Board of Supervisors Delays Vote on Garage Legislation

Supervisor Bevan Dufty.

The Board of Supervisors has delayed a vote on legislation that would limit new garages in Chinatown, North Beach and Telegraph Hill for two weeks.

After approving the legislation on first reading by a 7-2 vote on February 9, the supervisors voted today to continue the measure until March 9, a move designed to give the measure's authors time to court Supervisor Bevan Dufty's vote, which would be crucial to override a potential veto from the Mayor.

Dufty reiterated a point today that he made to Streetsblog yesterday: The measure moved through the legislative process too quickly for him and his constituents to give it an adequate review. Supervisor Chris Daly questioned why Dufty was now hesitant to support the legislation after initially voting for it, but Dufty said his initial vote was intended to provide additional time to study the measure.

Garage addition companies, landlords and condo conversion supporters are reportedly pressuring Dufty to vote down the measure, while affordable housing, transit, pedestrian and bicycle advocates are rallying behind the garage legislation.