So many candidates, so many propositions and so little time left to figure it all out (Election day is June 5). Here’s what some of the San Francisco mayoral hopefuls are saying:
- Ellen Lee Zhou, a public health worker, has a plan to end the city’s homelessness crisis. She’s urging homeowners to make room for homeless folks. “Spare Room? Mayoral Challenger Zhou Says You Could Help Homelessness Crisis” (San Francisco Public Press).
- Richie Greenberg, backed by the Republican Party, says he’s skeptical of activists and, instead, calls for moderation. “GOP Mayoral Candidate Greenberg Aims to Bring ‘More Centrist Viewpoint’ to S.F. City Hall” (San Francisco Public Press).
- Amy Farah Weiss, founder of Saint Francis Homelessness Challenge, is, not surprisingly, full of ideas for solving the city’s homeless and affordable-housing crises. “Activist Weiss Focuses Her Mayoral Campaign on Housing and Homelessness” (San Francisco Public Press).
- Angela Alioto swears by a 10-year plan to end homelessness, which was devised under her watch during the Gavin Newsom mayoral years. “Alioto Says Her Past ‘Housing First’ Plan Would End Homelessness” (San Francisco Public Press).
Soooooo … the future mayor has work all cut out for her (or him): housing affordability, homelessness, quality of life (trash, grit, dirt, filthy streets, oh my).
Affordable Housing — Still None to Speak of
- Only 1,210 affordable homes for 85,000 households in San Francisco in 2017? “SF Not Even Close to Building Enough Affordable Housing” (Curbed).
- Another grim number: For every 10 new affordable units created, evictions eliminate around six. “How SF Loses Affordable Housing Almost as Fast as It Gets Built” (48hills).
- And those affordable units? It looks like it’s a matter of luck to snag some of them. “California Today: In San Francisco’s Housing Lottery, It’s the Luck of the Draw” (New York Times).
Renters can rejoice, a little at least. The S.F. supervisors OK’d a measure to prevent landlords from sticking renters with their own property taxes and debt services. “Rent Control Loophole Closed” (SF Weekly); “Tenants Win Major Victory Over Speculators” (48hills).
Homelessness — Still With Us
- Homelessness advocates in San Francisco claim a city-ordered sweep of encampments in the Mission District in April didn’t help quell complaints about tents in the area. “Homeless Advocates Claim April Sweeps Led to More Encampment Complaints” (San Francisco Examiner).
- Altruism, however, is not only Glide church, St. Anthony, et al.: It can also come in the form of a cheese-and-pepperoni slice for one and all. “Pie to 17,000 Places: ‘Pizza Lady’ Offers Neighbors Food, Support” (Hoodline).
Trash Talk
- Hey, it worked in the Richmond and Sunset districts, so be prepared to see ash cans all over town. “Pilot Program to Clean up S.F.’s Dirty Butts Deemed Successful” (SF Weekly).
- Some efforts have been less successful, like at the BART Civic Center Station. “BART Seeks Closure of Civic Center Station Hallway” (San Francisco Examiner).
- And good luck with that Zero Waste 2020 goal. “S.F.’s Trash-Sorting Laziness Is Killing Us All” (SF Weekly).
