This week, I asked the candidates about housing legislation that would limit the development in some historic District 3 areas, such as Jackson Park and east of Columbus Avenue. The legislation is sponsored by Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who has termed out and is likely going to run for mayor. The density bill may be remembered as Peskin and Breed’s first election-year fight. The bill was vetoed by Mayor London Breed on March 14 and yesterday, the Board of Supervisors overturned the veto with a supermajority.
Question this week: What do you think about the housing density bill Peskin and Breed are battling over?
JConr B. Ortega
- Job: Self-described formerly homeless, leatherman, boxer
I am truly disappointed that the housing debate has turned into an all-or-nothing fight. We all agree: We must build housing and make it affordable but, at the same time, we must also protect current residents. I stand with every other common-sense resident who chooses not to get sucked into the YIMBY-NIMBY debate and say: I disagree with the veto, and I disagree with the veto override. What I support is a compromise that both sides can agree on and, unfortunately, we are not close to that.
Danny Sauter
- Job: Executive Director, Neighborhood Centers Together
- Age: 35
- Residency: Tenant in District 3 since 2014
- Transportation: Public transportation
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Miami University
- Languages: English, Cantonese
San Francisco is decades into a severe housing crisis that has pushed tens of thousands of low and middle-income residents out and hurt our neighborhoods. We need to respond to this crisis by making it easier to quickly build all types of housing.
As Supervisor, I would bring forward a plan to add more housing in District 3, including areas in the northern waterfront from Fisherman’s Wharf to the Financial District. We can provide incentives, such as adding a few additional stories, for projects that provide additional benefits or greater affordability while including robust tenant and historic protections.
Endorsed by: Nor Cal Carpenters Union, Senator Scott Wiener, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Operating Engineers Local 3 … read more here
Matthew Susk
- Job: Former lead with Divvy Homes
- Age: 32
- Residency: TIC owner, first moved to District 3 in 2007. 2007-2009 while in high school, 2014-2016 after college, 2023-present with his wife.
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University, master’s in business from Georgetown University
- Languages: English
I am a third-generation San Franciscan and a homeowner, who first moved to District 3 in middle school. I love San Francisco’s unique character, and I believe District 3 is a shining example of how a dense district can maintain many distinct neighborhoods.
We must build more housing so (1) our firefighters don’t have to commute 1.5 hours each way to work, (2) our teachers don’t have to sleep on their friends’ couches while they teach our children, and (3) our elders can age in place and enjoy the communities they helped create.
Moe Jamil
- Job: Deputy city attorney, San Francisco City Attorney’s Office
- Age: 46
- Residency: Owner-occupied condo owner, living in District 3 since May 2014
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: University of California, Berkeley, and law school at Santa Clara University, K-12 public school
- Languages: English, Cantonese
I oppose the veto. Mayor Breed’s housing policies have become entirely radical, including her proposition to erect 25+ story ultra-luxury towers, three times the height limit, along the waterfront. It’s unacceptable to impose top down, one-size-fits-all up-zoning and shut neighborhoods out of the planning process.
I support neighborhood self-determination to build housing within our existing height limits and, as a long-time neighborhood leader in District 3, I have a pragmatic track record of fighting for neighborhood voices. We must protect and preserve our existing affordable housing, and not allow the Mayor and her allies to demolish rent-controlled buildings.
Endorsed by: San Francisco Tenants Union, Teamsters Joint Council 7, Retired Assistant Police Chief Garrett Tom, Board President Aaron Peskin … read more here
Sharon Lai
- Job: Economic recovery leader at the World Economic Forum, former board member at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
- Age: 41
- Residency: Tenant and owner, living in District 3 since 2023, first moved to SF in 2005
- Transportation: Walk and Muni when solo, drive when with kids
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from University of California, Berkeley, development studies and city and regional planning; master’s degree in public administration, Harvard Kennedy School
- Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese
SF needs more housing, but we need to manage density thoughtfully and equitably. We can do that without damaging the integrity of our nationally registered historic neighborhoods, which is only 1% of the city. Growth that’s multiple times the expected density in a sensitive area that bypasses impact assessments, like infrastructure demands, was not the intent, so I supported the legislation and opposed the veto. The Mayor’s Planning Department and Commission, and the BOS, all approved this zoning correction.
Something can and should be developed, but extreme density at all cost without a process of evaluation is going too far.
Endorsed by: Community Tenants Association, Teamsters Joint Council 7, 7 of the current Board of Supervisors … read more here
Eduard Navarro
- Job: Tech startup founder
- Age: 44
- Residency: Tenant in District 3 since December 2021
- Transportation: Walking, public transportation
- Education: CFA Institute: Chartered Financial Analyst, passed level 1. Master’s degree from Columbia University, architecture, concentration in urban design. Master’s degree from Columbia University, real estate development, concentrating in finance. Ecole d’Architecture de La Villette. Bachelor’s degree in architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology.
