San Francisco Land Use and Transportation Committee Meeting - November 9, 2026

The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, chaired by Supervisor Mirna Melgar and joined by Vice Chair Cheyenne Chen and Supervisor Matt Dorsey, met on November 9, 2026. The committee advanced two items to the full Board with positive recommendations: a resolution of intention to rename Cesar Chavez Street to "Las Campesinas Street" and an ordinance to increase Ellis Act relocation payments by 25%.

Consent Calendar

There were no items on the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

Item 1: Street Name Change to Las Campesinas Street

• Supporters of the name selected by the working group included Susanna Rojas (Executive Director, Calle 24 Latino Cultural District), Annie Rivera (Executive Director, Galería de la Raza), Vanessa Cuyer (youth activist), and a District 11 representative. They argued that Las Campesinas honors the collective legacy of Latina farmworkers, represents a movement rather than an individual, aligns with the city's mandate to recognize women's contributions through public naming, and is a step toward healing for survivors of sexual violence.
• Opponents and those requesting a delay included Scott Kravitz (resident and business owner on the street), Zach Aaron (resident), Andrew Boxley (representing 220 residents), and Leanne Speta (former teacher). While broadly supporting the principle of renaming the street, they strongly opposed the specific name "Las Campesinas." They cited inadequate outreach to directly affected residents and businesses, a lack of transparency regarding the survey data breakdown for street stakeholders, and practical concerns about the name's length for daily use, delivery, and emergency services. Several speakers requested the committee delay the vote and suggested simpler alternatives such as "Dahlia Street" or "Esperanza Street."

Item 2: Ellis Act Relocation Payments

• John Ellis (Supportive Housing Providers Network Resident Advisory Board) supported the spirit of increasing payments but urged the city to publish data on what happens to displaced tenants and ensure support services follow them. He felt the proposed amounts were insufficient given his own experience moving from an SRO.
• Glenn (member of the public) strongly supported an increase but characterized the proposed 25% boost as "too little," citing a recent example where a tenant's staff took six months to find an apartment. He urged the committee to raise the amounts further to prevent displacement into homelessness.

Discussion Items

Item 1: Resolution of Intention - Street Name Change (Cesar Chavez Street to "Las Campesinas Street")

• Supervisor Jackie Fielder (District 9) introduced the item, framing it as a necessary step to address the sexual violence allegations against the original namesake while uplifting the collective legacy of women leaders in the farmworker movement. She outlined the legislative process, including a subsequent ordinance requiring DPW outreach to residents.
• Assessor-Recorder Joaquin Torres (Working Group Co-Chair) detailed the six-month community process. He stated that the working group established four guiding principles: honoring Latino heritage and immigrant contributions, centering the lived experiences of survivors and women, recognizing the labor and farmworker movement, and focusing on a movement rather than an individual. He reported that public input (771 survey responses, 72% selecting a primary option) showed Las Campesinas as the clear leading choice, receiving nearly twice the support of the alternatives (Dahlia, Army Street, CISPuede). He confirmed that the Department of Emergency Management assured the group there would be no logistical problems with the name for 911 dispatch.
• Oscar Grande (Planning Department) corroborated the survey methodology and results, noting that the initial in-person meeting was poorly attended, prompting extended online and direct outreach.
• Bevan Dufty read a statement from former Supervisor Susan Leal (Working Group Co-Chair) expressing full support for Las Campesinas, which she said honors the "nameless and faceless women" who work in the fields.
• Supervisor Chen praised the process and added herself as a co-sponsor of the resolution.
• Chair Melgar noted the process was less contentious than the 1995 renaming, confirmed her personal support for the name, and reminded speakers that the decision rests with the Board of Supervisors, not solely with street residents.

Item 2: Ordinance - Ellis Act Relocation Payments Increase

• MOHCD Director Dan Adams presented the ordinance. He provided market context: a 2.6% rental vacancy rate (down from 9% during the pandemic), significant rent growth (a one-bedroom unit shifting from affordable at 95% AMI to needing 140% AMI), and an upward trend in eviction filings. The proposal increases the base relocation payment by 25%, from roughly $11,000 to $13,888 per eligible tenant, with a household cap of $41,664 and an additional amount of over $9,000 for elderly and disabled tenants. The increase is justified by the 2022 study's omission of certain costs (like rental application fees and temporary housing) and recent inflation.
• Supervisor Chen expressed strong support, agreeing that the adjustment better reflects the true costs of displacement.
• Chair Melgar thanked the Mayor's office for addressing the urgency of the housing crisis, noting she had no further questions.

Key Outcomes

Item 1: Las Campesinas Street Renaming

• Vote: The committee voted 3-0 (Melgar, Chen, Dorsey) to send the resolution of intention to the full Board of Supervisors as a committee report with a positive recommendation. This begins the formal process, which will require a subsequent ordinance and a Department of Public Works outreach campaign to residents on the street.

Item 2: Ellis Act Relocation Payments

• Vote: The committee voted 3-0 (Melgar, Chen, Dorsey) to send the ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors as a committee report with a positive recommendation.