The Weekly Digest (February 23, 2025)
Happy Sunday, Brionies!
Here’s what you need to know about local politics this week and beyond:
San Francisco City Hall
Monday, February 24 at 1:30pm: Regular meeting of the Land Use and Transportation Committee (agenda here):
Legislation Under the 30-Day Rule – Ordinance amending the Planning Code to allow chain stores to open on Van Ness Avenue between Broadway and Redwood Street. We have our eye on this measure, which is slowly inching its way through a gauntlet of committees. One might think that San Francisco would roll out the red carpet for any business willing to replace the bleak empty storefronts on Van Ness, but no. That would be too sensible. Too capitalist. In 2006, voters passed Proposition G, an anti-business measure which placed special restrictions on “formula retail,” any chain with 11 or more outlets. At the time, Supervisor Aaron Peskin said the measure would “give neighborhoods control over their own destiny and character, and stop San Francisco from becoming Anywhere, USA.” In practice, however, we ended up with the aforementioned empty storefronts, because the law is so burdensome that many businesses don’t want to deal with it. The proposed modification seems like a step in the right direction.
Tuesday, February 25 at 2pm: Regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors (agenda here):
Item 15 – Ordinance amending the Planning Code to exempt certain downtown commercial-to-residential conversion projects from development impact fees and requirements, such as the Affordable Housing Fee, Child Care Impact Fee, Downtown Park Fee, Public Art Fee, and School Impact Fee. Proponents argue that tax breaks and incentives are necessary to make residential conversions financially feasible, while opponents assert, “these conversion projects need to pay their fair share to create the infrastructure needed to match the increased needs from new residents.” We are more persuaded by this argument in favor: “if these fees stand, no conversions will take place, and no inclusionary units or impact fees will be generated … An inclusionary fee applied to 0 new units equates to 0 new inclusionary homes.” You can encourage the Supervisors to do the right thing by clicking here.
Item 16 – Ordinance removing a mandate that existing buildings with a place of public accommodation must make all primary entries and paths of travel into the building accessible to persons with disabilities. San Francisco is the only jurisdiction in California that requires existing businesses to provide accessible entrances. Adding disability access can be prohibitively expensive for small businesses, particularly in historic neighborhoods, and businesses that do not comply are vulnerable to shake-down lawsuits.
Item 20 – Motion approving the Mayor’s nomination of Wilson Leung, former federal prosecutor, to the Police Commission.
Item 21 and 22 – Hearing and motion consenting/dissenting the Mayor’s removal of Max Carter-Oberstone from the Police Commission. Famously hostile to the police, Carter-Oberstone is the architect of the “pretext stop” policy that made it all but impossible for SFPD to make traffic stops.
Wednesday, February 26 at 10am: Regular meeting of the Budget & Finance Committee (agenda here):
Item 5 – Resolution approving an amended grant agreement to Brilliant Corners for housing subsidies not to exceed $59,542,690. The magnitude of this grant prompted us to peek at this organization’s website. Here’s what we learned: “Brilliant Corners’ supportive housing approach has proven that the cycle of homelessness and institutional involvement can end when housing and services come together. … Our approach is based on Housing First principles, person-centered planning, and community living in the least restrictive setting.” What we didn’t learn was anything about the organization's ability to responsibly steward a $59,542,690 grant, because the most recent tax return posted on the Brilliant Corners site dates back to 2019, and its latest financial statements are from 2019-2020.
Item 12 – Resolution authorizing the Recreation and Park Department to enter into an agreement with BXP Embarcadero Plaza LP, the Downtown San Francisco Partnership, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development regarding potential improvements and renovations at Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park.
Happenings around town
Briones Society events
Thursday, February 27 at 6pm, location provided upon RSVP
Join us for a stimulating conversation with Debora Allen, former chair of the Contra Costa Republican Party, who recently completed an 8-year term on the BART Board of Directors. During her tenure on the BART Board, Allen was often the sole voice advocating for fiscal responsibility, external auditing, and public safety. She was instrumental in the creation and development of an Inspector General’s Office at BART and the installation of fare-evasion measures at stations. Allen will provide a rare, insider’s perspective on the often dysfunctional wheelings-and-dealings at BART. Capacity for this event is limited — register soon!
Other events of interest
Mission District, Tuesday, February 25, 5-6pm
Richmond District, Tuesday, February 25, 5-6pm
Tenderloin District, Tuesday, February 25, 5-6pm
Park District, Wednesday, February 26, 6:30-7:30pm
Wednesday, February 26 at 6:30pm
Community Room at SFPD Northern Station, 1125 Fillmore Street
Action items
Check out ConnectedSF’s latest campaign, an objection to SFMTA’s “Bike and Roll Plan.”
What we’re reading
San Francisco’s Asian American voters are walking away from the Democratic party, particularly over local issues like underperforming schools and lack of public safety. At the Briones Society, we welcome Asian American voters to join us and to change your party registration to Republican. While Democrats continue to push their failed policies and inept leaders, we’re building an opposition party to end single-party Democrat rule in San Francisco!
Supervisor Jackie Fielder posted a chart suggesting that budget cuts are unnecessary because projected budget deficits in San Francisco never actually materialize. Jay Donde, President of the Briones Society, explains in this thread why Fielder is misreading the data.
Supervisor Joel Engardio held a high-profile rally to kick off his anti-recall campaign yesterday. He was joined by State Senator Scott Wiener, Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, and Supervisor Matt Dorsey. Engardio continues to receive fierce backlash over his support for Proposition K which closed the Great Highway to cars.
On Wednesday, President Trump moved to dramatically reduce the Presidio Trust through executive order. Under the Presidio Trust Act, passed by Congress in 1996, the Presidio Trust is required to maintain and operate Presidio National Park, including its 600 historic buildings, and to be financially self-sustaining.
Quick hits
Damn, Daniel: Lurie is getting the hang of being mayor, one sly move at a time
SF public school leaders eye 837 job cuts. Teacher union calls it excessive.
Golden Gate Park considers taking away free street parking as budget deficit looms
Trump administration launches latest threat to California’s high-speed rail project
Transamerica Pyramid illuminated in orange in honor of Bibas family
Palate cleanser
This week in San Francisco history
On February 22, 1860, one of the earliest organized baseball games on record in the West, and the first ever in San Francisco, took place between the San Francisco Eagles and the San Francisco Red Rovers.