FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/21/20
Contact: BayHAC Communications Director Mallory Lynn Hill
Phone: 925.890.9480
Email: mallory@sfhac.org
OAKLAND- The Bay Area Housing Advocacy Coalition announced today its support of California YIMBY’s formal complaint to the California Fair Political Practices Committee (FPPC) calling on them to investigate Michael Weinstein’s spending against SB 50 in last year’s election. Michael Weinstein and his organization, the Aids Healthcare Foundation, spent heavily to spread misinformation about Senate Bill 50, State Senator Scott Wiener’s beleaguered housing production legislation that advocates had hoped would help create desperately needed homes near transit all across the state, and the legal team at CAYIMBY say there’s ample evidence that Weinstein’s reporting practices were likewise dishonest.
“In a democracy, individuals and organizations can and should passionately advocate for their point of view — but we’re supposed to play by the same set of rules,” said Brian Hanlon, CEO of California YIMBY. “Those rules apply to Michael Weinstein as much as they apply to anyone. His violations are especially egregious since as a registered 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit, AHF is supposed to devote their resources to provide ‘medical care for those affected by HIV or AIDS,’ not to pursue political vendettas or pet political issues.”
“We applaud California YIMBY for calling on the FPPC to get to the bottom of how Michael Weinstein’s AIDS Health Foundation spends millions on political spending instead of helping AIDS patients without transparency.” -Bay Area Housing Advocacy Coalition’s Executive Director Todd David
The complaint calls on the FPPC to conduct a swift investigation, and BayHAC hopes to see immediate action and will continue to support this effort to hold Weinstein and the AHF accountable.
