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
California is on the verge of enacting landmark legislation to require net neutrality A bill expected to go before the governor has to do with net neutrality. Those are rules that make it illegal for internet providers to favor particular content. Under the Trump administration, the FCC has done away with those rules. California lawmakers are now looking to put them back in place, at least for our state.
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
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
How do Trump supporters feel about the Paris Accord? Globally and around the U.S., there are strong opinions whether or not the Paris Climate Accord is a good idea. The American exit is either a horrifying abdication of American leadership or a forceful and long overdue statement about U.S. sovereignty.
The Treatment
Kenya Barris: Black-ish Black-ish creator Kenya Barris joins Elvis Mitchell to discuss utilizing his show as a conversation starter.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Previewing James Comey's blockbuster testimony Former FBI director James Comey testifies Thursday in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee, but his opening statement has been released. In it, he says he felt pressured by Donald Trump to declare loyalty to him and publicly clear him of any wrongdoing in the Russia investigation.
Design and Architecture
Farewell LA freeways, Peter Shire is back Angelenos don't want more freeways but we seem not to want mass transit either. Metro has killed the 710 freeway extension, and bus and train ridership is down across the region. What's the future of getting around in LA? And, Peter Shire is having a comeback. What attracts a new generation to his playful ceramics and furniture?