Proposition E, a ballot initiative up for vote in San Francisco in May, is one of the most radical planning positions in recent years, attempting to reduce housing costs by limiting housing demand.

Joe Eskenazi reports on a game-changing proposition on the ballot in San Francisco in March, called Proposition E, which will cap the amount of office space the city can construct based on whether the city meets state-mandated affordable housing targets.
As noted by Eskenazi, Proposition E expands the powers of Proposition M, which the city approved in 1986 to cap the amount of office space in the city.
Prop. E would take things further. It would directly tie the amount of office space this city can construct to the amount of affordable housing it produces. And if the city comes up short on the latter — as it almost always does — then it will be proportionally restricted on the former.
According to Eskenazi, it's hard to imagine a San Francisco where the ballot initiative fails. "San Francisco’s electorate in March of 2020 would arguably vote for 'less office space' even without the 'more affordable housing' tie-in." The question then becomes what will happen if and when the city approves the proposition. The mayor's office is making the case that the proposition would reduce office construction and "bleed away fees intended for affordable housing." Proposition supporters point to a 2019 study that found that "fees for affordable housing reaped via the construction of office space are actually dwarfed by the affordable housing needs induced by that office space," writes Eskenazi [emphasis from the original].
A follow up article by Sarah Holder and Kriston Capps picks up on the same questions about whether the proposition will help or hurt the city's housing affordability crunch.
FULL STORY: Proposition E, barring unforeseen lunacy, will pass — handily. But then what?

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie