Mayor Daniel Lurie and Supervisor Bilal Mahmood on Wednesday will introduced legislation that would cut city’s transfer tax in half on large real estate transactions. Feb. 25, 2026
SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie addressed chanting that broke out at an event he co-hosted on Wednesday afternoon where people were heard chanting "tax the rich," and then, "tax the Jews."
The event, Lurie explained in a social media post, was put on by him, Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, labor leaders and workers to announce plans to repeal Prop I, which he said would create more jobs and housing, although opponents say the change will only benefit wealthy commercial real estate owners.
"Suggesting that Jews are wealthy is a tired trope, and targeting our community at an event focused on creating economic opportunity for San Franciscans is decidedly anti-Semitic," wrote Lurie, who is Jewish. "I will never accept hate directed at the Jewish community or any community in our city. Those are not San Francisco values—we’re better than that."
A socialist political group – the Democratic Socialists of America in San Francisco – said that a woman who was not a member of their group, spouted "disgusting and antiemetic remarks."
In a social media post, DSA SF said they "want to make clear her words came from her alone."
The group said that while they disagree with Lurie on policy, "we join you in condemning antisemitism."
The event was intended to focus on Lurie and Mahmood's legislation nicknamed the "Build Act," which would cut the transfer tax by about half, to pre-pandemic 2020 levels.
The tax is paid when property changes from one owner to another, and for projects valued at more than $25 million.
Lurie said the money was supposed to fund affordable housing, but "instead, taxes went up, revenue went down and homes never got built."