Embarking on two major milestones
Something I appreciate about the new year is the opportunity it provides for reflection. In our frenetic lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day to-dos and weekly priorities without ever taking a step back to consider our progress or impact at scale.
This year, as I embark on two major milestones in my professional and personal life, I’ve found myself reflecting more deeply about the past and considering what I envision for the future.
10 Years at HAC
In terms of my professional life, 2026 marks the ten-year anniversary of my time at the Housing Action Coalition. I’ve written about this before, but I cannot express enough how much has changed about HAC and the broader pro-housing movement in that time. When I joined HAC in 2016 as the San Francisco Organizer, the idea of building more housing to make a city more affordable was a niche concept. Led by folks like Sonja Trauss and Scott Wiener, there was a (very) small but growing consensus that the housing situation in the Bay Area was untenable, and we needed solutions. At the time, my work was almost entirely focused on winning the political battle on housing in San Francisco — often without much success.
I’ll admit, during my first year at HAC, I had my doubts about whether this was a battle worth fighting. The work was hard, often thankless, and politically fraught. If you think San Francisco housing politics is contentious today, try advocating for a 100% affordable housing project in [neighborhood] back in 2016.
However, over the last decade, things have changed more than I could’ve imagined. The YIMBY movement has gained national attention and developed into one of the most cohesive, organized, and frankly positive political movements in the country. The political sentiment on building more housing has shifted to the point where Kamala Harris made the goal of building 3 million new homes over her presidential term a major part of her political platform. While there were issues with the feasibility of her plan, it was gratifying to see housing enter the national conversation. Especially in a way that was framed around the principle YIMBY belief: an undersupply of housing is driving an affordability and displacement crisis.
Here in California, the progress has been undeniable. Over the past decade, the state has enacted meaningful CEQA reforms, zoning changes, and process improvements that have made it easier to build housing. As Executive Director, it’s been gratifying to see the role HAC has played in advancing this change.
We’ve been a leader in advocating for permitting reform, sponsoring AB 1114 (Haney) to make the post-entitlement permit approval process ministerial, and AB 2234 (Grayson & Rivas) to further streamline and improve post-entitlement permitting. At the local level, we’ve also been on the ground pushing cities like San Francisco and Berkeley to expand zoning laws and create new pathways for housing production.
That progress didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen alone. It’s the result of persistence, coalition-building, and a shared willingness to play the long game.
The Birth of my First Child
On the personal front, I’m also entering a new chapter. My partner and I are expecting our first child in mid-April. I’ll be taking time off starting at the birth, through the summer, and returning around Labor Day. I’m incredibly grateful that this moment of personal growth coincides with a period of strength for the organization.
The depth of talent on our team and the commitment to high standards give me the confidence that HAC will be in good hands. My fellow senior leaders Gabrielle and Jesse, while less than a year on the job, have already made a tangible difference in the impact and effectives of our organization. And with plans to bring on a Communications Director, HAC will have the capacity while allowing me to prioritize family during this time.
That said, I want to be candid about one thing: fundraising remains my biggest concern while I’m away. Early commitments matter. Timely responses to outreach matter. If you’re considering a renewal or a new contribution, please don’t wait—and please engage with the team when they reach out. Your support is what keeps this work moving forward.
Looking ahead to my return, the work remains deeply personal for me—perhaps even more so now. With a growing family, the question of what kind of California we’re building feels immediate and urgent. We’re already laying the groundwork for major efforts aimed at potential 2028 ballot measures focused on housing funding. The stakes are high, and the opportunity is real.
This job is still fun. I still love it. And there is still a tremendous amount of work to do. I’m proud of what we’ve built over the past ten years, and I’m energized by what’s ahead.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
