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.
As is tradition, after Christmas we must re-fight the Cold War, this time featuring @wafoli.bsky.social as the capitalist Americans
(I did not, in fact, lead the USSR to glory. Jane cleaned my clock 😵💫)
(I did not, in fact, lead the USSR to glory. Jane cleaned my clock 😵💫)
December 27, 2025 at 3:58 AM
As is tradition, after Christmas we must re-fight the Cold War, this time featuring @wafoli.bsky.social as the capitalist Americans
(I did not, in fact, lead the USSR to glory. Jane cleaned my clock 😵💫)
(I did not, in fact, lead the USSR to glory. Jane cleaned my clock 😵💫)
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
As we close out 2025, I’d like to reflect on what we’ve accomplished together.
December 26, 2025 at 2:22 PM
As we close out 2025, I’d like to reflect on what we’ve accomplished together.
Important karaoke observations…🤔
Y’all I still think Kings Of Leon should talk to a doctor about their sex being on fire
December 24, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Important karaoke observations…🤔
This was a first for me, but I think I did okay 😅
December 24, 2025 at 8:50 AM
This was a first for me, but I think I did okay 😅
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
Someone must teach the youth of America about the greatness of the Gin Blossoms. RIP Doug
Nothing as good as you @wafoli.bsky.social that’s for sure 😜
December 24, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Someone must teach the youth of America about the greatness of the Gin Blossoms. RIP Doug
Only one way to find out 😉
Come kick it with me and @wafoli.bsky.social at Tupelo for some DJ purple karaoke 🎤🎶🎵🎶
Come kick it with me and @wafoli.bsky.social at Tupelo for some DJ purple karaoke 🎤🎶🎵🎶
December 24, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Only one way to find out 😉
Come kick it with me and @wafoli.bsky.social at Tupelo for some DJ purple karaoke 🎤🎶🎵🎶
Come kick it with me and @wafoli.bsky.social at Tupelo for some DJ purple karaoke 🎤🎶🎵🎶
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
After four years of outreach and project planning, merchants have once again paused (and are attempting to kill) a transit priority project.
Riders need to go to future meetings and make their demands clear: faster, safer service.
Riders need to go to future meetings and make their demands clear: faster, safer service.
Ingleside Merchants Sound Off On Ocean Avenue Red Lanes
Small business owners told transportation agency officials concerns ranging from increased congestion to decreased foot traffic.
www.inglesidelight.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:22 AM
After four years of outreach and project planning, merchants have once again paused (and are attempting to kill) a transit priority project.
Riders need to go to future meetings and make their demands clear: faster, safer service.
Riders need to go to future meetings and make their demands clear: faster, safer service.
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
December 23, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
You may not believe that building new housing lowers rents, but your landlord does:
New housing stops landlords from raising rents—take it from the CEO of AvalonBay, one of NYC's largest landlords:
"We're well-positioned… we face significantly less new supply. Land entitled for multifamily is hard to come by, the amount of time it takes to get those entitlements… sets us up well.”
"We're well-positioned… we face significantly less new supply. Land entitled for multifamily is hard to come by, the amount of time it takes to get those entitlements… sets us up well.”
December 22, 2025 at 9:53 PM
You may not believe that building new housing lowers rents, but your landlord does:
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
Funny how there's apparently no conflict for councilmembers who're landlords voting on tenant protections, or homeowners voting on new housing projects and rezoning actions.
Just for renters who want more homes.
Just for renters who want more homes.
In Santa Monica, the FPPC has disqualified pro-housing Councilmember Jesse Zwick from all future housing votes. They said that because he works for a housing non-profit, he’s “conflicted” and must recuse.
Pretty absurd. The NIMBY deep state strikes again.
www.smdp.com/state-regula...
Pretty absurd. The NIMBY deep state strikes again.
www.smdp.com/state-regula...
State regulators say Councilman Zwick is conflicted on housing votes
The California Fair Political Practices Commission has ruled that Santa Monica Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Zwick must recuse himself from housing production decisions
www.smdp.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Funny how there's apparently no conflict for councilmembers who're landlords voting on tenant protections, or homeowners voting on new housing projects and rezoning actions.
Just for renters who want more homes.
Just for renters who want more homes.
For once Trump clearly articulates the core contradiction at the heart of Federal housing policy for the last...idk, 100+ years?
