay tuned: there’s more work ahead.
See you in the neighborhood,
Aaron
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San Francisco v. the EPA?!
Resolution calls on mayor to drop lawsuit
that will gut the Clean Water Act
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Despite overwhelming public opposition, the case, which is currently headed to the Supreme Court on October 16, challenges EPA rules on offshores pollution and contradicts decades of regulatory precedent. This week I co-sponsored a resolution that urges city to drop the lawsuit and cut its alliance with big oil.
This lawsuit will not save the city a dime. If anything, the mayor, the city attorney, and the PUC’s climate denialism will cost the city more in red tape and delays, while collaborating with the Trump-appointed Supreme Court to erode our environmental laws.
Read more: S.F is at war over an environmental case headed to the Supreme Court
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Revitalize Downtown! Pres. Peskin’s
Legislation is Unanimously Approved
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Cutting bureaucratic red tape to bring art & entertainment to outdoor venues
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All of San Francisco will benefit from legislation that I authored to streamline a cumbersome permitting process for arts and entertainment events. The legislation helps Community Benefits Districts (CBDs) in the greater downtown area cut through the red tape that prevents them from sponsoring things like an outdoor jazz trio, a First Thursday art walk, or a block party.
Unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors, the legislation creates a Greater Downtown Master Permit program within the geographic boundaries of the following four community benefit districts (CBDs) making up the Greater Downtown area: Downtown SF Partnership, the East Cut, Yerba Buena Community Benefit District and the Union Square Alliance. These downtown CBDs are already doing the work to program these events, we just have to make it easier, bigger, and bolder if we want Downtown to come alive more than once a month.
Look forward to news about upcoming events in one of these downtown destinations:
*Annie Plaza *Jessie Alleys *Balance and Gold Street *The Landing at Leidesdorff *Claude Lane *Maiden Lane *Natoma Street * Second Street *Harlan Place *Front Street
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Citywide Protections for Legacy Businesses
at Risk of Displacement
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A scoop of hope for the future of Joe’s Ice Cream,
serving the community since 1959, and for other
cherished legacy businesses across San Francisco.
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Legacy small businesses are the backbone of our neighborhood commercial districts. They provide more than jobs, neighborhood services and eyes on the street—they provide family traditions and memories for many San Franciscans that underscore why people love this city so much.
That’s why I introduced new protections for legacy businesses in neighborhood commercial districts (NCDs) across the city in response to the destabilizing impacts of the Mayor’s redevelopment rezoning proposal.
This legislation builds on emergency interim zoning controls that I authored for the Upper Fillmore NCD after billionaire venture capitalist Neil Mehta purchased two whole blocks and began pushing out cherished legacy small businesses like La Mediterranee and Ten Ichi Restaurant.
I want to thank Supervisor Connie Chan, community stakeholders, and Joe’s Ice Cream on Geary Blvd., another San Francisco legacy business at risk of displacement in the Richmond commercial district targeted by the rezoning.
San Francisco’s Legacy Business Program provides financial assistance to long-standing local small businesses that have demonstrated a record of fostering civic engagement and contributing to the city’s cultural identity. I want to congratulate these incredible businesses for their recent recognition as Legacy Businesses:
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Savoy Tivoli and Da Flora in North Beach, New India Bazaar on Polk St.,
Ten Ichi Japanese Restaurant in Upper Fillmore, Fabrix on Clement St.,
Sabella and La Torre in Fisherman’s Wharf, Russian Hill Dog Grooming on Bush St.
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Largest Expansion of Rent Control
Protections in a Generation
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Pres. Peskin’s legislation will benefit 100,000 renters
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Every San Franciscan deserves access to stable housing and freedom from rental price-gouging. That’s why I introduced legislation, the first of its kind, to dramatically expand rent control protections to cover all apartment buildings in San Francisco.
My ordinance will immediately grant rent stabilization to tens of thousands of San Francisco renters, if and when Proposition 33 passes on November 5th, repealing the Costa-Hawkins Act of 1995.
