Lurie’s $15.9B budget just landed. Here’s what to know


<p>Mayor Daniel Lurie released his nearly <a href="https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/70_CSF_Proposed_Budget_Book_June_2024_Final_REV1_0525v2.pdf">$16 billion budget proposal</a> Friday, showcasing his master plan to close San Francisco’s $782 million deficit.</p>



<p>Many services will keep their funding at the current levels: the San Francisco Police Department, the public defender’s office, the district attorney’s office, street cleaning crews, and homelessness services.&nbsp;Other city agencies will likely lose funding. <br><br>Lurie wants to cut roughly $185 million in contracts and nonprofit spending over two years, though the specifics of those reductions were not immediately available. He has also proposed eliminating approximately 1,400 positions from the city’s job rolls, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/28/san-francisco-mayor-daniel-lurie-budget-layoffs/">mostly vacancies and retirements</a>. More than 100 of those cuts could come from layoffs.</p>



<p>Under Lurie&#8217;s proposal, the city&#8217;s total budget amounts to $15.9 billion in fiscal 2026 and $16.3 billion in fiscal 2027. </p>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-datawrapper-chart" data-chart-id="405257"></div>



<p>In an address Friday morning, Lurie said the cuts are needed to right-size San Francisco’s habit of spending beyond its means, starting with the tech boom in the 2010s and continuing into the pandemic.</p>



<p>“Here’s the bottom line: We have to stop spending more than we can afford,” Lurie said. &#8220;The era of soaring city budgets and deteriorating street conditions is over.”</p>



<p>Despite Lurie’s<strong> </strong>talk of fiscal austerity, the majority of city departments would receive a budget bump under his proposal. The Department of Emergency Management, home of the 911 dispatch center, gets a 15% increase, the largest in the city. Budgets for the Juvenile Probation Department, the City Treasurer and Tax Collector and the Board of Supervisors would also shoot up by over 10%.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p>Discounting so-called enterprise departments, or agencies that are largely self-sufficient with independent budget processes, Human Services is set to pull in the largest overall windfall, with an $81 million increase. The police, fire, and sheriff&#8217;s departments would each<strong> </strong>get a more than $22 million bump.</p>



<p>But 21 departments do lose out in Lurie’s proposal<strong>:</strong> the Homelessness and Supportive Housing department is set to lose nearly $104 million; the<strong> </strong>Economic and Workforce Development Department<strong> </strong>faces<strong> </strong>a $57 million cut; and the Department of Public Works could lose $26 million trim.</p>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-datawrapper-chart" data-chart-id="404910"></div>



<p>Other departments that are set to lose large shares of their budget include the Ethics Commission, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/30/sf-status-of-women-human-rights-commission-budget/">Human Rights Commission</a>, and the Arts Commission.<br><br>Lurie closed the massive two-year deficit in his budget proposal partially through cuts but also by factoring in better-than-expected estimates for revenue in coming years. <br><br>Despite delivering a balanced budget proposal for the next two years and taking an estimated $300 million chunk out of the long-term deficit, the mayor acknowledged that the structural deficit will persist in the following years. The mayor’s office confirmed that in balancing the budget, it tapped into $40 million in reserve funds to pay for new equipment across city departments.<br><br>While other departments are facing layoffs, the administrative budget of the mayor&#8217;s office will get a bump due to negotiated wage increases, officials confirmed.</p>



<p>The mayor’s proposal kicks off negotiations with the Board of Supervisors before the final budget deadline of July 31. Public hearings will begin next month, allowing departments to request more funding.&nbsp;</p>



<p>&#8220;As we move through the board’s budget process in the month of June, it is clear that we have no good options,&#8221; said Supervisor Connie Chan. &#8220;As budget chair, I will work with Mayor Lurie and my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors to invest our public dollars in protecting San Franciscans and our values.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncertain-times">Uncertain times </h2>



