S.F. supervisor introduces bill to protect tenants displaced by new housing

"Right now, the prevailing ethos around land use in San Francisco and California can be summed up in a word: "streamlining." Look through the housing bills going through Sacramento and City Hall, and most involve slashing regulations that slow down housing production. But on Tuesday, District 11 Supervisor Chyanne Chen introduced legislation with a different focus: protecting tenants displaced by new development. The bill introduces new processes for developers who displace tenants by demolishing their buildings."

""I agree that preserving our rent control housing stock is essential to maintaining affordability in San Francisco," he said. "I look forward to working with you on your forthcoming tenant protection proposals." He did add a clarification, though: "Demolition of rent-controlled housing is extraordinarily rare." Under the proposed bill, landlords have to give tenants six months' notice before an eviction and lay out their rights in the language they speak."

San Francisco's prevailing land-use approach emphasizes "streamlining" to speed housing production by cutting regulations. Supervisor Chyanne Chen introduced legislation to protect tenants displaced by demolition, cosponsored by four other supervisors, with advocates focused on preserving rent-controlled housing. The measure would require landlords to provide six months' eviction notice in tenants' languages, hire relocation specialists, pay relocation fees, and offer low-income tenants a right of first refusal to return at their old rent or an affordable rent. Mayor Daniel Lurie expressed conditional support for preserving rent-controlled stock, and YIMBY Action affirmed support for tenant protections while pursuing new housing elsewhere.

Read at Mission Local