San Francisco’s housing crisis is spiraling, and while we’ve got enough vacant units to house the homeless population eight times over, a legal tussle is keeping the newly-approved Empty Homes Tax on the sidelines. Seriously, who knew making landlords cough up cash would be so complicated?

After passing a 2022 ballot measure that aimed to slap landlords with a hefty fee, between $2,500 and $5,000 annually, if their units sat empty for six months or longer (thanks for that, then-Supervisor Dean Preston), the people of SF felt like they were finally getting a taste of justice. However, the landlord brigade didn’t take the news lying down. Cue the lawsuits that are now driving the gears of justice into a grind. As of now, a judge has pressed pause on collecting this tax while the case winds through the legal labyrinth.

Enter District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder, who isn’t having any of this red tape nonsense. At a recent board meeting, she strut her stuff and dropped a proposal to amend the Empty Homes Tax so the city can start collecting it, if the courts ever give a thumbs up. Basically, Fielder wants to do everything in her power to avoid a scenario where the city can’t collect taxes for years while landlords sip Mai Tais in their empty units.

“I would like to explore amendments that would potentially avoid having the Empty Homes Tax suspended for years as the case makes its way through the courts,” she told colleagues. Well, Jackie, we’d like to see that happen too.

But let’s keep it real; while her proposal got the unanimous support of the board for further discussion, it doesn’t automatically mean it’ll see the light of day. We’re talking about a board that might turn into a game of tug-of-war when it actually comes to hitting landlords with fines. Who knew taxing empty homes could be such a divisive issue?

As this drama unfolds, SF continues to grapple with a housing crisis that’s less of a crisis and more of a tragedy for many. So, whether you’re feeling the pinch or watching from the sidelines, stay tuned. As we navigate this saga, it’ll be interesting to see if Fielder can turn the tide or if landlords’ lawyers continue to hold all the cards.