{"id":49323,"date":"2026-07-22T12:53:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T19:53:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=49323"},"modified":"2026-07-22T12:53:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T19:53:33","slug":"supervisor-plugs-ahead-with-effort-to-expand-sf-grocery-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/07\/22\/supervisor-plugs-ahead-with-effort-to-expand-sf-grocery-access\/","title":{"rendered":"Supervisor plugs ahead with effort to expand SF grocery access"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/users\/profile\/James%20Salazar\">By James Salazar | Examiner staff writer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jul 21, 2026 (SFExaminer.com)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com\/sfexaminer.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/3e\/63ea6e10-e9a8-4bc2-bb34-e6656962456d\/67a12da06a598.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267\" alt=\"Mahmood speaks\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood said he still believes \u201cthere is a will in our city to still address the underlying issues of food insecurity.\u201dCraig Lee\/The Examiner<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Following pushback from local lawmakers and other leaders, District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood said he will introduce new legislation aimed at improving residents\u2019 access to groceries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Monday tabled Mahmood\u2019s Affordable Groceries Act, which would have placed on the November ballot a pair of measures meant to address&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/the-city\/fillmore-safeway-closure-prompts-sf-to-rethink-development\/article_93bebaa4-e28e-11ef-b813-bb9215a6dcf1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">citywide closures of supermarkets in recent years<\/a>&nbsp;while also expanding residents\u2019 ability to buy fresh foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first, the Abandoned Pharmacy and Grocery Stimulus, would have offered tax credits and permitting assistance to grocery stores and pharmacies bringing business back to vacant lots. It also would have taxed corporations that left their spaces intentionally empty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second, the Affordable Grocery Fund, would have established a fund to help convert corner stores into fresh-food markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mahmood said earlier this month that&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/wiener-grows-cash-lead-in-d11-race-chan-contributions-jump\/article_9c204bb4-5302-4641-9547-8c93e77dd3f9.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Supervisor Connie Chan<\/a>, who chairs the Budget and Finance Committee, told him she would not be scheduling a hearing at the request of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/sf-supervisor-wants-voters-to-authorize-transfer-taxes-on-big-foreclosures\/article_99ddb802-7c11-4384-95f5-fe67e71fc83a.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mayor Daniel Lurie<\/a>, arguing that the proposals needed more work before going to a vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mahmood said his new legislative proposals, which will be introduced at Tuesday\u2019s Board of Supervisors meeting, take key components from his originally proposed measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSan Franciscans are hungry for bold ideas to tackle affordability,\u201d Mahmood said Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI remain committed to working with anyone and everyone to advance the solutions we agree on today, while continuing to push for the bigger changes our city needs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mahmood\u2019s new package will entail three efforts. The first would restore funding to Healthy Retail San Francisco, a citywide program that focuses on turning convenience stores in low-income neighborhoods&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthyretailsf.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">into retailers selling healthy foods<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His second endeavor would aim to expand&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/business\/supes-consider-expansion-of-program-supporting-sf-small-businesses\/article_c8366ec5-960e-40fb-9164-38aa20a61cb5.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The City\u2019s First Year Free program<\/a>&nbsp;by exempting grocery stores from building and planning permit fees. Mahmood said he would also propose expanding the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/business\/sf-grant-program-is-filling-vacant-neighborhood-storefronts\/article_68db19d8-3176-4171-aeb3-e5c83a5c6a96.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Storefront Opportunity Grant Program<\/a>&nbsp;by funding the construction of new grocery stores in parts of San Francisco with limited food-market options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last piece of Mahmood\u2019s proposed package would legislate new density bonuses for any housing development that would incorporate a ground-floor grocery store in its construction plans. Mahmood said the proposal is modeled on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/edc.nyc\/program\/food-retail-expansion-support-health-fresh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York\u2019s Food Retail Expansion to Support Health program<\/a>, which was established in 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The program provides zoning incentives that allow property owners to construct slightly larger buildings in mixed residential-and-commercial districts if their plans include supermarkets. Mahmood said he would also propose reforming how The City subdivides existing vacant parcels to make it easier for new grocery stores to open locally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe price of groceries is growing exponentially year-over-year,\u201d Mahmood said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is a national problem, but one that other cities are boldly tackling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ex \/\/ Top Stories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/culture\/public-space-is-not-neutral-city-project-reimagines-its-monuments-and-memorials\/article_cdd6db31-d690-4b7b-a0bf-bea78a49bf20.html#tncms-source=top-stories-article\">\u2018Public