<p>The financial threats to the city’s coffers are twofold.</p>



<p>San Francisco has struggled more than many U.S. cities in its economic recovery from the Covid pandemic. Downtown office vacancies skyrocketed at the start of the pandemic, throwing a critical component of the city&#8217;s economy into disarray. Those vacancies remain above 30%.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold billions of dollars in federal funding to San Francisco and other sanctuary cities that don’t comply with his hard-line immigration policies. The president’s budget plans include <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/14/san-francisco-hud-homelessness-housing-trump-budget-cuts/">gutting tens of millions</a> of dollars for low-income housing and homeless-prevention strategies. Republicans in Congress have&nbsp;also proposed cuts to programs for low-income residents, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/political-fight-medicaid-escalates-house-republicans-trump-big-bill-rcna209194">such as Medicaid</a>, which would similarly impact city revenue.</p>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-posts-container">
<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-post"></div>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-post"></div>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-post"></div>
</div>



<p>The <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/04/24/san-francisco-judge-blocks-trump-sanctuary-city-order/">city has responded</a> <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/02/san-francisco-sues-hud-over-illegal-funding-dem/">with federal lawsuits</a> to block those efforts and protect funding streams for critical services.</p>



<p>Also at risk is hundreds of millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding that the city used for emergency shelters for homeless people during the height of the pandemic. City officials now fear they will not be reimbursed for those funds.&nbsp;<br><br>Lurie confirmed Friday that the federal agency had notified the city of plans to claw back $140 million in funding it has already provided. </p>



<p>The city also receives $1 billion in federal funding each year for Medicaid and housing, among other services. But there are increasing worries among city leaders that the money will not come through under Trump’s administration. Lurie is therefore proposing a $400 million reserve fund as a way to &#8220;deal with that uncertainty.&#8221;</p>



<p>When asked what will happen if those safety funds are not sufficient, Lurie told reporters at City Hall that he hopes the city&#8217;s economic recovery,&nbsp;predicated on increased tax revenue, will cover for the missing funds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critics-decry-budget-cuts">Critics decry budget cuts </h2>



<p>Socking that money away, however, has put more pressure on an already buckled budget.</p>



<p>One of Lurie&#8217;s most controversial proposals is to redirect large portions of the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/11/08/wanting-more-from-tax-dollars-voters-poised-to-add-oversight-to-homelessness-department/">Our City, Our Home fund</a>, which voters approved via a 2018 ballot measure. The money was intended to boost transitional housing for younger residents, along with mental health services&nbsp;and additional shelter beds. Lurie instead wants to broaden the pool of San Franciscans the fund would help, raising concerns that there will be less money for the youth whom the ballot measure was intended to serve.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The proposal, which is likely to meet fierce opposition from supporters of homelessness nonprofits, would require a supermajority of the Board of Supervisors to approve.</p>



<p>Swift condemnation from local unions came as Lurie was in the middle of his budget address. In addition to criticizing proposed layoffs, labor groups decried tech companies such as Airbnb that have sued the city <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/31/san-francisco-budget-deficit-lawsuits-business-taxes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">to recoup tax</a> <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/31/san-francisco-budget-deficit-lawsuits-business-taxes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">money</a> they allege was overpaid.</p>



<p>Lurie declined to comment on the Airbnb lawsuit but said he welcomes more businesses to San Francisco.</p>



<p>&#8220;We want businesses here so that we can bring that tax revenue, and we can bring jobs back to San Francisco,&#8221; Lurie said.</p>



<p>&#8220;This is ridiculous. [Lurie] said this is a new era of accountability,&#8221; Anya Worley-Ziegmann of the People&#8217;s Budget Coalition, which advocates for nonprofits, community groups and unions, said Friday at City Hall. &#8220;Where&#8217;s the transparency? Where&#8217;s the budget?&#8221;</p>



<p>Service Employees International Union Local 1021 President Theresa Rutherford, whose union represents many city healthcare workers, said in a statement she was &#8220;deeply disappointed&#8221; in Lurie&#8217;s budget plans.</p>



<p>Rudy Gonzalez of the San Francisco Building &amp; Construction Trades Council said, &#8220;Layoffs are totally unnecessary. We can find the funds to save jobs and uphold San Francisco values.&#8221;</p>



<p>In response to the unions&#8217; criticism, Lurie said, &#8220;I take no joy in this. I was elected to make hard choices.&#8221;</p>



