Lurie Declares Rent Emergency Amid 25% Surge in San Francisco Rents
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a rent emergency on September 10, 2026, citing a 24.6% year-over-year increase in two-bedroom rents that now exceed $6,100. The declaration accompanies a package of proposed measures, including caps on rent increases for rent-controlled units, eviction delays for tenants with minor unpaid balances, and $3 million in funding for legal aid. While the declaration is largely symbolic, it signals a shift toward aggressive tenant protections as the city struggles with a housing shortage exacerbated by the AI industry boom.