[hodgesrm]

The transaction was fully legal and similar to hundreds of others in the area where investors buy properties with delinquent taxes. I would have more sympathy for SF and the families on the street if they were actually working to change the screwed-up bureaucracy that allowed this sale to happen. However, this seems to be a case where money talks. There's nothing to prevent it from happening again or to protect San Franciscans who don't have an in with the board of supes.

(Disclaimer: I work with Tina and can vouch for her character. The character assassination and racist comments leveled against her and her husband in other forums are dismaying.)

[dpflan]

This is interesting; the couple bought the street which has a privacy gate - do they own the gate too? Is is possible that they owned the street but could not legally access it (by not owning the gate)? Does that affect the case/transaction? I'm not familiar enough with the details.

> Overhead View: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Presidio+Terrace,+San+Fran...

> Street View: https://www.google.com/maps/@37.788234,-122.4593631,3a,75y,2...

[sidlls]

I don't what the specific details are in this case, but there may be an easement. Generally property owners are entitled to access their real property. For example, if an owner purchases a plot of land that has no access except by crossing another property there is an "easement by necessity" for the former owner to cross the property of the latter to access his property.

Whether the sidewalk owners can enforce it is another matter. (See also Kosla's jackassery around denying water access.)

[thrill]

Most places disallow disallowing access to property you own.