THE BUZZ: FULL HOUSE — Aaron Peskin is jumping into the crowded race for San Francisco mayor — and allies of incumbent Mayor London Breed couldn't be happier about it. Peskin, who’s been at odds with real estate developers as the president of the Board of Supervisors, is Breed’s polar opposite on housing policy. The two Democrats couldn’t be more different in terms of how they view San Francisco’s housing affordability problems and how City Hall should respond to them. Angst over the city's astronomically high housing costs has animated many middle-aged and younger professionals who see construction as a way to make San Francisco more affordable — and Breed's backers say the issue could save her in a tough November reelection battle amid plummeting approval ratings. Breed has aligned herself with pro-housing groups that want to make it easier and faster to build housing just about anywhere, while Peskin is one of the movement’s chief antagonists. He regularly talks about protecting neighborhood character and keeping developers in check. Peskin, who confirmed to Playbook on Wednesday night that he’s running, is likely to draw heavy criticism from groups that have largely aligned with Breed. The progressive candidate’s entrance into the race gives Breed a strong distinction to run on, especially considering her other major rivals in the race — Mark Farrell, a former interim mayor and city supervisor, and Daniel Lurie, a nonprofit executive and Levi Strauss heir — are, like Breed, centrist. The three have proposed competing plans to increase law enforcement presence and force people into addiction treatment. Todd David, political director for Abundant SF, a centrist advocacy group funded heavily by tech investors, predicted that housing will now be the No. 1 issue in the race. His group is already backing Breed. “It’s a true contrast, it’s two very different points of view,” David said, adding that Peskin has a “no-growth” philosophy. “Having stable housing is still the top challenge to living in San Francisco.” The median rent is still among the most expensive in the nation, despite a pandemic-era dip in prices. Two-bedroom apartments typically rent for around $4,000 a month. Peskin said he will push back against Breed and her YIMBY (Yes in My Back Yard) allies who’ve created “this false dichotomy” that city leaders must choose between housing construction and supporting growth that respects the city’s historic and architectural beauty. “I have always believed that you can grow this city without ruining it. You can be both pro-housing and pro-neighborhood,” Peskin said. “She has embraced a pretty radical, fringe element that doesn’t believe in zoning.” Breed’s campaign also leaned into the housing contrast Wednesday, peppering Peskin with a series of “Terminator” references in a statement. Spokesperson Joe Arellano added that Peskin winning “would mean ‘hasta la vista, baby’ for our local economy, our housing, and our city’s future.” Peskin’s entry comes soon after the Board of Supervisors voted to overturn a veto from Breed on his proposal to reimpose building-height restrictions along a stretch of waterfront — likely a harbinger of the citywide housing debate to come. Peskin said the ordinance closes an accidental loophole that would have allowed “supersize massive luxury towers” in a few historic areas of his district. YIMBY groups and Breed were livid over the revived density restrictions. Except to hear all about the spat through November. GOOD MORNING. Happy Thursday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. Now you can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte. WHERE’S GAVIN? In Merced County with Bureau of Reclamation officials this afternoon highlighting solar over canal projects.
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