The Act prohibits San Francisco from applying rent control protections to any building built after 1979. That means that approximately 40 percent of renters are arbitrarily denied the protections of San Francisco’s rent stabilization ordinance, including rents capped to inflation. Thirty-five percent of renters also continue to suffer from rent burden, causing overcrowding, displacement, and homelessness.
Spurred by extreme income inequality, San Francisco has seen a wave of evictions and displacement over the past decade, and an uneven economic recovery from the pandemic, but has been unable to extend much-needed tenant protections due to outdated state preemption. At her first campaign rally, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris pledged to cap unfair rent increases for all Americans, because she understands that all renters need protection from inflation and unfair price-gouging. |
Getting People on E-Bikes Just Got Easier
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Pres. Peskin’s legislation will ease commutes
and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
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With the introduction of an E-Bike incentive program, I am working to decrease congestion on our city streets and make access to this sustainable, family-friendly mode of transportation more equitable for everyone in San Francisco.
The money-saving ordinance, co-authored by Supervisor Dean Preston, was driven by grassroots support from thousands of San Franciscans and crafted by a diverse group of stakeholders, including Streets Forward, Senior and Disability Action, Bicis Del Pueblo, and PODER.
I want to ensure that all San Francisco families, especially those underserved by transit, can access this sustainable way to drop off their kids at school, which makes all our children safer. This is an important step toward an inclusive carbon-free future.
Read more: Peskin Introduces Proposal for E-Bike Rebate Program for San Francisco.
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From the Port to Washington Square
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Honoring the achievements of San Francisco
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Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Board Pres. Peskin
honors the James Herman Cruise Terminal.
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It was a pleasure to join Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the James Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27.
I am proud to have fought for this environmentally friendly and visitor-friendly terminal that has generated solid union jobs, welcomed millions of visitors, and kick-started economic activity in San Francisco. The beautiful park in front of the terminal was the realization of negotiations that I helped preside over between BCDC (the Bay Conservation and Development Commission), the Port of San Francisco, and Save the Bay.
I was also proud to honor former Mayor Moscone at the San Francisco Little Italy Honor Walk plaque unveiling. The plaque is located on the edge of one of the City’s three original parks, Washington Square, which George Moscone helped protect as a member of the Board of Supervisors. Thank you to the Italian Athletic Club and Consul General Strozzi for elevating Italian American culture, heritage, and contributions that helped build the foundation of North Beach and San Francisco. |
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The ceremony to unveil the plaque in honor of Mayor George Moscone
next to Washington Square Park.
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Lower Nob Hill Alliance Hosts ‘Cultivating Green’
A community vision for open space
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Lower Nob Hill Neighborhood Alliance has been advocating for additional public open space in the neighborhood. Currently, there are few, if any “green spaces” within the neighborhood boundaries, from Polk to Mason, Geary to Pine. The ‘cultivating green’ event provided the community with a chance to share their ideas and priorities for future open spaces, be it parklets or playgrounds or privately owned public open spaces. Thanks to all who participated!
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SFPD Seeks Community Input
on Boundary Changes
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Every decade, the SF Police Department reviews its district station boundaries to ensure they align with the city’s evolving needs. Over the last ten years, the decline in SFPD staffing numbers, the changes to resident and non-resident populations, and impact of criminal behavior directed at commercial businesses are all significant developments requiring attention during police district boundary reevaluation.
A new map is proposed that features 15 changes designed to better balance workloads and improve services across the city. Eight out of the ten district stations could see updates. But before anything’s final, they want to hear from you. Your feedback is essential to fine-tune the map and make sure it’s right for everyone. Check out the ways you can share your feedback.
Survey: Submit your comment, here.
Public Meeting:
October 15, 2024 – 5:30pm–7:30pm
San Francisco Public Library Main Branch Koret Auditorium (lower level)
100 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94102
Community Maps: If you would like to submit a map of your own proposed boundaries, click here.
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Board of Supervisors | District 3 | Aaron Peskin
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