<p>Aside from union leaders,&nbsp;some&nbsp;city officials were dismayed by the proposed budget cuts. Patrick Ford, executive director of the San Francisco Ethics Commission, which monitors campaign finance issues and other matters, said despite <a href="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/press-release_-lurie-takes-on-city-hall-insider-corruption-with-aggressive-ethics-enforcement-proposal-to-restore-trust-integrity-accountability-in-city-government.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lurie&#8217;s promises on the campaign trail</a>&nbsp;to fully fund the department, up to four positions in the 28-person city agency could be affected by the mayor&#8217;s layoff plans. </p>



<p>&#8220;Based on what I know so far,&#8221; Ford said, &#8220;the rhetoric and reality are pretty different when it comes to the mayor’s support for ethics.&#8221; </p>


The bizarre $10K threat hanging over SF businesses


<p>In February, Joseph Magidow’s soon-to-open restaurant in Glen Park was well on its way.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Before launching La Cigale, a 15-seat restaurant that will serve wood-fired Occitanian fare, he needed to add a sewer line: Cut open a few sidewalk squares, dig a small trench, and install a pipe. One to two days of work at most, Magidow said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>But then he received a puzzling note from the Public Works Department. The city needed to ensure that no “survey monuments” were being disturbed within 20 feet of the planned excavation, threatening $10,000 in fines if Magidow didn’t provide the proper documentation.&nbsp;</p>



<aside class="wp-block-group alignright sushi-week-group"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained">
<div class="wp-block-media-text is-vertically-aligned-center"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1199" height="976" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/nicethings_02.png?w=1199" alt="A logo that says &quot;why we can't have nice things&quot;" class="wp-image-376882 size-full" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/nicethings_02.png 1199w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/nicethings_02.png?resize=300,244 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/nicethings_02.png?resize=768,625 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1199px) 100vw, 1199px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-baffling-maddening-and-sometimes-hilarious-encounters-with-san-francisco-government">Your baffling, maddening, and sometimes hilarious encounters with San Francisco government</h4>
</div></div>



<div class="wp-block-group sushi-week-group-styles"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained">
<style>
.sushi-week-group-styles {
    display: none !important;
}

.sushi-week-group {
    padding-right:1.5rem !important;
    margin-left:1rem;
    margin-top:1rem;
    margin-bottom:1rem;
    background-color:#FEFCE8;
}

.sushi-week-group .sushi-week-columns {
    gap:0;
    align-items:center;
}

.sushi-week-group button[aria-label="Expand image"] {
    display:none;
}

.sushi-week-group .sushi-week-description {
    font-weight:600;
}

.sushi-week-group .sushi-week-description a {
    text-decoration:none;
}

.sushi-week-group .sushi-week-read-more-heading {
    display:inline-block;
    font-weight:700;
    box-shadow:inset 0 -.1875rem #ffeb2d;
}

.sushi-week-group .sushi-week-read-more-heading a {
    text-decoration:none;
}

.sushi-week-group .sushi-week-stories-list {
    margin-bottom:0;
    margin-top:0.5rem;
}

.sushi-week-group .sushi-week-stories-list {
    font-weight:500;
}

.sushi-week-group .sushi-week-stories-list li:not(:last-child) {
    margin-bottom:0.5rem;
}

@media (max-width:767px){
  .sushi-week-group {
    margin-top: 1.75rem;
    margin-bottom: 1.75rem;
    margin-left:0;
    padding:1.5rem;
}

  .sushi-week-group .sushi-week-columns .sushi-week-left-column {
  width:120px !important;
}

  .sushi-week-group .sushi-week-right-column {
  margin:auto;
}

.sushi-week-group .sushi-week-columns {
  gap:1.5rem;
}
}
</style>
</div></div>
</div></aside>



<p>Survey monuments? “Nobody has heard of this dang thing,” Magidow said.</p>



<p>He isn’t the first to experience the tortuous maze of getting restaurants, bars, or other businesses off the ground in San Francisco — or simply staying open. That’s why The Standard is launching a series, Why We Can’t Have Nice Things, highlighting the frustrating, sometimes comical encounters San Franciscans have with their government.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As it turns out, survey monuments are nearly invisible points that sort property lines, among other uses Public Works says are vital to keeping the city organized. You may have noticed them in a fleeting moment while walking: little, silver-colored metal tags or star-studded brownish caps installed flush on the ground.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Seth Boor, an architect of nearly 30 years who designed Sightglass Coffee, Black Bird Bookstore, and other businesses, had never heard of the requirement imposed on Magidow.</p>



