The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Land Use and Economic Development Committee was scheduled to vote today on legislation that will potentially allow some TIC homeowners to bypass the condo lottery and pay a one-time fee to complete their unit’s conversion. As is typical with any legislation that affects homeowners and tenants, the issue is controversial.
And the vote has been delayed by a month, as Supervisor Mark Farrell reportedly wants additional time to talk with tenants’ rights groups.
I am, of course, a homeownership advocate (and former renter). And there are two sides to every issue. But I’m thinking that there’s something to this TIC legislation that should be able to work. In a city where two-thirds of all residents are renters—and property taxes help subsidize many things here—the Board of Supervisors should take a balanced view of the condo conversion issue and update its position so we don’t have a bunch of homeowners languishing in the lottery.
Check out the story (with link to the original audio broadcast) here: “San Francisco Struggles With Decision That Could Help Some Homeowners—And Hurt Renters.”