South San Francisco · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in South San Francisco public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Personnel Appointment
The library has open recruitments, and the Director was scheduled to update the board on hiring progress. Staffing levels affect hours, programs and service quality at the library.
Project Labor Agreement Push
Labor unions showed up on a Saturday pushing the city to adopt a project labor agreement or contractor pre-qualification language. Several council members made it a 2026 priority, hoping for a compromise model other cities would copy.
Commercial Real Estate
Big pharma giant Pfizer is ditching South San Francisco, leaving a huge amount of lab space empty. This could mean major rent breaks for other companies looking to set up shop. We're also looking into whether the savings at Costco gas are worth the trip.
Anti-Displacement Roadmap
The city's study found Latino families in downtown down nearly 40% and seniors at growing risk of homelessness, with rents and home values up over 75%. Near-term steps include tenant-landlord rights workshops in May, a possible rental inspection program, expanded Launch Local space, and a small-business emergency fund.
Air quality in east South San Francisco
Councilmember Flores highlighted state data showing his district's census tracts rank worst in San Mateo County for pollution burden, with the highest asthma hospitalization rates. The council agreed to make air quality the top new priority in the 2026 action plan and to pursue an AB 617 disadvantaged community designation.
City Manager Hiring
South San Francisco has a new city manager! This is a pretty big deal because they'll be in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Keep an eye on who they picked and what their priorities will be.
City Manager Retirement
Big news for South City! The City Manager is retiring in December, meaning a major leadership shake-up is on the horizon. Get ready to see who takes the reins!
Garbage Rates
Get ready to pay more for trash pickup in South San Francisco. The city council just gave the green light to raise garbage rates, so your next bill is going to be a bit heftier.