REP-SF Planning to the People Newsletter: Dec. 2025
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Our REP-SF Planning to the People newsletter provides the latest news and ways to take action on behalf of grassroots communities for housing justice and equitable city planning – all in one place! Read our full newsletter here!
We're excited to share our new blog post reflecting on our advocacy and impact in 2025! To all of our REP-SF family: Thank you for your unwavering advocacy, dedication, and solidarity. Our power has always come from all of us working in coalition. Thank you for showing up, speaking out, and building collective power. Together, we will continue to work towards a future where planning and land use decisions are made by and for the people!
In community,
The REP-SF Team
Race & Equity in all Planning Coalition
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REP-SF Blog: Reflecting on Our 2025 Advocacy & Impact
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As we approach the end of 2025, the REP-SF coalition is reflecting on our advocacy and impact throughout this past year of organizing, and looking ahead as we continue the fight for housing justice and equity in land use. We are proud to uplift the important wins and success stories of our communities across San Francisco.
2025 has been a year of deep collaboration and powerful, community-driven advocacy. From proposing empowering alternatives to the Mayor’s dangerous upzoning plan to advancing stronger tenant protections, the progress we’ve made together shows what’s possible when we organize across neighborhoods, communities, and movements.
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Advocacy Updates & Press Releases: Upzoning & TPO
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The Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 2 marked a significant milestone in the REP-SF coalition's 5-year-long battle to make a difference with the City's Housing Element and its implementation. We've made real progress!
While the Board approved Mayor Lurie's upzoning plan, the vote was 7-4. Not only were there 4 dissenting votes, but each of those four, Supervisors Chan, Walton, Chen, & Fielder, made strong, compelling remarks that reflected REP-SF's values and advocacy. Supervisor Fielder even acknowledged REP-SF & SF Anti-Displacement Coalition (SFADC).
Supervisor Chan took the bold step of making a motion to further amend the upzoning by removing all rent-controlled properties, regardless of the number of units, from the Mayor's "local program." She also said that even if her amendment were approved, she still would vote against the upzoning. It was a very strong statement that set the tone for the rest of the conversation that followed. Read more in 48Hills and the SF Chronicle.
During the Board meeting, Supervisor Melgar also introduced a resolution that will call on the State to amend SB 330, the Housing Crisis Act, so we can eventually amend the Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO) to provide more rights for tenants.
We've achieved a lot together and have set the stage for significant victories to come! REP-SF will continue to push for protections for tenants and advance our vision of a more equitable and affordable city. We will be working on significant ballot measure campaigns in 2026! Email info@repsf.org to stay up to date and get involved!
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REP-SF Urges Board of Supervisors to Reject Mayor’s Upzoning Plan: REP-SF urged the Board of Supervisors to reject the Mayor's upzoning plan, ahead of the Dec. 2 vote. For several months, the REP-SF coalition has been advocating for significant changes to the "Family Zoning Plan," including a real commitment to truly affordable housing, and moving forward the equity-related provisions of the Housing Element that have been ignored, many of which are now past due. Unfortunately, we are now forced to demand that the Board reject or significantly amend the "Family Zoning Plan."
Community Demands Stronger Protections from Demolitions & Displacement: On Nov. 17, REP-SF and our allies demanded stronger protections from demolitions and displacement at an important hearing at the Board of Supervisors’ Land Use Committee on Supervisor Chyanne Chen’s Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO) and the Mayor's upzoning plan.
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Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO) Hearing at SF Planning Commission: On Nov. 6, REP-SF, SFADC, and our allies spoke at the Planning Commission in support of Supervisor Chyanne Chen’s TPO – legislation to create, clarify, and implement systems of support for tenants that have become necessary because of state laws and local programs that put tenants at increasing risk of displacement. We are grateful to Supervisor Chen, Charlie Sciammas from the D11 office, Supervisor Melgar, Jennifer Fieber from the D7 office, and Malena Leon-Farrera from SF Planning for working collaboratively with us and for all their hard work to get the TPO every day closer to being the strongest TPO possible within the limitations of state law.
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Rich Family Zoning Plan delayed again as data shows it will not lower rents, 48Hills, Nov. 4, 2025: REP-SF featured! 48Hills wrote about our advocacy in opposition to the Mayor's upzoning plan. The article about the upzoning hearing at the Nov. 3 Board of Supervisors’ Land Use Committee features quotes from our REP-SF members Jeantelle Laberinto, Fred Sherburn-Zimmer (HRCSF), Justin Dolezal (Small Business Forward), and Emily Mock (CPASF).
