The headbutting of District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin’s preservationism against Mayor Breed’s ‘build baby, build’ philosophy on SF housing will, no doubt, be a point of contention.
As far as City supervisors go, there are far worse, spineless members on the board than Aaron Peskin. (We’re looking at you, Rafael Mandelman and Joel Engardio.)
Amid SF Mayor Breed’s abysmal approval ratings — a February survey conducted by the San Francisco Chronicle showed that 42% of voting San Franciscans strongly disapproved of Breed’s performance — the 2024 San Francisco mayoral race is heating up. Philanthropist Daniel Lurie, Supervisor Ahsha Safa, and former interim Mayor Mark Farrell have all placed their bids to become SF’s 46th mayor.
The worst kept secret in #SanFrancisco. Now everyone knows that @AaronPeskin is running for mayor. pic.twitter.com/0qDogq7jmy
— Lyanne Melendez (@LyanneMelendez) April 4, 2024
Peskin’s entry into the mix — the “worst kept secret in San Francisco,” as many have cheekily called — might be the most interesting. potentially tumultuous addition yet. Mayor Breed’s ongoing tension with the SF Board of Supervisors, particularly over housing and police budgeting policies and assertions, is well documented. Peskin sits as the acting president of the board; his entrance into the race is like a subversive middle finger to Mayor Breed.
Peskin, who represents District 3 — an area that encompasses North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Union Square, and the Financial District — told Axios this week that he believes in developing “compromise and consensus” to “move large and small pieces of policy forward.”
Peskin also revealed to Axios he thinks Mayor Breeds homogenous answers to dealing with SF’s housing issues are lacking — “the mayor believes in a one-size-fits-all solution, whereas I believe that the archipelago of neighborhoods and cultural districts that make San Francisco so rich need to be treated carefully.”
But it’s Peskin’s latter stance on creating more lodging that has made him a target for NIMBYism.
Happy 39th Anniversary to the @GLBTHistory family of committed artists, cultural preservationists & big vision planners who are carving out space for a permanent building for the GLBT Historical Society to make it mark in perpetuity. Thank you for sticking through this long haul! pic.twitter.com/rLSG9m6ohW
— Aaron Peskin (@AaronPeskin) April 4, 2024
Peskin’s oft-described moniker as a preservationist has remained intact for years, regularly siding neighborhood groups in blocking specific construction proposals — especially on the waterfront and in historic districts — claiming that the suggested structures, most of which would be high-density residential buildings that would help SF’s goal of building 80,000 housing units by 2030, would impact the quality of life in these areas. Peskin’s anti-housing stances have left both developers and landlords miffed; Peskin sued to stop the redevelopment of Treasure Island, the lawsuit ballooning into a three-year construction delay.
Peskin, too, had a hand in blocking the construction of 136 condos at 8 Washington Street near SF’s Ferry Building, helping kill what would’ve been a 430-condo tower at 555 Washington Street.
A recent profile in the San Francisco Chronicle describing Perskin’s NIMBY leanings shared an interview conducted with former City Planning Director John Rahaij.
“He really tried to limit new development in his district, but he was fairly supportive of the large-scale development outside of his district,” Rahaim said, spotlighting his dichotomous stance on developing new housing in San Francisco. “I remember having a conversation in 2009 or 2010 where he basically said he didn’t oppose stuff South of Market.”
Rahaim also stated that his biggest struggles with Aaron were “over the small stuff in Telegraph Hill or North Beach.”
“It was additions to people’s houses, or a business trying to move in,” Rahaim continued. “He was just super protective.” But that protection here connotes a want to safeguard his district’s rich history… even if it comes at the expense of reaching SF’s lofty housing goal in the future.
Months ago, Mayor Breed swore she’d fight any “anti-housing legislation.” However, Peskin’s voting history and support have skewed more toward pro-neighborhood.
With San Francisco housing stock expected to face increased pressure as the city’s prominence as an AI capital grows, Peskin’s NIMBYism and Breed’s YIMBYism will, without question, play a divisive role in SF’s 2024 mayoral race.
Feature image: San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin Pics from birthday/going away party for Shelley Bradford Bell | Photo by Harrison Chastang
