Tenant Relocation Proposition Passes
San Francisco voters came out in support of every local proposition, except an increase in the parking tax, on the November 7 ballot. Unfortunately, that includes Measure H, which mandates a $4,500 payout to all tenants (up to $13,500 per unit) who are displaced by a no-fault eviction—a $3,500 per tenant increase. At a post-election recap held at the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association, pollster David Binder pointed out that Measure H had more paid arguments supporting its passage than any other local measure.

Supervisor Bevan Dufty easily won re-election in District 8, as did Supervisor Michaela Alioto-Pier in District 2 and Supervisor Sophie Maxwell in District 10. Supervisor Chris Daly is the projected winner in District 6, despite a stronger-than-expected challenge from Rob Black. This contest generated the most interest of any race on the November 7 ballot, according to Binder. In District 4, where Supervisor Fiona Ma vacated her seat to run for the California Assembly, there was a neck-and-neck race between Ron Dudum and Ed Jew. But in the end, after several rounds of Ranked Choice Voting, Ed Jew is the projected winner. Binder said that District 4 has the highest percentage of registered independent voters in the city, making it a tough race to predict.

On a statewide level, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger handily beat Democratic candidate Phil Angiledes with almost 56% of the vote. Democrats posted wins in a number of the state’s other high offices, however. John Garamendi won the race for Lieutenant Governor, Debra Bowen won Secretary of State and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown won the Attorney General position. On the national stage, incumbent Senator Dianne Feinstein, along with most of her local democratic compatriots in the House of Representatives, easily won re-election. However, in a surprise upset, Republican Representative Richard Pombo lost his seat representing California’s 11th District (which includes Dublin, Pleasanton and Stockton) to wind energy consultant Jerry McNerney. The contentious campaign had focused on Pombo’s environmental record, and McNerney’s supporters ranged from environmental groups to celebrities like Jennifer Garner. Nationwide, Democrats more than made up the seats they needed to win a majority of the House, and narrowly took control of the Senate as well.

In other election news, Proposition 90, the controversial eminent domain measure, was narrowly defeated. Also going down in defeat on the statewide ballot were propositions regarding parental notification about a minor’s abortion, the cigarette tax, the alternative energy tax, education funding and campaign financing. In a big win for Governor Schwarzenegger, all the elements of his comprehensive bond package passed, including millions for transportation and roads, affordable housing, upgrading schools and levee repair. Californians also passed a separate park and water bond, as well as a measure that puts additional restrictions on sex offenders.

SFAA at DBI Summit
SFAA was delighted to take part in the first-ever San Francisco Department of Building Inspection public summit, which took place October 25. SFAA Executive Director Janan New spoke on two panels—one on landlord-tenant responsibilities and one on building code enforcement—and SFAA staff members were on hand to pass out promotional and informative materials. During the landlord-tenant panel, New was asked to speak about her decade-long experience working on the Code Enforcement Outreach Program, a free service designed to encourage communication and cooperation between tenants and landlords, who must work together to bring housing into code compliance. “This is probably the one area of my work that is the most productive and rewarding on a daily basis,” New said of the program. New advised landlords not to “go into panic mode” when they receive a notice of violation from DBI. Instead, get proactive and call the housing inspector who issued the notice to find out what needs to be done to fix the violation. By doing nothing, said New, property owners are just accelerating the costs associated with fixing the problem. The panel discussed many topics surrounding landlord-tenant responsibilities, but focused a lot of attention on hoarding and cluttering, as well as other sanitation issues, because, according to Tommi Avicolli Mecca of the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco, “this is a problem that cuts across all classes and races.”

New also participated in a code enforcement panel later in the day, which included a lively discussion of the vagaries of in-law-unit code. Other subjects at the DBI summit, which attracted more than 400 attendees, were: how to obtain a permit, condo conversion, lead paint laws and residential earthquake preparation. During that last discussion, two DBI representatives went over long- and short-term safety strategies in practical terms, everything from how to bolt down a foundation to the most important earthquake supplies: water, garbage bags and duct tape. These items are the most important because “they have so many survival uses,” according to structural engineer Howard Zee.

If you missed this year’s summit, don’t worry. The event was such a success it is likely to become an annual event from now on.

Changing of the Guard at SFAA
Wasserman-Stern attorney David Wasserman has been voted the new president of SFAA, effective January 1, 2007. Wasserman has been SFAA’s vice president for five years and has long contributed his legal expertise to both SFAA membership meetings and SF Apartment Magazine articles. Look for his first “President’s Report” column in our January issue.

SFAA bids a fond farewell to outgoing President Marc Wilson, who has been a valued and tenacious leader during his two-year term. Wilson will continue to write his monthly “Property Management Shop” column for the magazine.

Also stepping down is former SFAA President and 2006 CAA President Eric Andresen who worked night and day during his tenure to lobby San Francisco legislators at the state level for legislation that supports the rental housing industry. Andresen leaves his position on a high note, as a recent winner of the CAA’s Legislative Award.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You
SFAA would like to thank all our terrific sponsors and members for making our November 13 tradeshow, Apartments Ahoy, such a success. Our January issue will have an assortment of photos from this fun and informative event.

Answers to Last Issue's Neighborhood Quiz
In the November issue of SF Apartment Magazine, we asked our readers how well they know the city’s neighborhoods in a sidebar called, “There Goes the Neighborhood.” This month, we give you the answers to that quiz.
Neighborhood 1
The Jordan Park neighborhood is adjacent to Children’s Hospital.
Neighborhood 2
A part of Mid-Market near Van Ness Avenue is known to some as the Deco Ghetto.
Neighborhood 3
The neighborhood centered just north of the Bayshore Caltrain station goes by the name Little Hollywood.
Neighborhood 4
Lake Shore is located near the Stonestown Galleria.