SF's (and CA's) housing crisis has it's roots in NIMBY-ism and property tax policy. Both are intertwined and share proponents. Rent control is a bandaid, which isn't to say it's not needed as an emergency measure.

This reminds me of the approach dictators have to issues. Issue an edict or decree making the problem itself illegal. Problem solved!

They know exactly what they're doing. It's the constituents who are the problem.

It helps avoiding having one’s rent increase insanely and having to move out.

This program is vastly different than the program you are criticizing, in case you actually care.