The San Francisco Meaning of the Rule of Law

If you want to accelerate the death of the formerly beautiful City by the Bay, here's how to do it.

Chronicle: "Supervisor Dean Preston introduced legislation in April that would permanently bar landlords from evicting tenants."

Preston’s legislation would not cancel rent, or absolve the tenants from ever having to pay it. Instead, it would make San Francisco’s current moratorium permanent by forbidding landlords from ever using the missed payments as a grounds for eviction — regardless of when the public health emergency ends.

Under the proposal unpaid rent is legally owed to the landlord, but there is no consequence to the tenant for not paying. The tenant has effectively acquired the benefits of property ownership for zero dollars. No, it's even better than an owner, because the tenant doesn't owe property taxes or mortgage payments or have to buy fire insurance to satisfy a lender.

My suggestion would be that 1) anyone who leases property from the City not pay the rent and 2) landlords--maybe all property owners?--not pay property taxes to the City and County of San Francisco.

Let the City claim in court why only contracts that benefit the City should be enforced.