{"id":49751,"date":"2026-08-17T13:09:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T20:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=49751"},"modified":"2026-08-17T13:09:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T20:09:29","slug":"growing-democratic-socialists-of-america-sf-behind-housing-ballot-measure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/08\/17\/growing-democratic-socialists-of-america-sf-behind-housing-ballot-measure\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Democratic Socialists of America SF behind housing ballot measure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/users\/profile\/Patrick_Hoge\">By Patrick Hoge | Examiner staff writer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aug 16, 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\/5c\/65c46baf-5228-4ab4-9fbd-7fd2bfbf5ce5\/6a754c4128222.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267\" alt=\"Democratic Socialists of America_Richards_Williams_06Aug2026_044.JPG\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Anne Richards, left, co-chair of DSA-SF, seen with Hazel Williams, a delegate on the group\u2019s national political committee: \u201cWe are fighting for material gains for the working class in San Francisco, and we also are the working class in San Francisco.Craig Lee\/The Examiner<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A group spearheading the hot-button affordable-housing ballot measure that Mayor Daniel Lurie attacked this week is the San Francisco chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, an organization in the headlines across the country this year with the election of member Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor and a spate of other electoral wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dsasf.org\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Democratic Socialists of America \u2014 San Francisco<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;which decries the failings of capitalism and the concentration of wealth, aims to empower workers, and calls for city divestment from companies supporting Israel \u2014 is a leading champion of Proposition I, which would dedicate city transfer taxes on properties worth $10 million or more to housing-related purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The left-wing group has had a significant effect on San Francisco government in recent years. It has seen two supervisors elected and backed a property-tax measure that has raised more than $500 million, among other things. It says its dues-paying membership in The City has surged more than 28% this year to 1,506 members in the wake of Mamdani\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are fighting for material gains for the working class in San Francisco, and we also are the working class in San Francisco,\u201d said Anne Richards, one of the local group\u2019s two co-chairs, who said she was \u201ca tech worker\u201d in The City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The local chapter\u2019s growth has been mirrored at the national level as DSA candidates have won elections in federal and state primaries, as well as for local offices in Colorado, Michigan, New York, Washington, D.C., and other places. The national organization said in July it had hit 120,000 members, making it the largest socialist organization in U.S. history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPeople are just seeing that the system is broken for all but a handful of people, and I think there\u2019s a lot of people who are very disillusioned and disappointed with the establishment Democratic Party and are actively looking for something different.\u201d Richards said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In July, DSA&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/program.dsausa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">issued a national platform<\/a>&nbsp;that drew criticism from some Democratic and Republican figures alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The platform calls, among other things, for abolishing the U.S. Senate and the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency; replacing the president and the supreme court with an executive and judiciary chosen by and subordinate to the House of Representatives; public financing for all elections; and redirecting \u201cfunding to public services as steps towards fully abolishing the police and prison system which protects the rich and jails the poor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hazel Williams, who helped produce the platform as a San Francisco delegate on the organization\u2019s national political committee, said parts of the platform \u201cwe want to do right away, and then there are some that represent the horizon for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe biggest point here is that we are winning. We are winning more than ever. Our message is resonating with people more than ever,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis pushback is largely people that have been defending the status quo for a very long time, feeling threatened by this renewed energy, this progressive, radical energy that people are rallying around, and so they kind of weave this story,\u201d Williams said. \u201cDSA offers an alternative to the liberal status quo that has not been working for people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with the recent victories, nevertheless, have come defeats, including for a DSA candidate in Wisconsin who narrowly lost an Aug. 11 Democratic primary for governor after polls had shown her leading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Asked about the Democratic Socialists of America, Nancy Tung \u2014 chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party \u2014 was measured in her response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think generally the Democratic Party has to be a big tent, and we have to not be afraid of having conversation, whether or not there\u2019s consensus or disagreement,\u201d Tung said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The San Francisco chapter\u2019s recent growth has come after city voters in 2024 elected a more moderate majority on the Board of Supervisors and a popular business-friendly mayor who has emphasized the importance of public safety and clean and safe streets.