Landlord in San Francisco allegedly reserves the right to screen tenants based on political affiliation and support for Israel during open houses

In the heart of San Francisco, a controversial open house has stirred up a storm of debate, with allegations of political discrimination making headlines. A local lawyer, Alexander Baran, has been accused of only allowing "MAGA voters and Israel supporters" to attend an open house for a two-bedroom apartment in Sunnyside.

Rachel del Guidice, a reporter for our website Digital, broke the story after the San Francisco Standard reported the incident. The listing on Zillow, which has since been taken down on Sunday, allegedly stated, "Only MAGA voters and Israel supporters are invited" to the open house.

When our website Digital reached out to Baran for comment, there was no immediate response. However, when the San Francisco Standard went to speak to the owner, they were allegedly told to "Get the f--- away from here. Don't make me repeat myself."

The concern raised by tenant rights lawyer, Joseph Tobener, is the potential for landlords to reject people in need of housing based on their political views. Tobener, who is also a participant in the rental housing viewing organised by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), stated that housing is a fundamental right and everyone should have equal access to it, regardless of their political orientation.

San Francisco, known for its progressive policies, is currently in a major housing crisis. According to Tobener, people are lining up 20 deep for a unit and showing up to find that the unit has already been rented. The city is considering a ban on homeless people living in RVs, which could exacerbate the housing shortage.

The action, according to Tobener, does not violate California or federal law because political orientation is not a protected class. To make political affiliation a protected class, the California state legislature would need to add political affiliations to the Fair Employment and Housing Act as a protected category.

The city's housing market has been on a steep rise, with the Zumper National Rent Report showing that San Francisco led the nation in annual rent growth. One-bedroom rent increased by 13.3%, while two-bedrooms surged by 16.3%. This, as Tobener mentioned, has given landlords significant power in the housing market, potentially leading to such discriminatory practices.

As the investigation continues, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for equal housing rights and the potential consequences of a housing crisis. The city and its residents are left to grapple with the implications of these allegations and the future of housing discrimination in San Francisco.