"The measure, by Sup. Jackie Fielder, would also preserve so-called Production, Distribution, and Repair space for blue-collar jobs and protect that space from tech-company displacement. San Francisco has a long history of allowing PDR space to be taken over by tech companies. Now companies like Amazon and DoorDash are looking at robot delivery services (drones weighing ten pounds carrying chicken wings and pizza in the air over crowded neighborhoods? Robots riding along crowded sidewalks with Amazon products? What could possibly go wrong?), and Fielder is concerned. AI companies and tech research in PDR zones "places development pressure" on sites that still offer decent jobs for people without advanced degrees, she said today at the Land Use and Transportation Committee."
"Her measure would, for 18 months, require a special conditional use permit from the Planning Commission for tech-lab use in PDR zones."
"Sup. Bilal Mahmood offered an amendment exempting life science labs from the limits, which none of the committee members opposed. But tech companies and their allies are still concerned about the bill, and Gary Tan, who once suggested that progressive supervisors should die slowly, is now ranting about the city's ability to support creativity. I can think of a lot of ways to support creativity, including making affordable space for artists, musicians, and small manufacturers. There's lots of creativity and innovation in this city, and it isn't all in the AI world."
Board of Supervisors will consider a measure that could limit tech companies from using warehouse PDR space to test delivery drones and other AI products that may affect city safety. The measure would preserve Production, Distribution, and Repair space for blue-collar jobs and protect it from tech-company displacement. Companies such as Amazon and DoorDash are exploring robot delivery services and other lab research that can place development pressure on PDR sites that still offer decent jobs for people without advanced degrees. The proposal would require a special conditional use permit for tech-lab use in PDR zones for 18 months, with life-science labs exempted by amendment.
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