Garry Tan Expresses Displeasure with California State Assembly Member Matt Haney
On Tuesday, Y Combinator President Garry Tan took to social platform X to voice his discontent with elected officials representing San Francisco. This time, his target was California State Assembly member Matt Haney, who represents the city where the esteemed accelerator is based.
A Repeated Critique
Garry Tan’s tweet read:
"Legalize hard work. Haney is spreading nonsense again, from the guy who killed algebra and spun up the fentanyl crisis in the Tenderloin."
He followed this with a thread, asking:
"Is this a foreign op or what?"
This is not the first time Garry Tan has expressed his disapproval of Matt Haney’s actions. In 2016, Haney led the San Francisco Public Schools board when they discussed removing algebra from middle school curriculum. The course was reinstated in 2024. Garry Tan had previously taken to Twitter to criticize this decision on multiple occasions: April 2023, October 2022, and June 2021.
A History of Disagreement
Garry Tan has a history of disagreements with Matt Haney. In 2022, Haney was appointed to lead California’s opioid committee. Garry Tan responded by tweeting:
"Politics as usual is putting the incompetent supe who presided over 1000s of fentanyl deaths in his SF district in charge of the CA opioid commission. Matt Haney has done nothing to support recovery and treatment…"
Haney defended his work combating the opioid crisis in a February LinkedIn post. He referenced AB 1976, a bill that would require California employers to have "adequate first-aid materials" for workers. His goal is to make kits that include life-saving medication naloxone available as easily as fire extinguishers.
The Proposed Bill
What has caught Garry Tan’s ire this time is Haney’s proposed bill, AB 2751. This legislation would enable employees "the right to disconnect" after agreed-upon working hours. Meaning they’d have the legal right to ignore calls, emails, texts or messages sent after that time, except in cases of emergency. Employers in violation could be subject to fines, according to a report by the San Francisco Standard.
Haney told the publication:
"This bill is not about making it easier for people to slack off at work. It’s about creating a culture where employees feel comfortable taking breaks and not feeling pressure to constantly be available."
A Pattern of Disapproval
Garry Tan has consistently expressed disapproval of Matt Haney’s actions. This latest criticism comes as part of a pattern of disagreement between the two. It remains to be seen how this will affect their relationship moving forward.
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