Housing Rights Committee demands investigation into San Francisco's retrofit program

The San Francisco County government meeting held on July 4, 2025, featured a series of discussions focused on building safety and tenant rights, particularly in relation to the city's legal short and soft story retrofit program.

The meeting commenced with Terry reading a letter from Sean Keegan, president of the Residential Builders Association. Keegan addressed concerns raised in local articles regarding the installation of protective sleeves for gas pipes. He estimated that the installation process takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes and costs between $10 to $20 for materials. He argued that the articles exaggerated the incentives for general contractors to deviate from building codes, asserting that such protective measures are standard practice in the industry.

Following this, Lena Maybaum from the Housing Rights Committee expressed serious concerns about the retrofit program. She called for accountability from the director and president of the building inspector commission, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation into permit applications to identify buildings at risk and address potential life-threatening hazards. Maybaum criticized the financial burden placed on tenants, who are required to shoulder costs through capital improvement pass-throughs, leading to significant rent increases. She argued that it is unacceptable for tenants to pay for safety work that ultimately makes their homes unsafe.

Supervisor Mattias Guarmino from the Chinatown Community Development Center echoed Maybaum's sentiments, highlighting the importance of transparency in the retrofit program. He advocated for tenants to have access to information regarding the safety status of their buildings and emphasized the need for effective communication between tenants and the Department of Building Inspection (DBI). Guarmino stressed the necessity of accountability among all parties involved, including contractors and the DBI, to ensure that safety concerns are adequately addressed.

The meeting concluded with a call for enhanced transparency and collaboration among stakeholders to tackle the pressing issues raised during the discussions. The next steps involve further dialogue and potential reforms to improve building safety and tenant protections in San Francisco.