S
an Francisco mayoral candidate Daniel Lurie has clarified his stance on rent control, stating he would not support expanding it if elected mayor. In an interview with KQED's Alexis Madrigal, Lurie suggested that he would veto plans to expand rent control to 16,000 more units, as proposed by the Board of Supervisors. He believes the current rent control policies have had a positive impact but does not support expanding them further.

    This week, San Francisco passed an ordinance sponsored by Supervisor Aaron Peskin to move the city's rent control cutoff date to 1994, pending approval of Proposition 33 next month. Prop. 33 would allow cities to expand their rent control measures beyond current limits set by the Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act. The proposed expansion in San Francisco would add 16,000 units built between 1979 and 1994 to the rent control registry.

    Lurie's stance on rent control is seen as a potential liability in a city where most residents are renters and tenant protections are a key issue in politics. Opposing rent control can be politically risky, but Lurie has also been criticized for being vague on details, which may be a campaign tactic to draw second- and third-ranked votes. Former mayor Mark Farrell opposes expanding the rent cap, while Mayor London Breed supports it as long as it doesn't hinder new housing construction.