Bobak Esfandiari
@bobakesfandiari.com
Leader in SF YIMBY, past president of the United Democratic Club - #Persian #RichmondDistrict #Gamer - Barack Obama '12 & Santa Clara University '12 alum - views are my own
More here:
https://bobakesfandiari.com/
More here:
https://bobakesfandiari.com/
Pinned
Bobak Esfandiari
@bobakesfandiari.com
· Jan 23
Well. Another year, another social media application...I guess 🤷🏽♂️
At any rate, I made the call to mothball the "micro-blogging" account over at the website formerly known as Twitter.
Finally decided to set this up. We'll see how long this lasts.
At any rate, I made the call to mothball the "micro-blogging" account over at the website formerly known as Twitter.
Finally decided to set this up. We'll see how long this lasts.
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
To solve our biggest problems — eg housing & climate — & make life more affordable we need to get out of our own way & make it easier to build the infrastructure to solve these problems.
Yet our system is designed to bog it down & make it more costly.
That needs to change.🧵 rein.pk/over-regulat...
Yet our system is designed to bog it down & make it more costly.
That needs to change.🧵 rein.pk/over-regulat...
November 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM
To solve our biggest problems — eg housing & climate — & make life more affordable we need to get out of our own way & make it easier to build the infrastructure to solve these problems.
Yet our system is designed to bog it down & make it more costly.
That needs to change.🧵 rein.pk/over-regulat...
Yet our system is designed to bog it down & make it more costly.
That needs to change.🧵 rein.pk/over-regulat...
"We were told the money would fund a social housing program"
Well, here's the thing. You were lied to. By Dean Preston. Repeatedly.
He *COULD HAVE* structured the ballot measure he authored to do what you wanted it to do.
But he didn't. He structured it to go into the general fund.
He lied.
Well, here's the thing. You were lied to. By Dean Preston. Repeatedly.
He *COULD HAVE* structured the ballot measure he authored to do what you wanted it to do.
But he didn't. He structured it to go into the general fund.
He lied.
Here’s the thing. San Franciscans didn’t pass a property transfer tax that funds social housing, they passed a tax that goes to the general fund.
Proponents lied about what this does. They continue to lie about what it does You can’t just wish funds for things
Proponents lied about what this does. They continue to lie about what it does You can’t just wish funds for things
November 25, 2025 at 9:58 PM
"We were told the money would fund a social housing program"
Well, here's the thing. You were lied to. By Dean Preston. Repeatedly.
He *COULD HAVE* structured the ballot measure he authored to do what you wanted it to do.
But he didn't. He structured it to go into the general fund.
He lied.
Well, here's the thing. You were lied to. By Dean Preston. Repeatedly.
He *COULD HAVE* structured the ballot measure he authored to do what you wanted it to do.
But he didn't. He structured it to go into the general fund.
He lied.
Cope harder, left-NIMBYs
Zohran adding YIMBYs to his transition team is resulting in some absolutely incredible Left NIMBY crashouts over on Twitter. This is my favorite.
November 25, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Cope harder, left-NIMBYs
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
Zohran adding YIMBYs to his transition team is resulting in some absolutely incredible Left NIMBY crashouts over on Twitter. This is my favorite.
November 25, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Zohran adding YIMBYs to his transition team is resulting in some absolutely incredible Left NIMBY crashouts over on Twitter. This is my favorite.
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
You can’t talk about affordability & cost of living without talking about the obscene cost of housing, which is driven by a massive shortage of homes. We’re working hard to make it easier & faster to build more homes in California. We need to take that work national …
November 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
You can’t talk about affordability & cost of living without talking about the obscene cost of housing, which is driven by a massive shortage of homes. We’re working hard to make it easier & faster to build more homes in California. We need to take that work national …
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
We're finally making progress to cut red tape with Mayor Lurie's Permit SF initiative.
But that progress is still being resisted by a majority of the Board of Supervisors.
