Supervisor motion to override mayor veto on dwelling‑unit protections continued to next meeting

The Board of Supervisors voted to continue consideration of a proposed override of Mayor Gavin Newsom's veto of an ordinance that would have required conditional‑use authorization for the elimination of existing dwelling units through mergers, conversions or demolition.

Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, sponsor of the original ordinance, urged colleagues to override the veto in order to protect existing affordable, rent‑controlled housing and to prevent what he called "de facto demolitions" driven by speculative alterations. "I think it does offer us an opportunity...to safeguard what is often phrased the most affordable housing in San Francisco because it already exists," McGoldrick said.

Several supervisors noted the matter required a supermajority to override the mayor and suggested delaying the vote until a full complement of supervisors could participate. Supervisor Tom Daley moved to continue the item to Jan. 13; the motion was seconded and the board voted 6 ayes and 4 noes to continue the item for one week.

Because the board was not at full complement — a vacancy existed after a supervisor's recent swearing‑in to the Superior Court — several members said they preferred to wait so that any override effort would include the full board. The clerk read the charter provision explaining that a yes vote would override the mayor's veto and a no vote would sustain it. The board did not take an override vote that day.

No formal override motion or vote was recorded; the item remains on the agenda for the board's next regular meeting on Jan. 13, 2009.