Sponsored link
Friday, July 18, 2025

Sponsored link

The year San Francisco fought back

By Tim Redmond

There was not a lot of good news for my city in 2013: Evictions soared, nonprofits were forced out, artists have become an endangered species … and everyone who doesn’t already own a place wakes up in the middle of the night wondering if the Ellis Act notice will arrive tomorrow and they’ll be forced to leave. (And no, Mr. Brown, it’s not okay to just toss the middle class over to Oakland.)

It’s been a bleak winter for anyone who isn’t rich or getting rich, and while the mayor has finally noticed and is talking about building affordable housing, that doesn’t do much good for the existing residents who are getting displaced. The new housing, in the best of circumstances, won’t be available for years. And in an affordability crisis, the most valuable housing is the rent-controlled property that already exists; every tenant who gets an Ellis Act eviction is one more person either leaving this place for good or competing for the small number of new affordable units. Every rental that is protected is one less tenant in the market – and all of those folks who love the free market should understand that.

But something has started to change: The San Francisco that was here before Twitter is fighting back. (more after the jump)

 

Marke B.
Marke B.
Marke Bieschke is the publisher and arts and culture editor of 48 Hills. He co-owns the Stud bar in SoMa. Reach him at marke (at) 48hills.org, follow @supermarke on Twitter.

48 Hills welcomes comments in the form of letters to the editor, which you can submit here. We also invite you to join the conversation on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Sponsored link

Sponsored link
Sponsored link

Latest

Good Taste: Shekoh Confections debuts in SF, with irresistible Persian bonbons

Shekoh Moossavi moved her otherworldly delights up from Palo Alto, offering young local chefs sweet opportunity.

Under the Stars: Giving jazz the juice again, Mr. Peterson?

Plus: Hip-Hop Fest sees RBL Posse's return, 'Woga' lives, Los Bitchos take GAMH—and do we really need a Four Tet Mazzy Star moment?

Scissor Sisters’ Babydaddy grows into a new ‘Nostalgia’

From EndUp dance floor to pop fame, musician Scott Hoffman now delves into the world of graphic novels.

Parks Alliance leaders accept no responsibility for the group’s scandal and collapse

Hearing shows a complete lack of internal or external oversight as community groups and the city lose millions

You might also likeRELATED