<\/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\/08\/image-42.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-49755\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Former Supervisor Dean Preston (seen in July): \u201cIt\u2019s been a very active chapter. I think that the DSA chapter in San Francisco has had a big impact in The City in recent years.\u201dCraig Lee\/The Examiner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Former District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston, a member of DSA, lost his seat in that election to Supervisor Bilal Mahmood. Preston had won a special election in November 2019 to finish London Breed\u2019s term after she was elected mayor, and he was re-elected in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still on the board is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/politics\/jackie-fielder-emerges-as-sf-progressive-standard-bearer\/article_205be3ff-e18d-4295-ae4d-1ae3f7d24d21.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder<\/a>, a DSA member who won in 2024 with nearly 60% of the vote against a more centrist challenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to Prop. I, the local DSA chapter is supporting a November ballot measure sponsored by Supervisor Chyanne Chen that would create a public bank \u2014 something Fielder and the organization have sought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In an interview,&nbsp;Fielder talked about the organization\u2019s various priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOn a bigger level, it means an expanded weight of the people into the decisions that actually govern their lives,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt means making sure that money does not obliterate representative democracy, and ensuring the economy works for all of the working class \u2014 not just the billionaires who have all the capital and means of production,\u201d Fielder 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\/news\/community\/bay-area-billionaire-launches-contest-to-improve-life-in-sf\/article_ae9fec7d-9636-4cec-a8a1-3fdcf61c50e7.html#tncms-source=top-stories-article\">Contest awarding $50M for ideas making SF a better place to live<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Michael Moritz\u2019s Crankstart Foundation launching Boundless San Francisco, with proposals open in any subject area<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/public-health\/what-medi-cal-coverage-changes-mean-for-san-franciscans\/article_2c66a295-52b9-4fc7-a050-ef55eb7a610e.html#tncms-source=top-stories-article\">What San Franciscans need to know about coming Medi-Cal changes<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Residents who are enrolled in the state health-care program should begin preparing now for potential shifts to their coverage<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/news\/the-city\/new-sf-port-head-takes-the-helm-amid-big-waterfront-changes\/article_2f1636f2-d502-4f2a-bf46-39c50cbf7884.html#tncms-source=top-stories-article\">New Port of SF executive director takes helm at a time of sweeping change<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Michael Martin oversees Fisherman\u2019s Wharf remake, huge real-estate projects, and planning to protect The City\u2019s waterfront<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lurie and The City\u2019s police and firefighters unions on Wednesday warned that&nbsp;Prop. I would create \u201can unaccountable slush fund\u201d while carving a hole in The City\u2019s general fund by shifting what the City Controller said would be nearly $120 million a year to a House SF Fund for affordable-housing programs \u2014 a charge Prop. I backers vehemently rejected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Max Szabo, a Lurie spokesperson on political matters, reiterated Friday that Prop. I \u201cmisleads voters\u201d and that it would \u201ctie The City\u2019s hands by requiring millions to flow to a small group of nonprofits \u2014 such as those who wrote the measure \u2014 with no requirement that they actually build housing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Prop. I proponents said that the mayor\u2019s \u201cslush fund\u201d allegation made no sense because the measure puts the Mayor\u2019s Office of Housing and Community Development in charge of administering the money, and it requires the city Controller\u2019s Office to audit spending.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c[Lurie is] calling his own department an unaccountable slush fund,&#8221; Preston said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/media.api.sf.gov\/documents\/05042026_LT_AfordableHousing.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A section in the measure<\/a>&nbsp;says \u201c[OHCD] shall administer the House SF Fund.\u201d The same office also administers the Housing Trust Fund that would be extended and expanded by Proposition C \u2014 another ballot measure the mayor does support \u2014 according to The City\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese&nbsp;are the&nbsp;same&nbsp;rules&nbsp;that&nbsp;apply&nbsp;to any other housing funding measure that The City has passed in recent history,\u201d&nbsp;said Quintin Mecke, executive director of the Council of Community Housing Organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prop. I also specifies percentages for how much of the tax proceeds must be spent on affordable-housing production, preservation or acquisition programs, tenant stabilization or homelessness prevention, and administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">DSA victories<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Former Supervisor Dean Preston said Proposition I follows a series of successful city ballot campaigns in which the local chapter of Democratic Socialists of America played a big role over the past eight years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2018:<\/strong>&nbsp;Preston was the author of&nbsp;Proposition F, which&nbsp;established a right to city-funded legal representation for residential tenants facing