Mayor Daniel Lurie promises to lead SF's "comeback"
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie prepares to sign the oath of office at City Hall on Jan. 8. Photo: Nadia Lopez/Axios
Daniel Lurie, a nonprofit founder, self-described "political outsider" and Levi Strauss heir who ran one of the most expensive mayoral races in the city's history, was sworn in as San Francisco's 46th mayor Wednesday.
Why it matters: Lurie, 47, has no prior experience in public office and is assuming the role at a critical time for a city grappling with ongoing homelessness, a struggling downtown, fentanyl overdoses and a dire housing shortage.
- His win over former Mayor London Breed and the progressive candidate and City Hall veteran Aaron Peskin ushers in a new political era of city leadership.
Between the lines: Lurie has vowed to fight corruption at City Hall in response to several scandals involving department heads and nonprofits that have rocked the city in recent years.
- Lurie's promises will also quickly be put to the test as he faces crucial spending decisions over a major projected budget shortfall.
Driving the news: Thousands of people arrived Wednesday morning at Civic Center Plaza to attend the inauguration, where Lurie delivered a speech that emphasized the importance of restoring San Francisco's image as a business hub, functional city and go-to tourist destination on the West Coast.
What they're saying: "We will fight every day for San Francisco's future," Lurie said. "We must act with an unapologetic focus on results and create the solutions that last far beyond the tenure of this administration. Now is the time for action. This is where our comeback begins."
Catch up quick: The new mayor financed his campaign with nearly $8.7 million of his own money and ran on a moderate policy agenda that proved to resonate with frustrated residents dissatisfied with the status quo.
- The rise in voter discontent with a left-wing government that placed ideological concerns above quality-of-life issues played a consequential role in determining the outcome of November's election.
- At the same time, deep-pocketed tech heavyweights, including billionaire investor Michael Moritz and Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, helped push the city toward the political center by organizing and challenging longstanding progressive policies that they've come to resent.
What's next: Lurie has tapped many tech and business leaders to assist in the transition team and lead some of the city's most powerful departments. They include:
- Open AI CEO Sam Altman, who was among the first high-profile individuals chosen to advise on how to best direct the city's future.
- Ned Segal, a former Twitter executive, was named chief of housing and economic development. He will help craft solutions to revitalize downtown and build more housing.
- Kunal Modi, a partner at consulting firm McKinsey, was selected as the policy chief to oversee the departments of health, homelessness and family services.
- Alicia John-Baptiste, head of Bay Area urban policy think tank SPUR, will be the policy chief tasked with leading infrastructure, climate and mobility projects.
- Paul Yep, a former police commander, was given the city's first-ever position as public safety chief in charge of coordinating the fire, police, and juvenile and adult probation departments.