The Latest Breaking News from Rafael Mandelman

San Francisco couple's backyard Buddhist sanctuary faces planning complaint

A couple in San Francisco faces the prospect of losing their backyard meditation sanctuary due to a planning complaint. Their structure exceeded building regulations regarding roof overhangs and height after construction completed around 2008. They are currently appealing to the city's zoning administrator for an exemption to keep their sanctuary.…

The Times of India · Oct 19

San Francisco mayor proposes denser housing to tackle affordability crisis

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is pushing to build more homes to address the city's housing crisis

The Independent UK · Oct 30, 2025

San Francisco's All-Electric Ordinance Will Make Housing More Expensive

San Francisco’s new ordinance would impose all-electric building standards for new construction projects or buildings undergoing “major renovations.”

Reason · Aug 12, 2025

San Francisco's Efforts to Block Duplexes Could Force It To Allow Skyscrapers Instead

Supervisors have proposed legalizing fourplexes in a way that preserves NIMBYs’ ability to stop new housing. That could trigger the state’s obscure “builder’s remedy.”

Reason · Mar 9, 2022