But that progress is still being resisted by a majority of the Board of Supervisors.
November 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM
We're finally making progress to cut red tape with Mayor Lurie's Permit SF initiative.
But that progress is still being resisted by a majority of the Board of Supervisors.
But that progress is still being resisted by a majority of the Board of Supervisors.
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
San Francisco City Hall lit up in blue, pink and white for Trans Day of Remembrance. Organizations and community members held a well attended rally with speeches remembering those we've lost, and calling for housing, healthcare funding, other support, and ending the hate. 🏳️⚧️✊
November 21, 2025 at 6:24 AM
San Francisco City Hall lit up in blue, pink and white for Trans Day of Remembrance. Organizations and community members held a well attended rally with speeches remembering those we've lost, and calling for housing, healthcare funding, other support, and ending the hate. 🏳️⚧️✊
💀💀💀
November 22, 2025 at 12:48 AM
💀💀💀
Connie has been my rep at city hall for the last five years and in that time I couldn’t tell you one major thing she’s accomplished that’s made my life or the lives of my neighbors easier or more affordable.
She just likes to delay, deny, obstruct, and in this case, take credit for others work
She just likes to delay, deny, obstruct, and in this case, take credit for others work
Didn’t mom tell us not to copy other people’s homework?
November 21, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Connie has been my rep at city hall for the last five years and in that time I couldn’t tell you one major thing she’s accomplished that’s made my life or the lives of my neighbors easier or more affordable.
She just likes to delay, deny, obstruct, and in this case, take credit for others work
She just likes to delay, deny, obstruct, and in this case, take credit for others work
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
This is alluding to First Year Free, which was an idea by Manny Yekutiel, which Ben Bleiman, Manny, and I presented to Supervisor Ronen.
I attended numerous meetings with TTX, OSB, and OEWD staff along with Ronen and her staff to figure out how to draft the ordinance, which Ronen introduced in 2021.
I attended numerous meetings with TTX, OSB, and OEWD staff along with Ronen and her staff to figure out how to draft the ordinance, which Ronen introduced in 2021.
November 20, 2025 at 9:47 PM
This is alluding to First Year Free, which was an idea by Manny Yekutiel, which Ben Bleiman, Manny, and I presented to Supervisor Ronen.
I attended numerous meetings with TTX, OSB, and OEWD staff along with Ronen and her staff to figure out how to draft the ordinance, which Ronen introduced in 2021.
I attended numerous meetings with TTX, OSB, and OEWD staff along with Ronen and her staff to figure out how to draft the ordinance, which Ronen introduced in 2021.
I did a spit take when I saw this from Supervisor Chan's campaign launch video 😡
All she did, as far as I can tell, was cut a ribbon for 4200 Geary / 383 6th earlier this week.
The laws and funding that actually EMPOWERED this building to be built were all passed by @scottwiener.bsky.social
All she did, as far as I can tell, was cut a ribbon for 4200 Geary / 383 6th earlier this week.
The laws and funding that actually EMPOWERED this building to be built were all passed by @scottwiener.bsky.social
This is rich. Connie Chan says she “built real affordable housing, not the Sacramento version that destroys our neighborhoods.”
She points to new affordable housing on Geary: housing that she didn’t build but that *was* built using “Sacramento version” housing laws & $52M in state funds. 🧵
She points to new affordable housing on Geary: housing that she didn’t build but that *was* built using “Sacramento version” housing laws & $52M in state funds. 🧵
November 20, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I did a spit take when I saw this from Supervisor Chan's campaign launch video 😡
All she did, as far as I can tell, was cut a ribbon for 4200 Geary / 383 6th earlier this week.
The laws and funding that actually EMPOWERED this building to be built were all passed by @scottwiener.bsky.social
All she did, as far as I can tell, was cut a ribbon for 4200 Geary / 383 6th earlier this week.
