The GrowSF Report: Berkeley NIMBYs tell 3,000 students to go away

And, Chesa Boudin releases data: Convictions down, diversions up

Mar 05, 2022

What You Need To Know

Here’s what happened around the city for the week of February 27, 2022:

- Berkeley NIMBYs tell 3,000 students to go away
- Mid-Market revitalization in full swing
- More police quit SFPD, worsening officer shortage
- President Biden says “fund the police”
- Chesa Boudin releases data: Convictions down, diversions up

Berkeley NIMBYs tell 3,000 students to go away

3,000 would-be students at UC Berkeley won’t be able to attend their dream school due to a lawsuit from Berkeley NIMBYs. A group called “Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods” claimed that Cal shouldn’t be allowed to admit them because there’s not enough student housing.

So rather than doing the obvious (building more housing), progressive Berkeley is telling kids to stay away.

What have NIMBYs “saved” when they won’t make room for a new generation? No one can live forever in their neighborhoods preserved in amber. Everyone is mortal — even NIMBYs. You can’t take it with you.

Mid-Market revitalization in full swing

Slowly, but surely, new housing in the mid-Market area is coming online and getting sold or rented. The Chronicle reports how this new housing is meant to revitalize a long neglected stretch of Market Street downtown:

“At Prism, a 193-unit complex at 1028 Market St., 36 units have leased since it opened about six weeks ago. Next door, the 301-unit 50 Jones St., which debuted during the darkest days of the pandemic, is now about 85% leased. A block to the east, the traffic of potential buyers to the Serif condos at 950 Market St. has doubled since February as COVID cases started to drop. About 50 condos out of 242 have sold there.”

More police quit SFPD, worsening officer shortage

SFPD has a shortage of over 500 officers, according to an independent study.

When Mayor London Breed withdrew her request for nearly $8 million in overtime funding for the police department, it was an ominous sign that the SFPD staff shortage is worsening. So many officers quit in January that all the savings on those salaries can now be used to fund the extra overtime needed for the officers that remain.

The situation is untenable.

President Biden says “fund the police”

GrowSF agrees with President Biden’s view on police funding.

Biden’s remarks at the 2022 State of the Union address were applauded by San Francisco’s hometown team: Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“I know what works — investing in crime prevention and community police officers who’ll walk the beat, who’ll know the neighborhood, and who can restore trust and safety. So let’s not abandon our streets. Or choose between safety and equal justice. Let’s come together to protect our communities, restore trust, and hold law enforcement accountable. We should all agree: The answer is not to defund the police. The answer is to fund the police with the resources and training they need to protect our communities.”
- President Biden

Chesa Boudin releases data: Convictions down, diversions up

After pressure from public records requests by multiple media outlets and community groups (including GrowSF’s Joel Engardio), Boudin finally released some of his data. The Chronicle reports the data show a decline in convictions and a rise in diversion programs since Boudin took office two years ago.

What this means for criminal justice reform is still uncertain. Stay tuned to the GrowSF report for future analysis.

Your Action Plan

Now that you know what’s happening, help us shape what happens next:

Run for office

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GrowSF needs good people to sit on city commissions, get involved with their neighborhood groups, and run for office. Fill out this form to tell us a bit about yourself and what you're interested in.

We'll reach out as opportunities arise!

Happy Hour Tuesday

Join GrowSF volunteers at The Orbit Room for a happy hour on Tuesday, March 8th from 6 to 8:30pm

RSVP for the GrowSF Happy Hour

Celebrate San Francisco

There’s a lot to love about our city. Here’s what makes it great:

Flower Bulb Day at Union Square

Flower Bulb Day is coming to America!

Come to Union Square on March 5, 2022 for a colorful display of more than 100,000 tulips. You’re invited to visit the square and pick your own bunch of tulips.

Repurposed Garages

The pandemic has led some San Franciscans to revitalize their garage into workshops, studios, and small businesses. But it’s not all puppy dogs and roses: our backwards zoning laws and onerous permitting bureaucracy turn many entrepreneurs into outlaws.