eviction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2018:<\/strong>&nbsp;The chapter was part of a coalition that opposed Proposition H, an unsuccessful measure to enact policies to equip San Francisco police officers with conductive-energy devices (also known as tasers) and to govern the use of such devices by police officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2018:<\/strong>&nbsp;Proposition C established the Homelessness Gross Receipts Tax, which imposes a tax on businesses with gross receipts of more than $25 million to feed the Our City, Our Home Fund. Proceeds go to services for people experiencing homelessness and to prevent homelessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2022:<\/strong>&nbsp;The Empty Homes Tax established penalties for leaving residential properties vacant for extended periods. The measure was struck down by a San Francisco Superior Court judge in a ruling The City is now appealing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2020:<\/strong>&nbsp;Proposition I changed the City\u2019s property transfer-tax rate on commercial and residential properties valued between $10 million and $24.99 million from 2.75% to 5.5%, and on properties valued at $25 million or more from 3% to 6%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2020:<\/strong>&nbsp;Proposition K authorized The City to own, develop, construct, acquire or rehabilitate up to 10,000 units of low-income rental housing. Passed with more than 73% of the vote, it had no funding tied to the measure and was a companion piece to Prop. I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2022:<\/strong>&nbsp;Proposition H changed the election cycle for mayor, sheriff, district attorney, city attorney and treasurer from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years concurrent with presidential elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Service Employees International Union Local 1021 \u2014 The City\u2019s largest public-employees union \u2014 publicly endorsed the initiative this week, joining United Educators of San Francisco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The money in question comes from an existing transfer tax on property transactions worth $10 million or more, which voters doubled in 2020 via a ballot measure sponsored by Preston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prop. I proponents say the measure is needed because even though the 2020 tax initiative was touted to voters as a housing measure \u2014 and the Board of Supervisors at the time unanimously stated the intent that the proceeds should go to housing-related programs \u2014 city officials have since used money from the tax for other purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The tax had raised $504.6 million by February, about $200 million of which initially went to housing-related programs, advocates say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis one\u2019s exciting because it\u2019s a real solution to the housing affordability emergency that we have in The City,\u201d Richards said. \u201cIt expands city investment in developing affordable housing and rent relief without raising taxes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prop. I was also written to protect the high-end levy by removing the existing authority of the Board of Supervisors to reduce, suspend, or repeal the property transfer tax without voter approval.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Earlier this year, Lurie and Mahmood proposed eliminating the tax for transactions of multifamily housing, commercial real estate and other property\u2014 excluding single residences \u2014 valued at $10 million or more as a way to stimulate economic activity. They later suspended that effort in the face of massive budget deficits, but Mahmood said he hoped to revive the plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are defending this money that voters mandated to be put towards affordable housing \u2014 housing that San Franciscans can afford,\u201d Richards said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The San Francisco chapter of DSA was launched in the early 1980s. One of its founding members was Harry Britt, who was appointed to fill the vacancy on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1979 left by the assassination of gay-rights activist Harvey Milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Members say the modern incarnation of the chapter traces its roots to 2016 and a surge of interest across the country sparked by the Democratic presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to electoral activities, the San Francisco chapter has&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dsasf.org\/chapter-bodies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">working groups<\/a>&nbsp;focused on specific areas such as labor unions, homelessness, immigrant rights, tenants\u2019 rights, \u201cecosocialism\u201d and \u201cPalestine solidarity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Members have raised money for and walked picket lines with striking workers and delivered food and clothes to people who are homeless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been a very active chapter,\u201d Preston said. \u201cI think that the DSA chapter in San Francisco has had a big impact in The City in recent years.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A group spearheading the hot-button affordable-housing ballot measure that Mayor Daniel Lurie attacked this week is the San Francisco chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, an organization in the headlines across the country this year with the election of member Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor and a&#8230; <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/08\/17\/growing-democratic-socialists-of-america-sf-behind-housing-ballot-measure\/\"> 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":[2393],"tags":[2394],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49751"}],"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=49751"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49756,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49751\/revisions\/49756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}