The laws and funding that actually EMPOWERED this building to be built were all passed by @scottwiener.bsky.social
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
The San Francisco "progressive" playbook:
1) Oppose new state housing laws
2) Demonize the people who write and advocate for them
3) Take credit for the affordable housing projects those laws create
4) Repeat
1) Oppose new state housing laws
2) Demonize the people who write and advocate for them
3) Take credit for the affordable housing projects those laws create
4) Repeat
This is rich. Connie Chan says she “built real affordable housing, not the Sacramento version that destroys our neighborhoods.”
She points to new affordable housing on Geary: housing that she didn’t build but that *was* built using “Sacramento version” housing laws & $52M in state funds. 🧵
She points to new affordable housing on Geary: housing that she didn’t build but that *was* built using “Sacramento version” housing laws & $52M in state funds. 🧵
November 20, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The San Francisco "progressive" playbook:
1) Oppose new state housing laws
2) Demonize the people who write and advocate for them
3) Take credit for the affordable housing projects those laws create
4) Repeat
1) Oppose new state housing laws
2) Demonize the people who write and advocate for them
3) Take credit for the affordable housing projects those laws create
4) Repeat
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
Oh my.
James Talarico is incredibly skilled in dismantling Christian Nationalists.
Get this man in the Senate.
James Talarico is incredibly skilled in dismantling Christian Nationalists.
Get this man in the Senate.
November 19, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Oh my.
James Talarico is incredibly skilled in dismantling Christian Nationalists.
Get this man in the Senate.
James Talarico is incredibly skilled in dismantling Christian Nationalists.
Get this man in the Senate.
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
This is a generational opportunity for the Coastal Commission to mess up or help and as such this project could shape a generation’s opinion of the CCC’s affordable housing efficacy. Here’s to hoping for NO delay!
Never have I had a cleaner and more direct opportunity to say:
YES.
IN.
MY.
BACK.
YARD!
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
YES.
IN.
MY.
BACK.
YARD!
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
Exclusive: Safeway near S.F.’s Ocean Beach to close as developer plans housing complex
The Safeway would temporarily close so the project could bring a total of 526 new homes spread across two, eight-story buildings to a neighborhood that has seen little new housing in recent...
www.sfchronicle.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This is a generational opportunity for the Coastal Commission to mess up or help and as such this project could shape a generation’s opinion of the CCC’s affordable housing efficacy. Here’s to hoping for NO delay!
Never have I had a cleaner and more direct opportunity to say:
YES.
IN.
MY.
BACK.
YARD!
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
YES.
IN.
MY.
BACK.
YARD!
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
Exclusive: Safeway near S.F.’s Ocean Beach to close as developer plans housing complex
The Safeway would temporarily close so the project could bring a total of 526 new homes spread across two, eight-story buildings to a neighborhood that has seen little new housing in recent...
www.sfchronicle.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Never have I had a cleaner and more direct opportunity to say:
YES.
IN.
MY.
BACK.
YARD!
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
YES.
IN.
MY.
BACK.
YARD!
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
Connect with neighbors in casual conversation in the Sunset! SF DCCC Chair Nancy Tung and Director Mike Chen will be on hand to hear your thoughts on what San Francisco is doing well, what can be improved, and what concerns you most.
Your first coffee is on us!
www.mobilize.us/cadems/event...
Your first coffee is on us!
www.mobilize.us/cadems/event...
Community Coffee in the Sunset with SF Democratic Party · California Democratic Party
Connect with neighbors in casual conversation at our cornerstone Democrats on the Move event. SF DCCC Chair Nancy Tung and Director Mike Chen will be on hand to hear your thoughts on what San Francisc...
www.mobilize.us
November 17, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Connect with neighbors in casual conversation in the Sunset! SF DCCC Chair Nancy Tung and Director Mike Chen will be on hand to hear your thoughts on what San Francisco is doing well, what can be improved, and what concerns you most.
Your first coffee is on us!
www.mobilize.us/cadems/event...
Your first coffee is on us!
www.mobilize.us/cadems/event...