- Languages: Spanish, French, German, English, Valèncian (Catalan)
This is a trick question. I’ll explain why:
• Down-zoning does not achieve Board President Peskin’s objectives of limiting change in our district.
• Up-zoning does not guarantee fulfilling our state’s mandate to create housing.
Zoning is an imperfect and blunt instrument. As a result, the tug of war is pointless and gets no one what they want. As supervisor, I will use my expertise in the subject to lead with alternative but time-tested city design and development tools; to simultaneously meet our quota of new housing and to protect and preserve our historic architecture, neighborhoods and views. We can and should have both.
Money raised and spent in the District 3 supervisor race
Money spent
Money raised
Sharon Lai
$9,493
$86,241
Danny Sauter
$7,904
$74,566
Moe Jamil
$16,015
$71,672
JConr B. Ortega
$0
Matthew Susk
$0
Eduard Navarro
$0
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
Money raised
Money spent
Sharon Lai
$9,493
$86,241
Danny Sauter
$7,904
$74,566
Moe Jamil
$16,015
$71,672
JConr B. Ortega
$0
Matthew Susk
$0
Eduard Navarro
$0
$0
$50K
$100K
$150K
$200K
Source: San Francisco Ethics Commission, as of April 3, 2024. Chart by Junyao Yang.
Between now and the November election, Mission Local is asking each District 3 candidate one question per week, and candidates will get 100 words to respond. We will compile all responses to the 40-odd questions on a “Meet the Candidates” page, so that voters can get a full picture of their stances.
Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at yujie@missionlocal.com.
Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
New construction has become expensive to the point where we’re heading towards a reality where only ultra-luxury investment vehicles at cherry-picked locations, and City social housing are being built. That will last into the foreseeable future. All the efforts to streamline approvals make sense, but not a material difference. To that end, Peskin’s bill makes sense, because we don’t need more half-empty condo towers a la Rincon Hill and SoMa, and it’s not limiting the buildout of workforce family housing.
Thorny as it may get, it’s high time we turn our attention to existing housing stock, and how to get more out of it.
State Senator Scott Weiner and Mayor Breed insist that cutting approval “red tape,” by
Gutting required affordable housing,
Denying public participation in planning and
Pushing aside environmental concerns,
and then giving state “density bonuses”
for more market-rate housing will through the “magic of the market place”
result, over time, in more affordable housing.
“We fought successfully to protect our city’s right to control our planning laws. But today, we see SENATOR SCOTT WEINER & MAYOR BREED ENHANCING RICH DEVELOPERS’ RIGHTS TO build out our city to MAXIMIZE PROFIT for their investors AND TO HELL WITH WHAT San Francisco’s government plans and CITIZENS WANT for our city.” Art Agnos
These people need to seek treatment, good god.
Ah, great, so we get yet more of San Franciscans going on about Protecting Neighborhood Character by demanding housing go in a more suitable location (e.g. absolutely nowhere, ever, ever ever ever), and then continuing to complain, a decade from now, that a studio costs way more than the median salary, that their kids can’t find a home here, the schools can’t hire teachers, the hospitals can’t hire nurses, and that their burrito costs $20. Nothing ever changes.
The Connor Ortega guy has no politics behind him just buzz-words like common sense and being against both sides to appear like a moderate.
Moe Jamil sounds like Aaron Peskinv2, which also means views protectionism. News flash, you don’t own views.
“We must protect and preserve our existing affordable housing” . Spoken like a true marxist. Private property does not belong to “us” or even the people renting it. It belongs to the holders of the deed and payers of the property taxes!
As “Peskin’s housing density bill” was based upon recommendations from planning staff and unanimously approved by the SF Planning Commission, and protects two small districts from high rise towers, but allows 6 story buildings to be built. It is hardly an anti-housing bill as the veto from Mayor Breed tried to depict.
JConr B Ortega, Danny Sauter, Matthew Susk and Edward Navarro didn’t answer the question. What are they afraid of? Danny Sauter should have disclosed that he is a longtime member of YIMBY Action and is being endorsed by Scott Wiener, who is nothing less than a radical when it comes to real estate development, going so far as attempting to exempt San Francisco from California’s excellent Coastal Commission authority.
Both Moe Jamil and Sharon Lai answered the question, saying that they either were against the mayor’s veto or that they supported the legislation.
So those against Peskin’s legislation were afraid or refused to say so but those supporting it freely share their opinion. We do not need candidates who are deceptive and/or lack transparency, like Sauter.
Finally, it cannot go unstated that district 3, that has some of the highest density in San Francisco, should not be the focus for building new housing units. Of course more housing should be built here in district 3 and elsewhere in SF. I’m saying to the pro-housing advocates to pick their battles wisely. Guys, we aren’t the problem here.
Gary,
Weiner is strong evidence that we are living in a Simulation.
Only in a Simulation would a Neighborhood loving burg like San Francisco elect this Real Estate Vampire to higher and higher posts.
Giving him the keys to our bloodbank.
Only in a Simulation.
Go Niners !!
h.