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I'm surprised and incredibly impressed at this announcement. It seems trivial, but the general feeling in the industry has been that SF would fight tooth and na

I'm surprised and incredibly impressed at this announcement. It seems trivial, but the general feeling in the industry has been that SF would fight tooth and nail against robotaxis at SFO.

mmmore 1y ago
I genuinely think things have changed with Lurie as mayor and 6 growsf endorsed people on the board.
- quotemstr 1y ago
  It's going to take a long time for SF to overcome the reputation it built for itself in the 2010s.
khuey 1y ago
Recent changes in the composition of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (i.e. Peskin being out of government) may have something to do with it being easier than expected.
ra7 1y ago
Probably because SFO felt the heat after Waymo acquired SJC approval quickly: https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/05/phoenix-has-airport-robotaxis-re-coming-san-jos-san-francisco-still-waits/ https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/05/phoenix-has-airport-robota...
- spike021 1y ago
  the major difference being that SJC is easily accessible by surface streets whereas SFO mostly isn't.
  - ra7 1y ago
    Yes, but SFO (and the city of SF) has a long history of being hostile towards Waymo: https://missionlocal.org/2023/11/waymo-rebuffed-by-sfo-sf-guerilla-warfare-vs-robotaxis-is-on/ https://missionlocal.org/2023/11/waymo-rebuffed-by-sfo-sf-gu... What likely happened now is that SFO got a kick up their backside from the Mayor after the press started asking why it was still dragging its feet, while SJC approved Waymo swiftly.
  - e_y_ 1y ago
    And Waymo doesn't currently operate on highways for passenger service (I think they have authorization to, but they're only testing on highways right now). They should be able to get to SFO from Millbrae Ave and San Bruno Ave without getting on the highway proper, although it'll likely be a lot slower unless you're getting a ride from nearby. While SJC can serve downtown SJ and Santa Clara without getting on a highway.
- e_y_ 1y ago
  Most likely both agreements had been in negotiations for a while and not something they just pulled together last week in response to SJC, although it's possibly they could have used it as leverage (hey we've talking to SJC ...)
avree 1y ago
The NIMBY/landlord supervisors who controlled SF, such as Aaron Peskin and Dean Preston, are now a thing of the past.
- astrange 1y ago
  Peskin is now reduced to showing up at protests with signs saying the rent is too low. https://x.com/agarwal/status/1966365908085125384 https://x.com/agarwal/status/1966365908085125384

I'm surprised and incredibly impressed at this announcement. It seems trivial, but the general feeling in the industry has been that SF would fight tooth and nail against robotaxis at SFO.

mmmore 1y ago

I genuinely think things have changed with Lurie as mayor and 6 growsf endorsed people on the board.

quotemstr 1y ago
It's going to take a long time for SF to overcome the reputation it built for itself in the 2010s.

khuey 1y ago

Recent changes in the composition of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (i.e. Peskin being out of government) may have something to do with it being easier than expected.

ra7 1y ago

Probably because SFO felt the heat after Waymo acquired SJC approval quickly: https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/05/phoenix-has-airport-robotaxis-re-coming-san-jos-san-francisco-still-waits/ https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/05/phoenix-has-airport-robota...

spike021 1y ago
the major difference being that SJC is easily accessible by surface streets whereas SFO mostly isn't.
- ra7 1y ago
  Yes, but SFO (and the city of SF) has a long history of being hostile towards Waymo: https://missionlocal.org/2023/11/waymo-rebuffed-by-sfo-sf-guerilla-warfare-vs-robotaxis-is-on/ https://missionlocal.org/2023/11/waymo-rebuffed-by-sfo-sf-gu... What likely happened now is that SFO got a kick up their backside from the Mayor after the press started asking why it was still dragging its feet, while SJC approved Waymo swiftly.
- e_y_ 1y ago
  And Waymo doesn't currently operate on highways for passenger service (I think they have authorization to, but they're only testing on highways right now). They should be able to get to SFO from Millbrae Ave and San Bruno Ave without getting on the highway proper, although it'll likely be a lot slower unless you're getting a ride from nearby. While SJC can serve downtown SJ and Santa Clara without getting on a highway.
e_y_ 1y ago
Most likely both agreements had been in negotiations for a while and not something they just pulled together last week in response to SJC, although it's possibly they could have used it as leverage (hey we've talking to SJC ...)

avree 1y ago

The NIMBY/landlord supervisors who controlled SF, such as Aaron Peskin and Dean Preston, are now a thing of the past.

astrange 1y ago
Peskin is now reduced to showing up at protests with signs saying the rent is too low. https://x.com/agarwal/status/1966365908085125384 https://x.com/agarwal/status/1966365908085125384