<p>“We’ve painted ourselves into a corner with so many codes,” he said. “It is hard for any entrepreneur to get any business done in the city.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1875" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/img_5453-1.jpeg?w=2500" alt="A concrete sidewalk with a textured grip pattern contains a small metallic disk labeled &quot;Control&quot; and &quot;CCSF,&quot; with faint numbers and a red circle nearby." class="wp-image-376169" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/img_5453-1.jpeg 4032w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/img_5453-1.jpeg?resize=300,225 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/img_5453-1.jpeg?resize=768,576 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/img_5453-1.jpeg?resize=2500,1875 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/img_5453-1.jpeg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/img_5453-1.jpeg?resize=2048,1536 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A survey monument in SoMa.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Magidow was presented with options. He could pay the city $4,455 for workers to ensure that no monuments were in the area or hire a third-party surveyor to do it for potentially less.</p>



<p>But Magidow was certain there were none of the markings near the small area he was digging up. To prove it, he and his team found a Public Works map called <a href="https://bsm.sfdpw.org/subdivision/monumental/Viewer.aspx">Mon-U-Mental</a> that shows the locations of the city’s survey markers.</p>



<p>It was clear to them from the map that none appeared within 20 feet of their construction site.&nbsp;</p>



<p>All set, said Magidow’s team. Not so fast, said Public Works.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Even though the department maintains that map, it would not accept it as sufficient evidence, Magidow was told. To ensure his business didn’t face further delays, he paid $800 for a private surveying firm to do the work.</p>



<p>The surveying firm’s submission to Public Works was a single-page, 58-word statement confirming what Magidow already knew: His business was in the clear. Public Works accepted the document.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="2500" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8608045701_canthavenicethings-1872-1-edited.jpg" alt="A man in a blue sweater, with tattoos, stands against a wall holding a bottle. Two other people are partially visible, one with a clipboard." class="wp-image-376746" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8608045701_canthavenicethings-1872-1-edited.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8608045701_canthavenicethings-1872-1-edited.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8608045701_canthavenicethings-1872-1-edited.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8608045701_canthavenicethings-1872-1-edited.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8608045701_canthavenicethings-1872-1-edited.jpg?resize=2500,2500 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8608045701_canthavenicethings-1872-1-edited.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8608045701_canthavenicethings-1872-1-edited.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8608045701_canthavenicethings-1872-1-edited.jpg?resize=180,180 180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Joseph Magidow plans to open his restaurant, La Cigale, in the spring.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Public Works spokesperson Rachel Gordon said the department informs permit applicants that construction can trigger the monument survey requirement. She said the city is responsible for enforcing state law in preserving the monuments, and that surveys must be completed be a licensed surveyor, but acknowledged that “a smoother, more transparent process to successfully open a business in San Francisco is in everyone’s interest to build on the City’s comeback.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to Gordon, 155 surveys conducted by third parties in 2024 found the need to preserve some monuments. In 61 cases, no monuments were found in the&nbsp; proximity of a proposed excavation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It appears that builders are overwhelmingly choosing not to pay the city’s high price for a survey. Last year, just two projects hired Public Works to conduct the monument work.&nbsp;</p>



<p>And that $4,455 fee? Gordon said Public Works is considering changing the price “to better reflect the complexity of the field survey required for a particular project.” She said the work from the city currently involves “office research and, if needed, field surveying.”</p>



<p>Other business owners have had similar encounters with city bureaucracy.</p>



<div style="width:100%;height:500px;" data-fillout-id="hkSxSzrLr1us" data-fillout-embed-type="standard" data-fillout-inherit-parameters data-fillout-dynamic-resize></div><script src="https://server.fillout.com/embed/v1/"></script>