I don't think he will do anything meaningful about it. But at least he laid bare the contradiction holding us back as a society.
I don't think he will do anything meaningful about it. But at least he laid bare the contradiction holding us back as a society.
December 22, 2025 at 8:36 PM
For once Trump clearly articulates the core contradiction at the heart of Federal housing policy for the last...idk, 100+ years?
I don't think he will do anything meaningful about it. But at least he laid bare the contradiction holding us back as a society.
I don't think he will do anything meaningful about it. But at least he laid bare the contradiction holding us back as a society.
Cool cool cool, my health insurance premiums are going up by 11.9% for 2026.
THANKS REPUBLICANS FOR MAKING LIFE LITERALLY MORE EXPENSIVE FOR WORKING PEOPLE 😡😡😡
THANKS REPUBLICANS FOR MAKING LIFE LITERALLY MORE EXPENSIVE FOR WORKING PEOPLE 😡😡😡
December 20, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Cool cool cool, my health insurance premiums are going up by 11.9% for 2026.
THANKS REPUBLICANS FOR MAKING LIFE LITERALLY MORE EXPENSIVE FOR WORKING PEOPLE 😡😡😡
THANKS REPUBLICANS FOR MAKING LIFE LITERALLY MORE EXPENSIVE FOR WORKING PEOPLE 😡😡😡
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
In San Francisco democracy is voting over and over until you get your preferred outcome
It is actually insane that this is probably going to go up for another vote. Perfect example of why it's so hard to get anything done in San Francisco. www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s...
S.F. voters closer to weighing in — again — on fate of Great Highway
Sunset Supervisor Alan Wong said he’d back a ballot measure to reopen the city’s westernmost coastal boulevard to cars, closing Sunset Dunes park.
www.sfchronicle.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:36 PM
In San Francisco democracy is voting over and over until you get your preferred outcome
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
This whole story is rife with “why is San Francisco like this?”-ness and we should definitely make this easier for people, but this aside bugged me.
We are not ADUing our way out of our housing shortage. They are a part of the solution, not the only solution www.sfchronicle.com/personal-fin...
We are not ADUing our way out of our housing shortage. They are a part of the solution, not the only solution www.sfchronicle.com/personal-fin...
December 20, 2025 at 6:48 PM
This whole story is rife with “why is San Francisco like this?”-ness and we should definitely make this easier for people, but this aside bugged me.
We are not ADUing our way out of our housing shortage. They are a part of the solution, not the only solution www.sfchronicle.com/personal-fin...
We are not ADUing our way out of our housing shortage. They are a part of the solution, not the only solution www.sfchronicle.com/personal-fin...
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
When Bon Jovi wrote the words “my heart is like an open highway” in It’s My Life, he was presciently foreshadowing the battle over the Great Highway and secretly showing which side he is on. In this essay I shall…
December 20, 2025 at 8:19 AM
When Bon Jovi wrote the words “my heart is like an open highway” in It’s My Life, he was presciently foreshadowing the battle over the Great Highway and secretly showing which side he is on. In this essay I shall…
This feels like a mistake to me. How can we learn about what went poorly and how to improve if we don’t do the retrospective and conduct the introspection necessary?
Disappointed in this move @democrats.org:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
Disappointed in this move @democrats.org:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
The D.N.C. Is Scrapping Its Report on What Went Wrong in 2024
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:40 PM
This feels like a mistake to me. How can we learn about what went poorly and how to improve if we don’t do the retrospective and conduct the introspection necessary?
Disappointed in this move @democrats.org:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
Disappointed in this move @democrats.org:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
Enjoyed this cogent write-up of the situation with the Marina Safeway, specifically dismantling the "gaming the system" bit. If anything, San Francisco elected are gaming the system with FZP to stop one of our most productive housing laws (state density bonus) open.substack.com/pub/governan...
San Francisco's Marina Could Get 790 Homes. Mayor Daniel Lurie Says No. YIMBYs Say Yes.
Four Safeway projects use identical state law. Lurie has opposed only the one in his neighborhood accused the developer of gaming the system, YIMBYS push back
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Enjoyed this cogent write-up of the situation with the Marina Safeway, specifically dismantling the "gaming the system" bit. If anything, San Francisco elected are gaming the system with FZP to stop one of our most productive housing laws (state density bonus) open.substack.com/pub/governan...