With a 'heavy heart,' tenant protections move forward at Planning Commission, 48Hills, Nov. 9, 2025: REP-SF featured! 48Hills wrote about our advocacy around Supervisor Chen's Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO). The article about the Nov. 6 TPO hearing at the Planning Commission features quotes from REP-SF & SF Anti-Displacement Coalition (SFADC)'s letter to the Planning Commission & Board of Supervisors: "We are focused on ensuring the TPO provides the greatest possible protections to tenants under existing laws."
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Build Power for Housing Justice!
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Over the last year, the REP-SF coalition has achieved significant strides toward our vision of housing justice and equity in land use! Your support makes it possible for us to continue this critical work. Your contribution today will directly support our efforts on: citywide collective action, policy change, political education, and narrative change. Your support will help us continue to build power for housing justice in 2026 and beyond! Together, we can create a future where planning and land use are in the hands of the people.
P.S. Your gift before December 31st is tax-deductible for 2025. People Power Media staffs the REP-SF coalition and is a registered 501(c)(3). Thank you for being part of the movement!
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Dec. 16: Rally & Board of Education Hearing: Stop School Closures: Reject Misleading "Strong Schools" Resolution
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Tuesday, Dec. 16: 5 pm Rally & Press Conference; 6–8:30 pm Public Comment at SFUSD Board of Education: Show up. Speak out! REP-SF is a member of the Small Schools Coalition, a coalition of parents, students, educators, administrators, & community members across SF organizing to protect our public schools. Join us on Dec. 16 to urge the Board of Education to reject the misleading “Strong Schools” resolution! SFUSD is asking the Board to approve a 7-month timeline to design school closures and consolidations — while telling families “closures aren’t part of the budget.” These can’t both be true. We’ve seen this before. Last year's Resource Alignment Initiative (RAI 1.0) destabilized schools, pushed families out, and worsened enrollment. Now the district is repeating the same mistakes — only faster, with no real transparency, no clear engagement plan, & no accountability.
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Youth MOJO Housing Justice Call-to-Action Card
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Are you age 13-24, live in San Francisco, and care about housing affordability? REP-SF member Chinese Progressive Association (CPA)'s Youth MOJO is currently collecting call-to-action cards to understand youths’ position on the current housing situation in SF. We want for there to be truly affordable housing in this city because our and our families’ futures depend on it! Will you take 5 min to fill out this form AND send to a friend? bit.ly/mojocard Forms available in English, Spanish, and Chinese!
Tina's Story: “During a time where we had to collect bottles and cans just to get by, my family used to live in a single tiny unit on Irving. It was cramped, never meant to be crammed with five people. Still, it was an important point of stability. We need more affordable housing; but, that can’t come at the cost of our communities. Upzoning, WITHOUT strong tenant protections and WITHOUT a solid focus on real affordability, will lead to working-class communities being priced out of their homes as land values rise. Our city needs to protect and prioritize the voices of tenants, of youth, and working families. Our city needs truly affordable family-sized housing for working-class families. And our city does not need the unaffordable market-rate units that this ‘family upzoning plan’ will introduce,” said Tina, a 12th grader in San Francisco and a youth leader at CPA.
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Support the Affordable Rent Act!
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As a San Francisco tenant, if you live in a building that is not covered under rent control, did you know that you benefit from statewide rent control? Rent increases in California are limited to 10% per year, but that could end! The Affordable Rent Act (AB 1157) makes these limits on rent increases permanent and lowers the cap from 10% to 5%, which would make the statewide cap closer to SF's rent control cap on rent increases. Do you support stronger renter protections? Call your representative & sign SFADC's petition: bit.ly/SF1157 To learn more, watch this video created by REP-SF member South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN).
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Support the Affordable California Campaign
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Do you think rent in California is too high? Join REP-SF, SOMCAN, & SFADC in supporting six bills that will protect renters and promote affordable housing. Check out our slide deck to learn more about the Affordable CA policy campaign! Call your CA State representative and tell them that if they support tenants, they will support these bills!