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
Not doing any live posts today, but just imagine all the most bonkers things you've heard about the Family Zoning Plan done at twice the speed since public comment is blissfully only 1 minute today
November 18, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Not doing any live posts today, but just imagine all the most bonkers things you've heard about the Family Zoning Plan done at twice the speed since public comment is blissfully only 1 minute today
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
San Francisco’s cost of living is through the roof & our city’s extreme housing costs are pushing people out.
Supervisor Connie Chan’s solution? Make housing even more expensive by sabotaging the Mayor’s zoning plan to actually build more homes.
Great work, Supervisor.
Supervisor Connie Chan’s solution? Make housing even more expensive by sabotaging the Mayor’s zoning plan to actually build more homes.
Great work, Supervisor.
A Last-Minute Change to SF’s Housing Plan Tries to Roll It Back
With a deadline looming, Sup. Connie Chan wants to bar all ‘existing residential uses’ from upzoning. She says state watchdogs won't object.
thefrisc.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:32 AM
San Francisco’s cost of living is through the roof & our city’s extreme housing costs are pushing people out.
Supervisor Connie Chan’s solution? Make housing even more expensive by sabotaging the Mayor’s zoning plan to actually build more homes.
Great work, Supervisor.
Supervisor Connie Chan’s solution? Make housing even more expensive by sabotaging the Mayor’s zoning plan to actually build more homes.
Great work, Supervisor.
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
this would have been a month-long scandal in 2011
President Trump walking past the flag at the Whitehouse which has fallen to the ground
November 18, 2025 at 12:38 AM
this would have been a month-long scandal in 2011
I concur.
I don’t want to seem out of touch but I don’t actually understand the economy anymore.
November 18, 2025 at 6:41 AM
I concur.
What a novel idea. It just...might...work...
My crazy idea for incorporating public feedback into city planning: You let residents vote for representatives in city government, and those people are empowered to implement the policies they promised while campaigning.
At Land Use (again) and it's literally all the same people it always is (myself included)...like who are we fooling that the same 75 people showing up every time is "the will of the people"? What a sham public process is sometimes, sadly
November 17, 2025 at 10:18 PM
What a novel idea. It just...might...work...
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
Everyone always complaining about all the ways San Francisco has gotten worse, but you can finally get good coffee (even the best coffee in the city!) on the Westside
November 16, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Everyone always complaining about all the ways San Francisco has gotten worse, but you can finally get good coffee (even the best coffee in the city!) on the Westside
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
This is not a deal, it’s a surrender to Trump. Senate Democrats should reject this plan that does nothing to prevent healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for millions of Americans. I’ll be a HELL NO in the House.
November 10, 2025 at 1:21 AM
This is not a deal, it’s a surrender to Trump. Senate Democrats should reject this plan that does nothing to prevent healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for millions of Americans. I’ll be a HELL NO in the House.
You know, I should be shocked at this behavior…but I’m really not anymore.
At a meeting about whether we're going to build housing for young families like us. An elderly NIMBY got mad at @alanakinrich.medsky.social for 'being distracting' by breastfeeding our baby in the reserved seats in the front. In case you're wondering who they think should be part of this process.
November 7, 2025 at 2:39 AM
You know, I should be shocked at this behavior…but I’m really not anymore.
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
There aren’t enough words to adequately describe all of the achievements and the accolades that Speaker Emerita @pelosi.house.gov deserves for her powerful career in Congress representing San Francisco these past 39 years.
Thank you for your service to San Francisco and our nation. 💙
Thank you for your service to San Francisco and our nation. 💙
November 6, 2025 at 10:44 PM
There aren’t enough words to adequately describe all of the achievements and the accolades that Speaker Emerita @pelosi.house.gov deserves for her powerful career in Congress representing San Francisco these past 39 years.
Thank you for your service to San Francisco and our nation. 💙
Thank you for your service to San Francisco and our nation. 💙