Y Combinator President Garry Tan took to the social platform X on Tuesday to reiterate his dissatisfaction with elected officials representing San Francisco, where the renowned accelerator is located. This time, his criticism was directed at California State Assembly member Matt Haney for his proposed late-night email bill.
In a tweet, Tan expressed his opposition, stating, “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 up with a thread questioning the motives behind Haney’s actions.
Haney has become a frequent target of Tan’s criticism. In 2016, Haney led the San Francisco Public Schools board during discussions about removing algebra from middle school curriculum, a decision later reversed in 2024. Tan’s disapproval of this move has been evident in multiple tweets over the years.
In 2022, Haney was appointed to lead California’s opioid committee, prompting Tan to criticize the decision, citing Haney’s handling of the fentanyl crisis in San Francisco.
The current point of contention is Haney’s proposed bill, AB 2751, which would grant employees the “right to disconnect” after designated working hours. Haney argues that workers should not be expected to be available 24/7, regardless of smartphone technology.
Tan’s criticism of Haney’s bill reflects a clash with the startup culture’s emphasis on constant availability and dedication to work.
Tan’s public disagreements with California lawmakers are not new. In January, he criticized seven San Francisco supervisors on X, which later led to an apology after his comments were deemed violent. Additionally, in February, threatening letters containing Tan’s photo were sent to the homes of three San Francisco supervisors.
Efforts to obtain comments from both Tan and Haney were unsuccessful at the time of publication. Y Combinator declined to provide a statement.