<p>The Center, a yoga hub in the Lower Haight, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/06/01/the-center-sf-permit-issues-tea-zoning/">had to stop selling tea in June</a> after the city found it didn’t hold the proper permits — fixes the business said could cost $50,000 and months of renovations. Businesses that have faced break-ins <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/12/20/san-francisco-business-break-in-roll-down-gate/">have described a challenging permit process for installing roll-down gates</a> to prevent theft. Naz Khorram, who founded the wine bar Arcana in 2021, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/opinion/2024/04/20/small-business-red-tape/">wrote in The Standard last year</a> about a “year-long journey” to overcome “pressure groups abusing the [city’s] <a href="https://sfplanning.org/sites/default/files/forms/CUA_SupplementalApplication.pdf">conditional use authorization</a> process.”</p>



<p>Mayor Daniel Lurie alluded to the issues in his inauguration speech in January. “To our small businesses, who I know have been suffering: The era of a new restaurant going through 40 inspections and receiving 50 different answers is over,” he said. “That’s our promise to you.”</p>



<p>Magidow said his strategy throughout the ups and downs of launching his restaurant has been to remain calm.</p>



<p>“If you get stressed out about it, you’re not going to do anything in San Francisco,” he said.</p>


Former chief SF prosecutor out at top DOJ post in D.C.


<p>A longtime prosecutor at the U.S. attorney&#8217;s office for the Northern District of California who was later transferred to a top Department of Justice post in Washington, D.C., has exited that role, The Standard has learned.</p>



<p>Stephanie Hinds, who led the Northern District office in an interim role from March 2021 to March 2023, was <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-announces-stephanie-m-hinds-director-executive-office-us">appointed</a> by former Attorney General Merrick Garland as director of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys in October.</p>



<p>The role oversees the 93 U.S. attorneys nationwide, providing administrative support and legal education. </p>



<p>The circumstances surrounding Hinds’ departure were not immediately clear, but her exit follows a series of terminations at the Northern District of California. </p>



<p>President Donald Trump this month <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/13/san-francisco-us-attorney-ismail-ramsey-fired-trump/">fired the district’s chief prosecutor, Ismail J. Ramsey</a>, and replaced him with Patrick Robbins. It is not unusual for a new administration to replace U.S. attorneys, but presidents usually do so in consultation with the Department of Justice, Bloomberg has reported. Trump did not speak with the DOJ about Robbins’ appointment.</p>



<p>A DOJ spokesperson confirmed that Hinds’ last day was Saturday but did not provide an explanation for her departure. An out-of-office email reply from Hinds states that she is on extended medical leave. Bloomberg, <a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/director-of-us-attorneys-support-office-removed-by-trump-doj">which first reported on Hinds’ departure</a>, said she was reassigned to a sanctuary cities enforcement working group.</p>



<p>The website for the Executive Office states that the role is <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao/eousa">vacant</a>, and a <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/usao/staff-profile/meet-director-hinds">biography</a> for Hinds has been archived. Deputy Norman Wong is performing Hinds’ duties, the department said.</p>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-posts-container">
<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-post"></div>
</div>



<p>A graduate of UC Hastings (now UC Law San Francisco), Hinds worked at the San Francisco city attorney’s office in the 1990s before joining the local U.S. attorney&#8217;s office, according to her LinkedIn page. At her federal post, she prosecuted cases involving public corruption, violent crime, and money laundering.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Hinds was a prosecutor during some of San Francisco’s most notorious scandals, including those involving <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/Mohammed-Nuru-to-settle-federal-fraud-case-16710600.php">disgraced Department of Public Works chief Mohammed Nuru</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1490136614753850">Theranos executive Sunny Balwani</a>.</p>



<p>Hinds was named an associate deputy attorney general in Washington in May 2023, before assuming leadership of the Executive Office.</p>


Watch where you step: San Francisco’s streets may get dirtier


<p>Think San Francisco’s streets are nasty now? Thanks to budget woes, they may get even nastier.</p>



<p>With the city facing an <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/02/06/san-francisco-layoffs-daniel-lurie-budget-deficit/">$876 million deficit and potential layoffs</a>, the department in charge of scrubbing excrement off sidewalks and sweeping litter out of gutters could reduce its services, according to an initial budget proposal from the Department of Public Works.</p>



