SF YIMBY throws support behind Mayor London Breed’s re-election

A San Francisco chapter of YIMBY Action will push to re-elect Mayor London Breed, who has trumpeted her commitment to new housing.

The local chapter of the Oakland-based housing advocacy nonprofit has decided to back Breed in her mayoral race against four challengers in November, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Breed has long been a champion of the yes-in-my-backyard movement and has strong allies who share her views on housing.

Jane Natoli, the San Francisco organizing director for YIMBY Action, said the nonprofit  endorsed Breed because she’ has been consistent in her approach to housing policy. 

She pointed to Breed’s having teamed up with state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, a prominent YIMBY advocate, on bills he authored to spur housing construction across the state.

Breed had also been “very receptive to feedback” from YIMBY Action as the city was putting together its state-mandated plan for 82,000 new homes by 2031, Natoli said.

“She’s been walking the walk. She’s been putting it in a lot of the work,” Natoli told the Chronicle. “It does not mean every effort has been successful, obviously we know that.

“But in terms of the depth and breadth of initiatives that she’s put forward — she’s been in the trenches doing this for the past six years, and people strongly appreciated that.” 

Natoli said the SF YIMBY Action chapter has not decided whether it will grant a second- or third-choice endorsement in the mayoral race.

Getting support from YIMBY Action was a boon for Breed after she saw opponents win two key endorsements.

Last week, the board of Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy cast its endorsement to Mark Farrell and Daniel Lurie, a nonprofit founder and Levi Strauss heir running for mayor, while telling supporters to rank Breed third, according to the Chronicle. 

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Then the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, which had backed Breed during her 2018 and 2019 campaigns, endorsed Farrell and Supervisor Ahsha Safaí for mayor. 

Several months ago, a separate alliance of large construction unions, including the Nor Cal Carpenters Union and two other labor groups, endorsed Breed because of her record on housing.

The winner of the crowded mayor’s race may come down to how San Francisco voters feel about the wedge issue of housing — including those who favor a push for dense development and opponents who fear its impact on historic neighborhoods and buildings.

— Dana Bartholomew