SF Board pulls airport rideshare surveillance after driver concerns

San Francisco
Board of Supervisors Meeting
April 21, 2026

TL;DR

• Airport TNC Virtual Queue surveillance policy sent back to committee after Supervisor Melgar, who voted to advance it last week, said labor and driver-privacy concerns hadn't been heard.
• 14 historic landmarks approved in one consent vote, covering properties from the Bob Ross House to the SF AIDS Foundation building.
• One Oak Street podium height cleared its first vote, raising the allowed height from 120 to 140 feet.
• Fire Code Technical Advisory Council approved 8-1 to advise the Fire Marshal on sprinkler-compliance waivers for existing high-rise residential buildings; Supervisor Walton voted no.
• Pacific Islander Cultural District in Visitacion Valley and Sunnydale cleared its first vote.

What happened

1. Airport rideshare surveillance policy sent back to committee
   1. The Board voted without objection to re-refer the Airport's Transportation Network Company Virtual Queue surveillance technology policy to the Government Audit and Oversight Committee. Supervisor Melgar made the motion, an unusual one because she voted to advance the policy out of committee last week while substituting for Supervisor Fielder. Melgar said that since the committee vote she'd heard concerns from labor and from industry about how the technology would affect drivers, particularly immigrant drivers, and that privacy questions hadn't been aired publicly. She said almost no one showed up to comment when the policy was first heard.
   2. What this means for you: The policy governing how the Airport tracks rideshare vehicles in its virtual queue isn't law yet. It goes back to committee for another public hearing before it returns to the full Board.
2. 14 buildings approved as historic landmarks in one vote
   1. The Board approved 14 landmark designations on the consent agenda by a single 9-0 vote, the second and final vote for each. The list includes the Bob Ross House at 4200-20th Street, the Sha'ar Zahav historic location at 220 Danvers Street, Maud's at 929-941 Cole Street, the SF AIDS Foundation building at 514-520 Castro Street, the Bank of Italy Branch Building at 400-410 Castro Street, Engine Company No. 13 at 1458 Valencia Street, Hose Company #30 Firehouse at 1757 Waller Street, the Full Moon Coffeehouse at 4416-18th Street, the Castro Rock Steam Baths at 578-582 Castro Street, the American Indian Historical Society / Chautauqua House at 1451 Masonic Avenue, the Mission Folk Victorian Home at 361 San Jose Avenue, Geilfuss on Guerrero at 102 Guerrero Street, St. Matthew's Church at 3281-16th Street, and St. Nicholas Cathedral at 2005-15th Street. President Mandelman sponsored all 14; Supervisor Chan co-sponsored four.
   2. What this means for you: Landmark status changes what owners can do with these buildings. Exterior alterations, additions, and demolitions now require Historic Preservation Commission review. If you live near any of these addresses, the look of the block is locked in.
3. One Oak Street tower cleared to grow 20 feet taller
   1. An ordinance amending the Zoning Map for the One Oak Street project cleared a first vote, raising the allowed podium height from 120 feet to 140 feet. The project sits at the corner of Oak and Van Ness. Supervisor Dorsey sponsored it; Mandelman added himself at the meeting. It needs a second vote to become law.
   2. What this means for you: If the ordinance passes a second time, the developer can build a taller podium at the base of the tower at Oak and Van Ness.
4. Fire Code advisory council approved for high-rise sprinkler rules
   1. The Board approved an ordinance creating the Fire Code Technical Advisory Council, 8-1. The council will advise the Fire Marshal, the Mayor, and the Board on sprinkler-compliance rules for existing high-rise residential buildings. Specifically, it weighs in on when the Fire Marshal should waive, modify, or delay those requirements. Supervisor Walton voted no.
   2. What this means for you: If you live in an older high-rise residential building, the Fire Marshal will now have a formal advisory body weighing in on how strictly the sprinkler rules get applied to your building.
5. Pacific Islander Cultural District cleared first vote
   1. An ordinance establishing the Pacific Islander Cultural District in and around Visitacion Valley and Sunnydale cleared a first vote. The Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development will produce written reports describing the district's cultural attributes and proposing preservation strategies. Walton and Chan sponsored it; Chen and Wong added themselves at the meeting. It needs a second vote to become law.
   2. What this means for you: If it passes a second time, the city will formally recognize the Pacific Islander community in these neighborhoods and begin planning around cultural preservation.

What residents brought up

• Several Thomas Paine Square Apartments residents and an organizer working with them described what they said are years of management problems at the Fillmore building, including rent checks and money orders going missing, a recent robbery, and what one resident said were death threats and slashed tires tied to another resident she'd reported. They said security at the building is contracted from a company owned by the chair of the board that controls the property, and that the city has not acted on past reporting about overpayments. They called for the city attorney to investigate and for a new security contract.
• The SF Department on the Status of Women's strategic initiatives manager spoke in support of the Sexual Assault Awareness Month resolution. She asked the Board to keep funding frontline agencies, flagged that trans women, women in poverty, and housing-insecure women are at greater risk, and pointed to AI-generated deepfakes and online harassment as growing problems translating to real-world violence.
• A longtime Fillmore resident said the Fillmore Safeway has closed and called for a town hall on grocery-store closures across the city. He said he'd hold a meeting at the SF Library the following Thursday and asked supervisors to send someone.

Also happened

• $11.6M, five-year Hetch Hetchy compliance and audit support contract with Archer Energy Solutions LLC approved, running May 2026 through May 2031.
• $250,000–$350,000 opioid settlement against six pharmaceutical wholesalers, including Associated Pharmacies and United Natural Foods, adopted as abatement funds.
• Glen Park and Upper Fillmore Entertainment Zones cleared first votes, allowing open-container service on designated blocks during permitted events.
• SFPUC's Green Infrastructure Grant Program delegation extended five years through July 1, 2031, letting the General Manager sign grant agreements with terms up to 20 years post-completion.
• Supervisor Chen appointed as alternate member of the Local Agency Formation Commission, term ending February 4, 2030.
• Resolution adopted honoring Vicha Ratanapakdee on the fifth anniversary of his death, reaffirming the city's commitment to elder safety.
• Howard Street sidewalks between 3rd and 4th will close August 25–31 for the Pokémon World Championships at Moscone Center.

For any updates or corrections, please email steven@polisdesk.com