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San Francisco supervisors order ballot measure to tax vacant ground‑floor storefronts
Summary
At a Nov. 21, 2019 special meeting the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 8–0 (with three excused) to place a March 3, 2020 ballot measure asking voters to authorize an excise tax on vacant ground‑floor commercial space in certain neighborhood commercial and neighborhood commercial transit districts to fund small‑business assistance.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted at a Nov. 21, 2019 special meeting to place a ballot measure on the March 3, 2020 election that would allow the city to impose an excise tax on persons keeping ground‑floor commercial space vacant in certain neighborhood commercial districts and neighborhood commercial transit districts to fund assistance to small businesses.
Supporters argued the measure was needed after prior efforts had not solved persistent storefront vacancy. A supervisor said the board had tried other approaches, including allowing some conversions of commercial space to residential uses or family childcare businesses, but that those options had not produced the desired results. The transcript did not specify the proposed tax rate, exact district boundaries, or exemptions.
The ordinance under consideration would amend the Business and Tax Regulations Code and the Administrative Code to create the excise tax and direct revenue to small‑business assistance, according to the agenda item. The motion before the board ordered the measure submitted to the voters at the March 3, 2020 election; the text of the ordinance and details about exemptions or rates were not specified in the meeting record.
On the roll call vote the following supervisors were recorded as voting yes: Supervisor Haney; Supervisor Mar; Supervisor Ronen; Supervisor Safaie; Supervisor Walton; Supervisor Yi; Supervisor Brown; and Supervisor YeeFeuer (recorded as Feuer). Three supervisors were recorded as absent and excused: Supervisor Mandelman, Supervisor Peskin, and Supervisor Stefani. The clerk recorded the tally as eight yes votes and the chair declared the motion passed and the measure ordered to the ballot.
There were no public comments on the item at the special meeting. The board concluded its business and adjourned the session. The transcript shows the meeting was closed with a Thanksgiving holiday greeting.
