San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Member of San Francisco Board of Supervisors for the 8th District (Castro, Noe Valley and the Mission), where he serves as the Chair of the Land Use and Economic Development Committee
PROFILE
Scott Wiener
Guest
FROM Scott Wiener
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Sen. Scott Wiener on housing crisis: 'Local control is not biblical' Senate Bill 827 would have allowed developers to build four- to five-story condos and apartment buildings near public transit. Opponents were concerned about the state dictating how and where localities should build, and they described it as a gift to developers that would erase the identities of existing neighborhoods. The bill died in committee on Tuesday, but its author says he’ll work on a new proposal.
To the Point
Big Soda Pours in Big Money to Stop Tax on Sugary Drinks Sugar-sweetened beverages are the single biggest source of calories for American teenagers, who are increasingly obese. And, for children, just one or two sodas a day raise the chance of contracting diabetes by 26%. So, after failing in 30 other states, public health advocates are asking voters in San Francisco and Berkeley, California to approve taxes on sugary soft drinks in next month’s elections.
To the Point
Do Techies Live in a Bubble? Silicon Valley is the epicenter of tech innovation, creating the infrastructure for the virtual universe so much of the real world now lives in. It's also creating a real-world elite of millionaires and billionaires who can be hard to live with. Consider the transformation of San Francisco. High rents, private bus systems and exclusive clubs are crowding out artists, families and middle-class workers. Long-time residents say a place famous for tolerance and diversity is losing itself to self-centered nerds with too much money and not enough social conscience. When Twitter made its public offering last November, 150 demonstrators protested outside its office. Their signs had phrases including, "People Not Profit" and, "We're the Public, What Are You Offering?" Are other cities prepared for an influx of wealthy, young technocrats looking for action they can't find in the suburbs?
Recommended
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
Left, Right & Center
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
To the Point
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?