On July 17, 2026, Connie Chan, supervisor of District One on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, unveiled a legislative package containing two bills that intend to support small business owners and workers in San Francisco. “Small Business Tenant Unions” (SBTU) and “Workers’ Opportunity to Purchase Act” (WOPA) were introduced September 1, 2026 to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. They are now on a 30 day hold which will be followed by a public hearing, discussion and votes from the full San Francisco Board of Supervisors and lastly a mayoral final decision.
SBTU, authored by Supervisor Chan and her team, encourages small business owners with the same commercial landlords to come together and form a stronger voice to negotiate. The primary benefit to this bill is to negotiate rent prices, but a number of other things could be discussed such as working conditions. “It’s putting power into the working class, and I think that it’s been taken away by people with resources,” said Benjy Caplan, San Francisco resident and employee at an independent unionized bookstore.
WOPA, collaborated on by Caplan, gives small business employees the first opportunity to purchase the business when the owners sell. The cooperative of employees wanting to buy the business has an opportunity to match any outside bid through the right of first refusal.
Caplan has admired the community small businesses bring to San Francisco. “In this community of bookselling specifically, there’s a lot of cooperation and cheerleading for each other,” he said. “I have to assume it’s similar with any other small business community in the city…we’re up against big companies, private equity, asset stripping and forces of late capitalism that are hard to surmount. We’re all in this fight together.”
Caplan had been interested in what a succession plan for the business he works at might look like. He knew the owners would eventually sell and wanted to be ready to carry on its legacy when that happens.
Around three years ago Caplan was put in contact with lawyer Paula Eisner and legislative consultant Hope Williams who were both passionate about support for small businesses. Shortly after, Caplan pitched the idea to Supervisor Chan. The team began communicating shortly after.
When asked about his passion for this issue, Caplan reflected on the struggle small business owners face, even at the end of their career. “A surprising statistic for a lot of business owners is that when a small business goes up for sale in the United States, only one in four… are actually sold, the other three in four go out of business.”
Caplan explained a huge asset from WOPA and how it will directly impact small business owners. “It gives…a way to protect their life’s work and extend their legacy and to give back to the community that they’ve been participating in and benefiting from all along,” he said.
Scott Weiner is a California State Senator and candidate running against Connie Chan for U.S. House of Representatives, representing California’s 11th Congressional District. Although not explicitly speaking of WOPA or SBTU, Weiner has made statements about Chan not having an extensive record of getting big things done, implying her work on WOPA and SBTU has been insignificant in the big picture.
Caplan has been greatly affected by San Francisco’s small business community. “I know the children of so many…families and have been able to watch them grow up and see their reading taste change. I know that it’s my coworkers who…the customers associate with the store most of all.”
Caplan views WOPA as a sensible and necessary system to support small businesses. “It’s nice to have a safe way for small businesses to feel protected and be united.”
Lick-Wilmerding High School community members who work at small businesses feel first hand the importance they hold. Mika Jagannathan ’27, an employee at Yardsale, a cafe and clothing small business located in Cole Valley, shared her experiences. “We’re a really open space, and so many people tend to bring their dogs in…I just think it’s a place where people feel comfortable,” she said.
photo by Angie Woo ’27
Lynn Nice, owner of Labels Luxury Consignment in Walnut Creek reminisces about the relationships she’s made working with the same community for 28 years. “When they respect your business, they feel comfortable with the employees and managers in a way that is akin to a real family.”
The future of these indispensable small businesses will be determined by a public hearing, taking place in the next few months.
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