San Francisco Mayor Promises Ambitious Housing Goals

The Mayor of San Francisco has announced plans to vastly expand housing development in the city. Mayor Gavin Newsom proposes 15,000 new housing units, 1/3 of them below market-rate. The departments of Planning and Building Inspection would be expanded by 59 new positions, and the permit process would be streamlined. The Planning Department currently has a 24,000 permit backlog. The development community is skeptical that the 15,000 target can be reached--especially that number of affordable units.