On October 20, D9 Neighbors for Housing showed up at the Board of Supervisors’ Land Use and Transportation Committee hearing on San Francisco’s Family Zoning Plan, joining hours of intense debate over this landmark rezoning proposal. The hearing stretched well into the afternoon, with community members offering public comment and elected officials weighing a long list of potential amendments to the plan before advancing it to the next stage of the legislative process.

The Family Zoning Plan — a sweeping rezoning initiative designed to create more housing capacity across much of San Francisco, particularly in the city’s west and north sides — had already generated fierce discussion citywide, with fierce disagreements about its impacts on affordability, neighborhood character, displacement, and compliance with California’s housing mandates.

Amidst hours of public comment — including a mix of accurate information and misleading claims about what the plan would and wouldn’t do — 11 members of D9 Neighbors took the mic to deliver powerful, personal testimony. Our advocates spoke about the real consequences of San Francisco’s housing shortage: families forced out of the city they call home, long-time neighbors struggling to find space near work and school, and the missed opportunities that come with keeping zoning overly restrictive. We emphasized that allowing new residents, new housing types, and new opportunities is integral to maintaining the vibrant, diverse city we all love.

Our presence at the hearing wasn’t just about numbers or policy language — it was about stories, neighbors, and future possibilities. By stepping up at this pivotal moment in San Francisco’s housing conversation, D9NH helped ensure that the voices calling for inclusive, thoughtful housing policy were heard loud and clear.