<p>If the trims occur, it would be a gut punch in a city battling a national perception of dirty, chaotic streets. It would also make Mayor Daniel Lurie’s job much more challenging: In addition to tackling <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/29/daniell-lurie-fentanyl-emergency-board-of-supervisors/">homelessness and the fentanyl crisis</a>, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/08/daniel-lurie-inauguration-speech-san-francisco/">he has promised to make San Francisco sparkling clean</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We don’t want to see cuts in street cleaning,” Public Works spokesperson Rachel Gordon told The Standard. “But it is a possibility in San Francisco.” Gordon clarified that the budget is in the early draft stages and won’t be finalized until the summer.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The proposed austerity measures come as city departments are tasked with slashing budgets by 15%, per a directive from Lurie. The mayor has also instituted a <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/09/san-francisco-mayor-daniel-lurie-hiring-budget-deficit/">hiring slowdown</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8449058998_publichealthdirector_02811.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a suit stands in front of a microphone, with a wall clock and a screen behind him. His expression is serious." class="wp-image-366753" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8449058998_publichealthdirector_02811.jpg 2970w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8449058998_publichealthdirector_02811.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8449058998_publichealthdirector_02811.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8449058998_publichealthdirector_02811.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8449058998_publichealthdirector_02811.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8449058998_publichealthdirector_02811.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor Daniel Lurie has told departments not to submit &#8220;politically untenable&#8221; budget cuts for his consideration. </figcaption></figure>



<p>Public safety and health positions are exempt from the partial freeze, and departments must submit a request to the mayor’s office if they want to make a hire.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In a <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/23/daniel-lurie-san-francisco-mayor-budget-cuts/">budget memo</a> obtained last month by The Standard, Lurie also asked departments to pause new contracts and programs in his bid to “eliminate $1 billion in overspending.”</p>



<p>A slice of that will come from Public Works. The department is seeking to decrease its budget by $13.8 million; of that, $2 million will come from the reduction of sidewalk cleaning services, and $1.2 million from cuts to sidewalk steaming and sweeping.</p>



<p>But that is only the start of possible downsizing for cleaning operations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The department will also see an end to extra funding it received over the last two years amounting to $16.7 million, devoted to tidying roads. And another $4.7 million is on the chopping block for part of the city’s Pit Stop program, which provides public toilets, used needle receptacles, and dog waste stations.</p>



<p>Departments are submitting their budget proposals to the mayor’s office. Lurie has until June to submit his version, which will be voted on by the Board of Supervisors.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241024-homelesssweepsbodycam-me-27.jpg?w=2500" alt="People in safety vests clean a street behind yellow police tape. They're near a blue structure, and various items are scattered on the ground." class="wp-image-326054" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241024-homelesssweepsbodycam-me-27.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241024-homelesssweepsbodycam-me-27.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241024-homelesssweepsbodycam-me-27.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241024-homelesssweepsbodycam-me-27.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241024-homelesssweepsbodycam-me-27.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241024-homelesssweepsbodycam-me-27.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Department of Public Works could see millions cut from its street cleaning services because of citywide budget reductions.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Christin Evans, owner of The Booksmith on Haight Street and an executive board member of the Council of District Merchants Associations, said dirty streets may slow the city’s economy at a precarious time, especially for small businesses.</p>



<p>“Part of the recovery in the post-pandemic era includes a basic level of sidewalk maintenance. I don’t think it’s a controversial thing,” Evans said. “If there’s garbage tumbling down the street like a tumbleweed, it gives the sense that it’s neglected.”</p>



<p>Street cleaning also faced cuts during the last economic downturn, she recalled, leading to a buildup of feces on streets, with merchants circulating pictures of the piles.</p>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-posts-container">
<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-post"></div>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-post"></div>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-post"></div>
</div>



<p>In his budget memo to department heads, Lurie said, “Please do not submit proposals designed to be politically untenable.” Given that neighborhoods and merchants clamor for clean streets, it’s unclear if the mayor would make even minor cuts to those efforts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In a statement, mayor spokesperson Charles Lutvak said, “Closing the largest budget deficit in the city’s history will require doing things differently, making tough decisions, and delivering better services. That’s what San Franciscans elected Mayor Lurie to do, so we can get back to investing in our city. As we do that, Mayor Lurie won’t rest until our streets are safe and clean, as San Franciscans deserve. We will review each department’s budget proposal.”</p>



<p>Officials with the Public Works Department on Thursday warned that the financial forecast for the city could portend even deeper cuts in coming years. A city estimate pegs the deficit by 2030 at nearly $1.5 billion.</p>



