Supervisors advance ordinance to restore rent control for FD Haines residents
July 17, 2023 | San Francisco County, California
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Supervisor Dean Preston introduced an ordinance to amend the city administrative code so tenant-occupied units that receive low-income housing tax credits or tax-exempt multifamily revenue bonds remain subject to San Francisco’s rent ordinance while any existing tenant remains in place unless all tenants opt out in writing. "No one should have their rent control ripped away without having any say in the process," Preston said.
The measure grew out of complaints from residents at Frederick Douglass Haines, a 104-unit affordable housing complex in the Western Addition. Preston and residents described a pattern in which financing for repairs led the rent board to deem some units exempt from rent control; tenants reported dramatic annual increases. Tenant Stephanie Brandon, who said she has lived at FD Haines for 33 years, told the committee that recent increases could force her to leave and jeopardize her ability to pay for medication.
Preston said the office will offer a non-substantive amendment recommended by the city attorney and the mayor’s housing office to replace broad Internal Revenue Code references with the more specific section 142(d) governing multifamily revenue bonds. He said the ordinance would revert affected tenants’ monthly payments to the amounts that would have prevailed had the rent ordinance continuously applied, with allowable annual adjustments under the rent ordinance.
The clerk recorded committee roll calls on the amendment and on the motion to send the item to the full board with a committee report; supervisors recorded ayes and the committee advanced the item. The committee discussion and public testimony emphasized the ordinance’s narrow focus on preserving protections for existing tenants and described the measure as a "last resort" after tenants’ attempts to resolve rents through the rent board and the mayor’s office.
Next steps: The committee forwarded the amended ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration and potential adoption.
The measure grew out of complaints from residents at Frederick Douglass Haines, a 104-unit affordable housing complex in the Western Addition. Preston and residents described a pattern in which financing for repairs led the rent board to deem some units exempt from rent control; tenants reported dramatic annual increases. Tenant Stephanie Brandon, who said she has lived at FD Haines for 33 years, told the committee that recent increases could force her to leave and jeopardize her ability to pay for medication.
Preston said the office will offer a non-substantive amendment recommended by the city attorney and the mayor’s housing office to replace broad Internal Revenue Code references with the more specific section 142(d) governing multifamily revenue bonds. He said the ordinance would revert affected tenants’ monthly payments to the amounts that would have prevailed had the rent ordinance continuously applied, with allowable annual adjustments under the rent ordinance.
The clerk recorded committee roll calls on the amendment and on the motion to send the item to the full board with a committee report; supervisors recorded ayes and the committee advanced the item. The committee discussion and public testimony emphasized the ordinance’s narrow focus on preserving protections for existing tenants and described the measure as a "last resort" after tenants’ attempts to resolve rents through the rent board and the mayor’s office.
Next steps: The committee forwarded the amended ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration and potential adoption.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
