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Mayor London Breed warns conventions and businesses are wary; pledges to maintain fully funded tenant right‑to‑counsel program
Summary
Mayor London Breed told the Board of Supervisors that convention business and corporate decisions are being affected by rising concerns about public safety, homelessness and substance use. In a budget‑season exchange, Supervisor Preston asked the mayor to reaffirm city commitment to fully fund San Francisco's tenant right‑to‑counsel program; the
Mayor London Breed told the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 8 that San Francisco must act quickly on public safety and homelessness to retain conventions, business investment and visitors.
Speaking as part of a 2 p.m. special order, Breed said business leaders told her during a recent trip to Chicago, Washington and New York that, while they remain fond of San Francisco, "they have very real and legitimate concerns" about housing affordability, property and violent crime, and substance use and homelessness. "We need to be competitive, and that means a commitment to really address our problems," the mayor said, noting the financial importance of convention business and visitor spending to the city.
Mayor's remarks and budget season questions
Supervisor Dean Preston used the mayoral appearance to ask a budget question about the city's tenant right‑to‑counsel program, which guarantees free legal representation to tenants who receive eviction notices. Preston noted prior studies and city data indicating the program substantially increases tenants' chances of remaining housed, and that it helped limit displacement among Black residents.
Mayor Breed responded that the program "is already fully funded" in the current budget and said she is committed to maintaining funding. "When people have legal representation...the ability to keep them in their homes has to be a part of our solutions in addressing homelessness," Breed said.
Why it matters: The mayor tied public safety and homelessness work to the city's broader economic health — including hotel and convention bookings — and the Board of Supervisors is entering the budget season where such programs, and their funding levels, will be negotiated.
Quotations: "Some form of work from home is here to stay...we need to be competitive," Breed said. On tenant legal services, the mayor said: "I'm committed to this program and I'm committed to seeing it continue to be fully funded." Supervisor Preston said the program has been "one of the most powerful tools to stop the displacement of African Americans."
