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Board of Supervisors adopts resolution opposing state senate bill 50 unless amended, sends duplicate file to committee
Summary
The board voted to adopt a resolution opposing California Senate Bill 50 in its current form unless amended and directed a duplicated file with specific amendments to the Government Audit & Oversight Committee for further work and drafting.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 9 adopted a resolution opposing California Senate Bill 50 — legislation authored by Senator Scott Wiener that would promote up‑zoning and greater density near transit — unless the state bill is amended to include stronger tenant protections, guarantees for affordable housing, and local authority safeguards.
Supervisor Hillary Ronen introduced the resolution and identified three core concerns cited by the board and community groups: SB50’s potential to accelerate displacement in vulnerable neighborhoods; the bill’s failure to guarantee that development incentives will produce affordable housing onsite; and the risk of diluting local planning authority.
The board then considered a separate motion by Supervisor Norman Yee (filed by Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer and substantially advanced by Supervisor Connie Chan’s colleagues) to duplicate the file and send a substantially more detailed set of amendment requests back to the Government Audit & Oversight (GAO) Committee for drafting and public vetting. Those proposed amendments, authored by Supervisor Shamann Walton’s staff and circulated at the dais, included items such as: preserving local demolition controls, increasing inclusionary requirements on projects using SB50 incentives, defining minimum project sizes, strengthening tenant protections and area‑plan processes for sensitive communities.
The board first voted to send the duplicated, amended file to GAO (11–0) and then voted 9–2 to adopt the original resolution opposing SB50 unless amended. Supervisors Rafael Mandelman and Matt Haney joined a majority of colleagues in urging both swift action and an aggressive amendment process; Supervisors Sandra Fewer and Norman Yee voiced support for working collaboratively with the state delegation. Supervisors Ahsha Safaí and Sandra Lee Fewer ultimately voted against the final motion to adopt item 29 as originally presented.
Supervisor Matt Haney described the issue as one of local planning authority and community benefits: “I want to commit myself … to make sure that we are moving forward increased housing production here locally, and doing it in a way that maximizes community benefits,” he said during debate.
The duplicate‑file motion will allow the board to develop a detailed package of proposed state‑level amendments that the city’s state legislative delegation and lobby team can carry to Sacramento. The adoption of the original resolution puts San Francisco on record as opposed to SB50 in its present form.
Votes at a glance - Motion to send duplicated file (with amendments) to GAO Committee: Approved 11–0. - Resolution opposing SB50 unless amended (item 29): Adopted 9–2 (Brown, Safaí dissenting).
