Rules Committee unanimously backs Lydia So's nomination to San Francisco Planning Commission
April 29, 2024 | San Francisco County, California
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The San Francisco Rules Committee on April 29 voted unanimously to recommend the mayor’s nomination of Lydia So to the Planning Commission, moving the appointment to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation.
Lydia So, who serves on the SFMTA board, told the committee she would prioritize improving housing governance and policies, champion transit‑oriented mixed‑use affordable housing projects, and protect community history and equity. “Everyone deserves to feel safe…we deserve to have a sense of belonging and have a place called home,” So said, describing her housing-focused priorities.
The committee’s chair, Supervisor Hillary Ronan, noted So’s prior service on several city commissions and called her background an asset to the Planning Department. Supervisor Asha Safai asked how So would address internal barriers in the Planning Department that slow housing approvals; So said she would review organizational structures, identify interagency process bottlenecks and work with department staff and legislative aides to streamline approvals.
Multiple public commenters spoke in support. Tianna Hancey, calling in, said So had “a very unique skill set of understanding historic preservation” and transportation; Doug Chan, representing the Chinese Historical Society, highlighted So’s multidisciplinary experience. Rosa of Chinatown Community Development Center and Steven Li, a small business owner, also urged confirmation, citing community outreach and planning experience.
Chair Ronan moved to amend the motion text to remove the word “rejecting” and forward the nomination with a positive recommendation; the clerk recorded unanimous aye votes from Vice Chair Shamann Walton, Supervisor Asha Safai and Chair Ronan. The committee’s recommendation now goes to the full Board of Supervisors for final confirmation.
The Board is scheduled to consider items acted on by Rules on the May 7, 2024 agenda unless otherwise noted.
Lydia So, who serves on the SFMTA board, told the committee she would prioritize improving housing governance and policies, champion transit‑oriented mixed‑use affordable housing projects, and protect community history and equity. “Everyone deserves to feel safe…we deserve to have a sense of belonging and have a place called home,” So said, describing her housing-focused priorities.
The committee’s chair, Supervisor Hillary Ronan, noted So’s prior service on several city commissions and called her background an asset to the Planning Department. Supervisor Asha Safai asked how So would address internal barriers in the Planning Department that slow housing approvals; So said she would review organizational structures, identify interagency process bottlenecks and work with department staff and legislative aides to streamline approvals.
Multiple public commenters spoke in support. Tianna Hancey, calling in, said So had “a very unique skill set of understanding historic preservation” and transportation; Doug Chan, representing the Chinese Historical Society, highlighted So’s multidisciplinary experience. Rosa of Chinatown Community Development Center and Steven Li, a small business owner, also urged confirmation, citing community outreach and planning experience.
Chair Ronan moved to amend the motion text to remove the word “rejecting” and forward the nomination with a positive recommendation; the clerk recorded unanimous aye votes from Vice Chair Shamann Walton, Supervisor Asha Safai and Chair Ronan. The committee’s recommendation now goes to the full Board of Supervisors for final confirmation.
The Board is scheduled to consider items acted on by Rules on the May 7, 2024 agenda unless otherwise noted.
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