YIMBY Action executive director Laura Foote and Abundance New York co-founder Ryder Kessler recently discussed the housing policies of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Substack Live. Foote gave Lurie a B- grade, citing his efforts to pass San Francisco’s first major upzoning in decades, but also noting that the city is still fighting YIMBYs. Kessler, on the other hand, gave Mamdani an A-, praising his support for market-rate housing development and his efforts to reform environmental policies.

San Francisco’s Housing Struggles

Foote expressed frustration with Lurie’s approach, stating that he has not fully embraced YIMBYism. She pointed to his opposition to the Marina Safeway project, a proposed 22-story development on the waterfront in a wealthy neighborhood. Foote also noted that Lurie has been sued by YIMBY Action twice, once over the city’s upzoning plan and again over its compliance with state law requiring apartment buildings near public transit.

New York’s YIMBY-Friendly Mayor

Kessler, however, was enthusiastic about Mamdani’s approach, saying that he has exceeded YIMBYs’ expectations. Mamdani has put YIMBYs on his housing team and has called for hundreds of thousands of market-rate housing units. Kessler noted that while Mamdani has frozen rents, which could push up prices for non-rent-controlled units, his overall approach has given him political capital to pursue YIMBY-friendly policies.

Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.