San Francisco's Regulatory Stance on Waymo Draws Accusations of 'Violence Against Population'

San Francisco's ongoing efforts to regulate autonomous vehicle (AV) companies like Waymo have ignited a fierce debate, with one social media user, Daniel, asserting that "any regulatory or bureaucratic slowdowns is a very clear act of violence against the population." This strong sentiment, shared in a recent tweet, directly implicates Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, stating, "Every day Waymo is delayed or even slightly hassled is death, pain, suffering. This is Aaron Peskin's legacy." The tweet underscores the high stakes perceived by some in the deployment of robotaxi services amidst city-level pushback.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin has been a vocal proponent of increased local control over autonomous vehicles, referring to his strategy as "legislative guerilla warfare" against companies like Waymo. He has actively sought to condition Waymo's access to lucrative areas such as San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and has introduced legislation to regulate fleet charging stations. Peskin argues that while the state regulates AVs, the city retains control over critical infrastructure, stating, "There are things we do control. Including where you charge your cars. And the airport."

The regulatory landscape for autonomous vehicles in California is complex, primarily governed by the state's Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). However, San Francisco officials, including Peskin, have consistently lobbied for greater municipal authority, citing public safety concerns and a series of incidents involving robotaxis. These incidents include a Waymo vehicle being vandalized and set on fire in Chinatown after driving into a crowded Lunar New Year celebration, and a prior event where a Cruise robotaxi dragged a pedestrian.

Waymo, an Alphabet-owned company, has been aggressively pursuing widespread expansion of its driverless services across San Francisco and the wider Bay Area. Despite CPUC approvals for expanded operations, the company faces ongoing friction with city leaders who contend that AV technology is not yet sophisticated enough to navigate complex urban environments reliably. Peskin emphasized this point regarding the Chinatown incident, noting, "Most normal car drivers know that they have to avoid Chinatown during the Lunar New Year holidays. The computer doesn't understand that."

The stark divergence in perspectives highlights the intense pressure on both regulators and AV developers. While some, like the individual behind the tweet, view regulatory delays as directly harmful to the public by hindering access to perceived life-saving technology, city officials maintain their responsibility to ensure public safety and demand greater transparency and accountability from these companies. The future of Waymo's expansion in San Francisco continues to hinge on this contentious interplay between state and local governance.