California Slams San Francisco for ‘Egregious’ Barriers to Housing Construction
October 25, 2023 by A new report reveals that building housing in San Francisco takes longer and costs more than anywhere else in California, exacerbating the state’s homelessness crisis. Governor Gavin Newsom has criticized the city for its numerous roadblocks to construction, including extensive environmental reviews and generous leeway for housing opponents to object. The report highlights San Francisco’s slow approval process, with projects taking over two years for approval, resulting in a significant shortage of affordable housing for essential workers. The state mandates San Francisco to build 82,000 new units by 2031, but the city is far behind, averaging less than one approval per day. The report calls for significant procedural changes to expedite housing development and suggests potential state intervention if the city fails to comply.