space is not neutral\u2019: City project reimagines its monuments and memorials<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>For columnist Max Blue, Shaping Legacy exemplifies public art done right, maintaining its most important principle \u2014 an emphasis on the public<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/technology\/sf-landlords-starting-to-benefit-from-citys-ai-boom\/article_79df09e3-5936-4e9c-8225-5ba420ae34fe.html#tncms-source=top-stories-article\">SF office market starting to rebound, thanks to AI boom<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Artificial-intelligence security startup C1 recently leased a new headquarters space in SoMa \u2014 and it\u2019s just one of many companies in the sector that are expanding in The City<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/the-city\/women-owned-bars-in-san-francisco-share-a-close-camaraderie\/article_4672324a-4ef7-4a3a-870b-da58cda0c71d.html#tncms-source=top-stories-article\">Women-owned bars in San Francisco capture a special camaraderie<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>While the industry is still male-dominated, The City\u2019s female publicans support each other while finding new ways to innovate<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mahmood\u2019s proposal was initially scheduled to be heard at last week\u2019s Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee meeting,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/mahmood-alleges-backroom-deal-to-block-vacant-store-tax\/article_427456d2-012d-4b88-83b3-8fcc67361bd0.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">before Mahmood said it was denied a hearing by Chan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a statement, Chan said she was \u201cdisappointed\u201c in Mahmood\u2019s \u201ccontinued misrepresentation of our communications and his apparent lack of knowledge of the legislative process.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chan said she supported the intent behind Mahmood\u2019s ballot measures, but that his proposed legislation had fallen short in being presented as \u201csound economic and revenue policy for San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs supervisors, it is our job to do the work, to make the hard decisions daily,\u201d Chan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are elected to create sound policy to present to voters, not rush through any piece of legislation, let alone a ballot initiative that is not ready for prime time and would not provide its intended impact,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though Mahmood noted that his ballot measure failed to drum up support among colleagues,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/community\/bilal-mahmood-calls-on-sf-to-discuss-market-streets-future\/article_b9d15f08-0443-41df-9ab2-ea3c039d67cc.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the District 5 supervisor<\/a>&nbsp;said conversations with multiple city departments, community organizations and residents over the past two months showed him that there is a strong shared interest in addressing food insecurity and expanding people\u2019s access to grocery stores through creative approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4\" height=\"3\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-55.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-49327\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">New legislation being proposed this week by Supervisor Bilal Mahmood would help fund the construction of new grocery stores in parts of The City where only limited options currently exist.Craig Lee\/The Examiner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, who chairs the Rules Committee, said Mahmood could look into additional funding sources, such as the Food Empowerment Market Fund established in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A $1.5 million allocation from that fund helped create&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/public-health\/why-sf-opened-free-grocery-store-in-bayview-hunters-point\/article_59742e12-22ca-11ef-a58d-23f1ed91f168.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the District 10 Community Market<\/a>, a 4,000-square-foot market that gives residents in The City\u2019s southeast corridor the chance to shop from a free selection of groceries. Customers can also be connected with social services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walton said the program\u2019s success was something that Mahmood \u201ccould possibly build off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mahmood said at Monday&#8217;s committee meeting that he still believes \u201cthere is a will in our city to still address the underlying issues of food insecurity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe people deserve immediate relief,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Examiner staff writer Patrick Hoge contributed reporting to this story.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/users\/profile\/James%20Salazar\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com\/sfexaminer.com\/content\/tncms\/avatars\/4\/ef\/917\/4ef917fc-d70b-11ec-a203-bf72021caa8e.9be250065332c15dfd08167abfd38956.png?_dc=1666718661\" alt=\"James Salazar\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/users\/profile\/James%20Salazar\">James Salazar<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Neighborhoods &amp; Culture Correspondent<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Following pushback from local lawmakers and other leaders, District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood said he will introduce new legislation aimed at improving residents\u2019 access to groceries. The Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Monday tabled Mahmood\u2019s Affordable Groceries Act, which would have placed on the November ballot a pair of&#8230; <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/07\/22\/supervisor-plugs-ahead-with-effort-to-expand-sf-grocery-access\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1878],"tags":[2251],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49323"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49323"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49323\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49328,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49323\/revisions\/49328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}