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REP-SF Members: Community Heroes
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KALW Live Town Hall on Upzoning
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On Nov. 12, REP-SF members Sharon Ng of Chinatown Community Development Center (Chinatown CDC) & Fred Sherburn-Zimmer of Housing Rights Committee (HRCSF) participated in a live town hall conversation about Mayor Lurie’s upzoning plan, hosted by KALW Public Media and SF Public Press. Sharon and Fred highlighted the dangers of the upzoning plan, which will increase speculation and accelerate the displacement of tenants and small businesses across the city. They highlighted the need to protect tenants, support small businesses, and prioritize truly affordable housing. And they shut down disinformation from developer lobbyists on the panel in real-time! Listen to the full conversation!
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SF Youth Commission Honors Coleman Advocates
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On Nov. 4, the San Francisco Youth Commission honored REP-SF member Coleman Advocates for their 50 years of continuous advocacy for marginalized and underrepresented youth! Congratulations, Coleman Advocates! Watch Coleman's video!
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TNDC Celebrates 100% Affordable Housing in the Inner Richmond
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On Nov. 17, REP-SF member Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) celebrated the grand opening of 383 6th Ave! This building is 100% affordable housing dedicated to housing older adults, including veterans and previously unhoused seniors. This is the kind of truly affordable housing our communities fight for, need, and continue to build in San Francisco!
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HRCSF South East Tenant Association (SETA) Victories!
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Union at Home Tenant Organizing Toolkit Launch
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San Francisco made history as one of the first cities in the nation to recognize a Right to Organize in your building through the Union at Home ordinance. Now, REP-SF members SFADC and the San Francisco Community Land Trust (SFCLT) teamed up to launch the Union at Home Tenant Organizing Toolkit – a resource to help tenants form more unions, build collective power, and take the next step toward community ownership. On Nov. 8, SFADC and SFCLT celebrated the release of the Union At Home Tenant Organizing Toolkit as tenants from the buildings they work with shared their powerful stories of what organizing together can win!
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Chinatown CDC Launches New Food Voucher Program
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REP-SF member organization Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC) was recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle for its leadership on a new food voucher program, launched on Oct. 24 in anticipation of SNAP benefits expiration. CCDC began distributing a total of $40,000 in first-round funds through Feb. 24 to families with children under the age of 18 living in Chinatown single-room-occupancy units who apply. They can use the vouchers at any of the eight participating Chinatown grocery stores.
“SNAP cuts are not just affecting an individual or one family. It also affects the local economy because all of these small businesses are being impacted," said Sandy Jiang, a community organizing supervisor at CCDC who is overseeing the Courage to Care food voucher program. “Families have been sharing with me that they can’t sleep. They just are really anxious about what’s going to happen to them."
On Nov. 19, CCDC's Resident Services team also hosted its annual turkey giveaway, where residents of the Ping Yuen affordable housing sites received whole frozen turkeys and bags of canned goods ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Volunteers from the Ping Yuen Residents Improvement Association (PYRIA) helped run the event.
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Dec. 13: 23rd Annual Parol Lantern Festival
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Saturday, December 13, 3–8 pm | Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (701 Mission St.)
The 23rd Annual Parol Lantern Festival & Parade returns to light up the heart of SOMA Pilipinas with hope, joy, and bayanihan. Presented by REP-SF members SOMA Pilipinas & SOMCAN, and the Filipino American Development Foundation, this free, family-friendly celebration honors the parol, a radiant symbol of light and resilience in Filipino culture. Join SOMA Pilipinas for this year’s Parol-Making Workshops, through Dec. 7!
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MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy Exhibit (Open through Jan. 4)
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Presented by SOMA Pilipinas in collaboration with YBCA | Open through Jan. 4, 2026
MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy boldly celebrates the culture, contributions, and presence of the Filipino community in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood and Bay Area. Presented by REP-SF member SOMA Pilipinas in collaboration with YBCA, and inspired by the Filipino term for collective resistance, MAKIBAKA brings together contemporary artworks alongside community-held objects, memories, and movements. It traces the presence of a people who have shaped – and continue to shape – San Francisco through survival and the labor of building culture, kinship, and home. Come and see REP-SF member SOMCAN's installation as a featured organization in the exhibition, which features the documentary film produced by People Power Media, “Sa Amin | Our Place,” that tells the story of decades of struggle of the Filipino community to survive in SOMA. Get your tickets now!
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Invite Your Communities to Subscribe to Our Newsletter!
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Our monthly Planning to the People newsletter (that you are reading now!) provides the latest news and ways to take action on behalf of grassroots communities for housing justice and equitable city planning – all in one place! Help us build our momentum by encouraging your networks and communities to subscribe to our newsletter: Share our subscription form!
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