Supervisors introduce competing charter amendments on housing, elections, schools and pensions ahead of November ballot

At the May 24 San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting, multiple supervisors introduced charter amendments and resolutions addressing housing policy, election timing, school funding, library funding and retiree supplemental cost-of-living adjustments.

Affordable housing: Supervisor Chan introduced the Affordable Housing Production Act, which would accelerate affordable housing projects by waiving California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and discretionary review for qualifying 100% affordable developments capped at a maximum of 120% area median income (Chan noted that 120% AMI equates to roughly $160,000 for a family of four). The measure would require two- and three-bedroom units and prevailing wages with a skilled-and-trained workforce requirement. Supervisor Preston separately introduced a charter amendment to create a seven-member commission to oversee the successor to the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development, citing a projected funding gap the board was told could reach $1.3 billion in 2023 and $2.4 billion in later years.

Voter participation: Supervisor Preston introduced a voter-participation charter amendment to move local odd-year elections to even years, citing turnout comparisons (41% in Nov. 2019 vs. 86% in Nov. 2020) and arguing higher turnout benefits underrepresented voters.

School funding: Supervisor Ronan introduced the "Back on Track Student Success Fund," a charter amendment to set aside $70 million from identified local revenue (EREF) for school-site driven interventions to address COVID-era learning loss and persistent achievement gaps. Ronan said the fund would allow site councils to tailor interventions and would prioritize equity for schools with fewer fundraising resources.

Library preservation and retiree COLA: Supervisor Safaie introduced a charter amendment to renew the Library Preservation Fund for 25 years to support operations and capital needs. Safaie also introduced a measure to restore a supplemental cost-of-living adjustment for certain retirees going forward (prospective only; no retroactive payout) that staff estimated would cost about $5.9 million annually for roughly 10 years and would primarily benefit lower-income retirees (the sponsor cited roughly 4,400 members in the affected group).

Context and next steps: Several supervisors noted competing or complementary measures are being prepared for the November ballot, and the board will consider referrals, committee hearings and potential consolidation or conflicts as legislation proceeds. Multiple members asked that competing measures not be placed on the ballot in a way that would confuse voters; debate and details will be worked out in committee and through the legislative process.

Why it matters: Housing measures proposing waivers of discretionary review or CEQA and measures that change affordable requirements, labor standards, or funding priorities can shape which projects get built and how quickly, with direct effects on housing production, neighborhood composition and local labor markets. Measures concerning election timing, school funding and retiree benefits have broad civic consequences and budgetary implications.