Yes on D: Fill storefronts

Supervisor Aaron Peskin has seen the effects of perpetually vacant storefronts in his North Beach neighborhood. They not only promote blight and graffiti, they chill the atmosphere for the businesses that are struggling to survive in the city.

Peskin is pushing Prop. D to impose a tax in selected neighborhood districts on commercial properties that are vacant for more than six months of a tax year. It is specifically aimed at landlords who are keeping spaces vacant in hopes of getting a higherpaying tenant.

Our reservation with the measure is that greedy landlords is just one of the reasons for vacant storefronts. Some are beyond the city’s control, such as brickandmortar retailers at a disadvantage to online shopping. But some of the factors can be addressed by City Hall, as reflected in Peskin’s pledges to give small businesses relief from city fees, streamline permit applications and improve coordination within city departments.

We would be more enthusiastic about Prop. D if those steps were taken before the vote on this tax — and we wouldn’t need to put our faith in a Board of Supervisors that too often can be oblivious to or dismissive of legitimate business concerns.

To his credit, Peskin has included some critical flexibility to this measure. It does not take effect until 2021. It offers leeway for properties being rehabilitated or damaged by fire or earthquake. It allows supervisors to tweak or even freeze it in a recession or emergence of other problems. They can even sunset it with a twothirds vote.

On balance, Prop. D is good for business and good for the character of our neighborhoods. Vote yes.