A city pushing harder, but the outcomes aren’t lining up
A city pushing harder, but the outcomes aren’t lining up
San Francisco just approved 56% more new housing units than last year, but the city’s biggest contract spend ever went to a single, barely-explained category. Meanwhile, traffic tickets are up, but so are questions about how the DA is handling arrests. If you want to know what’s really changing—and what’s just noise—keep reading.
SF Has Approved 392 New Housing Units So Far in 2026. That's 56% More Than Last Year.
Housing approvals spike, but will it last?
San Francisco greenlit 392 new housing units through mid-March—over half more than last year at this time. It’s a rare surge in a city famous for red tape. But approvals don’t always mean shovels in the ground.
SF Is Writing More Traffic Tickets Than Ever — Up 24% YTD
Traffic tickets hit record highs
Drivers are getting more tickets than ever. January and February both topped 10,000 citations—numbers the city hasn’t seen before. Enforcement is up, but it’s not clear if streets are actually safer.
City Signed $1.3 Billion in Contracts Last Month — 21,000% Above Normal for That Category
A billion-dollar contract nobody saw coming
San Francisco signed $1.3 billion in contracts last month—almost all in a single, barely-scrutinized category. That’s a 21,000% jump over normal. The city’s spending priorities are getting less transparent, not more.
The DA Is Charging Fewer Arrests in March. Convictions Are Up. Make It Make Sense.
DA charging fewer arrests, but convictions rise
The DA’s office is charging a shrinking share of arrests—down to 33% this March from 59% last year. But conviction rates are up. Fewer cases, but more wins? Or just fewer chances to lose?
Robo-Taxis Are Getting Fewer Complaints — Down 68% in a Week
Robo-taxi complaints plummet overnight
Complaints about autonomous vehicles dropped 68% in a single week. Either the cars got a lot better, or people gave up complaining. The city hasn’t explained the sudden change.
Get this in your inbox every week
Sign up to receive San Francisco, California’s weekly briefing.