San Francisco's Ultrarich Are Blocking a Zohran-Style Agenda
17 days ago
- #San Francisco politics
- #Tech billionaires
- #Democratic socialism
- Democratic socialists in San Francisco have been pushing Zohran Mamdani-style policies, but they are often blocked by Silicon Valley billionaires and real estate interests.
- Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary has energized democratic socialists, reinforcing the appeal of bold, populist economic platforms.
- San Francisco voters have supported Mamdani-style policies, but political and economic elites, including tech billionaires, have worked to block them.
- Examples of blocked policies include free public transit pilot programs, taxes on rideshare platforms, and vacancy taxes aimed at addressing housing crises.
- Mayor London Breed and other establishment figures have vetoed or defunded progressive measures, redirecting funds away from social housing and public services.
- Tech billionaires like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Garry Tan are aligning with conservative politics, further obstructing progressive agendas in San Francisco.
- Ordinary San Franciscans face an uphill battle against oligarchic influence in politics, which continues to stymie progressive policy victories.