Blog Statement on San Francisco’s Failure to Meet State Deadline to Speed Up Housing Approvals

Nov. 27, 2023

The Board of Supervisors has its last chance to pass Mayor Breed’s housing legislation next week

SAN FRANCISCO – Jane Natoli, Organizing Director of San Francisco YIMBY, released the following statement after San Francisco failed to meet the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HDC)’s deadline – November 24 – to pass legislation to speed up the housing approval process.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed introduced legislation in June to make it easier to approve new housing and for the city to comply with its Housing Element, but the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has delayed and revised this legislation and thus failed to meet the state deadline. The Board now has another 30 days to pass the legislation or the state will decertify its Housing Element. With a decertified Housing Element, the city will lose local control of housing regulation and possibly also access to state funding.

Today, the Board once again delayed this legislation – it will now be heard by the full board next week, rather than tomorrow.

“Let me be clear: San Francisco has one last chance to expedite its housing approval process, or it will lose local control and jeopardize its access to state funds,” said Jane Natoli of SF YIMBY. “Years of intransigence from the Board of Supervisors mean that San Francisco has failed to approve and build housing at the rate it needs, worsening our housing shortage and homelessness crisis. Now, San Francisco has blown past the state deadline to make this right. This is unacceptable, and the Board of Supervisors must pass this legislation next week or the city will face real consequences.”

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About SF YIMBY: SF YIMBY is a group of San Franciscans coming together to advocate for solutions to our chronic housing shortage. SF YIMBY builds grassroots power and organizes to elect pro-housing candidates, pass high-impact pro-housing legislation, and get more housing built in high-opportunity neighborhoods. SF YIMBY is a part of YIMBY Action, a national network of people who advocate for abundant, affordable housing and inclusive, sustainable communities across the United States.

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