While I think the headline of this piece is needlessly provocative, I 100% endorse the bulk of this op-ed.
sfstandard.com/opinion/2025...
The 15 Marina Blvd Safeway proposal to build 790 homes in the Marina is a good thing, and it should be supported.
Hell, it should be even bigger.
sfstandard.com/opinion/2025...
The 15 Marina Blvd Safeway proposal to build 790 homes in the Marina is a good thing, and it should be supported.
Hell, it should be even bigger.
Actually, SF needs more Miamification — starting in the Marina
Mayor Daniel Lurie slammed a proposed Safeway redevelopment as “just not in line with what we are doing here in San Francisco.” But why is it not in line?
sfstandard.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:03 AM
While I think the headline of this piece is needlessly provocative, I 100% endorse the bulk of this op-ed.
sfstandard.com/opinion/2025...
The 15 Marina Blvd Safeway proposal to build 790 homes in the Marina is a good thing, and it should be supported.
Hell, it should be even bigger.
sfstandard.com/opinion/2025...
The 15 Marina Blvd Safeway proposal to build 790 homes in the Marina is a good thing, and it should be supported.
Hell, it should be even bigger.
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
Our friends at Team Pelosi are still hitting the phones one last time in December to hold GOP congressional representatives accountable for voting to slash healthcare for millions of Americans.
Join us this Thursday for the final phone bank of the year, link to sign up is in our bio
Join us this Thursday for the final phone bank of the year, link to sign up is in our bio
December 16, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Our friends at Team Pelosi are still hitting the phones one last time in December to hold GOP congressional representatives accountable for voting to slash healthcare for millions of Americans.
Join us this Thursday for the final phone bank of the year, link to sign up is in our bio
Join us this Thursday for the final phone bank of the year, link to sign up is in our bio
Call me crazy, but I think we could build a lot more of these apartments and nothing would be “destroyed” except for landlords’s power over renters due to lack of options
December 16, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Call me crazy, but I think we could build a lot more of these apartments and nothing would be “destroyed” except for landlords’s power over renters due to lack of options
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
I just came out of the briefing with Sec. Rubio and Sec. Hegseth on the military strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Here's what I learned.
Bottom line: there is no legal or national security justification for what they're doing. Not even close.
Bottom line: there is no legal or national security justification for what they're doing. Not even close.
December 16, 2025 at 8:41 PM
I just came out of the briefing with Sec. Rubio and Sec. Hegseth on the military strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Here's what I learned.
Bottom line: there is no legal or national security justification for what they're doing. Not even close.
Bottom line: there is no legal or national security justification for what they're doing. Not even close.
San Francisco continues to hold itself up as a model of WHAT NOT TO DO when it comes to tackling housing shortages:
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
This liberal city sees San Francisco as a role model — for home building failure
While prices for starter homes in San Francisco have surged, Portland has seemingly found the key to produce “missing middle” houses for first-time buyers.
www.sfchronicle.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:44 PM
San Francisco continues to hold itself up as a model of WHAT NOT TO DO when it comes to tackling housing shortages:
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
San Francisco’s charter has a term-limit loophole that favors career politicians and shuts out new voices.
I’m introducing a ballot measure to close it by limiting service to two terms.
That’s it.
Because leaders should create paths for the next generation of leaders.
I’m introducing a ballot measure to close it by limiting service to two terms.
That’s it.
Because leaders should create paths for the next generation of leaders.
December 16, 2025 at 2:16 AM
San Francisco’s charter has a term-limit loophole that favors career politicians and shuts out new voices.
I’m introducing a ballot measure to close it by limiting service to two terms.
That’s it.
Because leaders should create paths for the next generation of leaders.
I’m introducing a ballot measure to close it by limiting service to two terms.
That’s it.
Because leaders should create paths for the next generation of leaders.
Reposted by Bobak Esfandiari
why would immigrants do this www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
December 16, 2025 at 12:21 AM
why would immigrants do this www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
This has been fun and all, but can the biting cold cut it out?
I really am not having fun anymore.
I really am not having fun anymore.
December 16, 2025 at 5:26 AM
This has been fun and all, but can the biting cold cut it out?
I really am not having fun anymore.
I really am not having fun anymore.