2024 General Election

One might assume that the Supervisor representing wealthy neighborhoods like Pacific Heights and the Marina would be a NIMBY against housing. However, we are excited to endorse Supervisor Catherine Stefani who far exceeds expectations. While she may not be the loudest pro-housing voice, Supervisor Stefani stands for the rule of law and consistent standards applied to housing. Although the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is majority anti-housing, Catherine Stefani has bravely voted for housing projects and against baseless appeals. She voted in support of headline housing projects like 469 Stevenson Street (the Nordstrom parking lot project) and 1151 Washington Street.

We expect Catherine Stefani to continue her pro-housing goals in the Assembly, a body that is much more supportive of housing. She explicitly supports more housing in her Assembly District. She also writes unambiguously in our questionnaire “we need to prioritize building all types of housing in exclusionary communities.” Further, she writes “I am also committed to ensuring that cities and counties across the state do their fair share in terms of building housing, and if they don’t, hold them accountable through closing loopholes within the Housing Accountability Act. “

We encourage Supervisor Stefani to sponsor legislation in the Assembly that aligns with her good-governance ethos, such as strengthening the Housing Accountability Act where it may conflict with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Marc Berman is a proud, full-throated supporter of landmark housing legislation to end exclusionary zoning. With roots in Palo Alto, Assemblymember Berman understands that it is not sustainable for communities to keep saying ‘no’ to new housing as the housing crisis continues. Assemblymember Berman believes in supporting cities to build the homes their communities so desperately need.

Assemblymember Berman has supported and co-authored bills that generate new funding for affordable housing, that streamline the approval process of certain urban infill projects, and that set baseline standards for zoning. With his in-depth technical expertise and legislative skill, Assemblymember Berman is helping the state make huge strides in ending the housing crisis.

Scott Wiener continues to be an exemplary leader on housing. He has passed numerous bills in the recent session, including SB423, extending and expanding upon one of the most productive affordable housing bills of the past decade, SB35, as well as SB4 (YIGBY), which will allow for affordable housing on religious properties, opening up tens of thousands of acres for new housing. We are also now seeing the dividends of his early work to strengthen state law and put teeth into the RHNA process by strengthening the Housing Element process, meaning jurisdictions all over California have to build the housing they say they will or face consequences from the state.

We support Prop 5 because we support more funding for affordable housing. Prop 5 would make it easier for local governments to raise money for affordable housing by allowing bonds to pass with 55% of the vote. This will make it easier for the state legislature to pass bills that fund housing and critical public infrastructure. We wholeheartedly support this effort.

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We oppose Prop 33 because it would allow NIMBY cities to completely block new housing, driving up the cost of housing for everyone over the long term.

Prop 33 would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, a 1995 state law that generally prevents local governments from limiting what landlords can charge new tenants when they first move in. It also prevents cities from limiting rent increases that existing tenants can be charged in housing built on or after Feb. 1, 1995.

YIMBY Action has supported measures that would curb dramatic year-over-year increases in rent, such as the 2019 anti-rent gouging measure in the CA Legislature (AB 1482). But Prop 33 is poorly written and will allow wealthy cities to block new affordable homes from being built.

Prop 33 blocks the state from putting any reasonable checks on local rent control policies, allowing local governments to “maintain, enact or expand residential rent control.” This is a recipe for systemic denial of new housing because wealthy cities constantly look for ways to avoid building more homes. We can already see what anti-housing jurisdictions are planning, for example Former Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland has already openly stated that he’s excited for this measure because it will allow them to block new homes.

We oppose Prop 33 because it is poorly written and will give wealthy communities a powerful tool to block housing all income levels.

Katie serves on Palo Alto's Human Relations Commission and works as a Community Organizer at the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition. With a background in nonprofits and community service, she is well-equipped to serve as a councilmember and help foster an inclusive community with safe streets and stable homes. Katie is committed to building more housing for all and in particular for our most vulnerable neighbors.

George Lu is a fierce advocate for housing and transit, in one of the most stubbornly anti-housing cities on the Peninsula. We wholeheartedly support him.

Nicole would be a solid pro-housing vote on the San Mateo City Council. She is a career public servant, having previously served her community working on elder abuse prevention with San Mateo County Adult Protective Services. She also is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Samaritan House–the largest anti-poverty nonprofit in San Mateo County.

Dr. Charles Hansen would be a good pro-housing vote on the San Mateo City Council. He has committed to fighting for more housing throughout the city and opposing the historic district in Baywood.

We support Measure T because it would zone for and incentivize over 19,000 new homes in San Mateo.

Phoebe Shin Venkat is a fierce housing advocate! She'll bring us together to help make Foster City an equitable place to live and thrive – for all generations and backgrounds. Phoebe will focus on workforce housing to help teachers, first responders, and public employees live where they work. As a domestic violence survivor, Phoebe has lived experience in how the lack of safe and affordable housing impacts the most vulnerable in our communities. While presently serving as a Planning Commissioner, Phoebe has a strong track record of data-driven decision making that leads to equitable outcomes.

Councilmember Mark Nagales has repeatedly stood up for new housing, including in the face of strong opposition, and is a strong supporter of more equitable, more efficient public transit.

Mayor James Coleman is a strong progressive YIMBY. A champion of social housing and tenant rights, Mayor Coleman ensured South San Francisco is one of the few Bay Area cities to hold a pro-housing designation. Mayor Coleman has been a champion of multiplex housing across South San Francisco. He roots his pro-housing policies in the personal stories and connections of his family and neighbors, and wants all South San Francisco residents to have a place to call home.

Harvey Rarback has stood up for housing multiple times, in the face of opposition. He recently supported new farmworker housing in Half Moon Bay, and asked the Board of Supervisors to give more money for affordable housing throughout the County. He is a stalwart housing champion and deserves your vote.

Councilmember Elmer Martinez Saballos brings significant experience to his pro-housing work. He has spent his career bringing Redwood City to the front of the housing pack in San Mateo County. Redwood City is one of the few Bay Area cities with a pro-housing designation. His time spent on Redwood City's Planning Commission and City Council has been marketed with pushes for the City to do more to build more housing through various policies and city plans. Councilmember Martinez Saballos is not afraid to champion pro-housing issues!

Vice Mayor Lissette Espinoza-Garnica has pushed Redwood City to be the next city of social housing! Councilmember Lissette highlights upzoning and multiplexes in wealthier parts of Redwood City as a top priority. During their time on Council, Redwood City has received a pro-housing designation and is home to the most amount of Project Homekey shelters and transitional homes in San Mateo County!

Isabella Chu is a champion for equitable, walkable, vibrant urban areas as the founder of Redwood City Forward. She supports policies that will end exclusionary zoning, mix uses across the city, and prioritize the safety and convenience of pedestrians and bicyclists, breaking our region’s reliance on automobiles. Isabella’s career as a public health advocate is likewise crucial for strong local governance during a pandemic, and electing her to the Council would make Redwood City a stronger, healthier, more resilient community.