<p>“As the numbers balloon, I think there’s going to have to be some really difficult choices made in terms of overall city governmental reorganizations,” Bruce Robertson, Public Works’ deputy finance director, said at a recent public meeting. “The real hard choices are in fiscal year [2029-30], when it’s $1.5 billion.”</p>


Trump fires SF’s top federal prosecutor


<p>The United States Attorney for Northern California was fired Wednesday as part of a  Trump administration push to boot Biden-appointed prosecutors from the federal government. </p>



<p>Ismail J. Ramsey was replaced with Patrick Robbins, an assistant U.S. attorney who took office in 2023.</p>



<p>A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney&#8217;s office confirmed Ramsey&#8217;s departure.</p>



<p>&#8220;I can confirm that Mr. Ramsey yesterday concluded his leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, during which time he oversaw the Office’s successful pursuit of correctional officers at the Bureau of Prisons for abusing their authority, civil rights violators, public corruption, trade secret theft, corporate fraudsters, fentanyl traffickers, and violent criminal organizations,&#8221; the office said in a statement.</p>



<p>The Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment.</p>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-posts-container">
<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-post"></div>
</div>



<p>It is customary for incoming presidents to fire federal prosecutors, but they usually coordinate with the DOJ, Bloomberg <a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/trump-ousts-biden-holdover-us-attorneys-from-justice-department">reported</a>. In this case, however, President Donald Trump fired U.S. attorneys without talking to the DOJ first.</p>



<p>“It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve as the U.S. Attorney in the community where I grew up,” Ramsey wrote in a statement Thursday. “I am humbled and grateful that President Biden gave me this opportunity.”</p>



<p>Before joining the U.S. attorney’s office, Ramsey was a partner at a Berkeley law firm and taught at the UC Berkeley law school.</p>



<p>San Francisco legal community leaders <a href="https://missionlocal.org/2022/12/ismail-ramsey-izzy-ramsey-u-s-attorney-mohammed-nuru-thelton-henderson/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lauded</a> Ramsey when he was nominated in 2022 — even though he represented Mohammed Nuru, the corrupt chief of the Department of Public Works, in court. Other lawyers described Ramsey as smart and aggressive.</p>



<p>Robbins has been an assistant U.S. attorney since 2023 and also between 1995 and 2004. During his first stint in the office, he led the investigation into the manipulation of California&#8217;s electricity markets by the Enron Corporation and other companies.</p>



<p>The Northern District encompasses the San Francisco Bay Area and stretches from Del Norte County in the north to Monterey County in the south.</p>


Where the hell are San Francisco’s trash cans?


<p>A mound of clementine peels. A pile of poop. Soiled napkins. A Target bag. A McDonald’s bag. Poop in a bag. An empty Coke bottle. An empty sugar packet. A flattened Jamba Juice cup. A white plastic retainer case. Half of a Fruity Pebbles cereal box. A green pear with one bite taken out.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This is just a small sampling of the litter found on a half-mile stretch of 10th Street in SoMa. You’ll find it on curbs, beneath trees and car tires, scattered along the sidewalk, and jammed between walls, windows, and doors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Along that corridor, with its Costco, school, and church, are just two trash cans. On one recent Tuesday, they weren’t helpful. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1875" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/img_4948.jpg?w=2500" alt="An overflowing trash can is on a city sidewalk, with buildings and a street full of cars in the background, under a clear sky." class="wp-image-361233" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/img_4948.jpg 4032w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/img_4948.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/img_4948.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/img_4948.jpg?resize=2500,1875 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/img_4948.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/img_4948.jpg?resize=2048,1536 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An overflowing trash can on the corner of 10th and Mission streets.</figcaption></figure>



<p>At 10th and Mission streets, one of the city’s green, metal bins was overflowing with bottles, cans, and fast-food cups. </p>



<p>Further south, on Bryant Street, one of the Bigbelly bins wouldn’t open. A single green bag of dog poop lay on the ground.</p>



<p>The trash-can desert in SoMa is one of several identified in a Standard analysis of San Francisco’s infrastructure, which found pockets of the city, including Nob Hill and the Outer Sunset, bereft of bins.&nbsp;</p>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-datawrapper-chart alignwide" data-chart-id="358682"></div>



