Your voice is urgently needed. The Board of Supervisors faces a critical decision regarding the city's eight-year housing plan—called the housing element—to accommodate 82,000 new homes by 2031. Last week, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) told the Board's land use committee to pass Mayor London Breed's landmark housing element implementation law in 30 days. If the supervisors refuse, they risk the possibility of HCD revoking San Francisco's eligibility for affordable housing grant funds.

Supervisor Myrna Melgar, who chairs the Board’s land use committee, is putting San Francisco on a dangerous road by pushing back against HCD. In a recent San Francisco Standard article, Melgar called HCD's instructions “political noise.” She claims that HCD is misinterpreting the committee's amendments, which watered down Mayor Breed's bill and contravene the goals of the housing element.

It's alarming to see such dismissive attitudes towards feedback that is meant to address our city's pressing housing needs. HCD's recently published Housing Policy and Practice Review report outlines concrete steps San Francisco needs to take and warned San Francisco that there will be consequences if changes are not made. If the Board of Supervisors fails to act, San Francisco will lose affordable housing and transit funds it desperately needs. Send a pre-written letter now to prevent that.

After that, give public comment at City Hall Room 250 at 1:30 PM on Monday, October 30. The meeting agenda can be found here.

If you live in Districts 3, 5, 7, or 8, please also give your district supervisor a call and ask them to fix the Constraints Reduction Ordinance! Find your supervisor using this link.

District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin: (415) 554-7450

District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston: (415) 554-7630

District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar: (415) 554-6516

District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman: (415) 554-6968

Demand that the land use committee to listen to HCD. Hundreds of millions of dollars in critical funding may depend on this bill. Your letter could make the difference.