<p>“It doesn’t make any sense to me,” said resident Ivana Zivkovic. “Trash cans are an afterthought.”</p>



<p>Zivkovic said Nob Hill is particularly bad, specifically the area around Grace Cathedral and the Cable Car Museum. There, she often sees tourists walking around with cups of coffee and nowhere to dispose of them.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Then there’s the even more frustrating part: the disappearing cans. At Woh Hei Yuen Park in Chinatown, Zivkovic said she&#8217;s seen multiple cans go missing.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1170" height="2320" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/img_8284-e1738283719462.jpg?w=1170" alt="A green public restroom structure is on a littered sidewalk beside a road with a bus nearby. There's a utility box and some buildings in the background." class="wp-image-361809"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Trash accumulates at 48th Avenue and Ortega Street. A resident said a bin at the bus stop has been removed.</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>In the outer Sunset, resident Allie Raul noticed that a bin was removed late last year by a bus stop at 48th Avenue and Ortega Street. Raul said there are bags of garbage hanging on nearby fences and cigarette butts and bottles strewn about. She sent in a 311 request, asking that the city install another bin, but it was quickly rejected.</p>



<p>“Case Resolved | Not in Scope,” the 311 response states, according to a copy of the complaint.</p>



<p>“I walk my dog, and I usually avoid that block because it is so dirty,” said Raul. “Once a week, I’m picking up trash.”</p>



<p>San Francisco and trash cans have a controversial history. In 2007, then-Mayor Gavin Newsom announced a surprising order: <a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/s-f-to-kick-garbage-cans-to-the-curb/article_185a2479-805a-5b74-99c3-869d8db8dd78.html">The city would reduce its trash can portfolio</a>. Newsom argued that the number of bins per capita was the highest among big cities, and that residents and businesses were using them to illicitly dump household trash. At the time, there were 5,000 trash cans in the city, according to the Examiner.</p>



<p>Then came the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/08/17/heres-what-a-san-francisco-20k-trash-can-looks-like-after-a-month-of-city-living/">infamous and puzzling project</a> a couple of years ago to create a bespoke trash can that sparked headlines for its expensive price, <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/sf-bespoke-trash-can-garbage-budget-deficit-breed-18617624.php">an effort that was paused</a> because of budget constraints.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Today, the Department of Public Works has nearly 3,000 trash cans. (San Francisco Recreation and Parks and the Port add approximately 1,400.) Recology services the Public Works cans at least once daily, though some in high-traffic areas are emptied as many as four times a day, according to the department.</p>



<p>The issue is top of mind for politicians. Mayor Daniel Lurie has <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/08/daniel-lurie-inauguration-speech-san-francisco/">promised a cleaner city</a> after an election in which street conditions were mentioned at nearly every debate and speech. Newly elected District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter, in his first piece of legislation this month, called for a hearing about trash cans and the decision-making behind their installation and removal.</p>



<p>“I personally knocked on 12,000 doors,” Sauter told The Standard about his campaign. “This was the thing that came up most.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="2500" width="1668" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250129_8214992788_garbage_asdegrazia.jpg?w=1668" alt="A woman in a red jacket stands at a street crossing, gesturing with her hands. She has curly hair, wears purple leggings, and has a black fanny pack." class="wp-image-361771" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250129_8214992788_garbage_asdegrazia.jpg 5321w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250129_8214992788_garbage_asdegrazia.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250129_8214992788_garbage_asdegrazia.jpg?resize=768,1151 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250129_8214992788_garbage_asdegrazia.jpg?resize=1668,2500 1668w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250129_8214992788_garbage_asdegrazia.jpg?resize=1025,1536 1025w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250129_8214992788_garbage_asdegrazia.jpg?resize=1366,2048 1366w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1668px) 100vw, 1668px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ivana Zivkovic at Mason Street and Pacific Avenue, one of the city&#8217;s trash-can deserts between Nob Hill and Chinatown.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Behind the city’s trash can infrastructure is a Kafkaesque cycle of complaints, vandalism, homeless people rummaging through receptacles, overflowing bins, and more garbage than anyone can handle.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Public Works spokesperson Rachel Gordon said the city tries to maintain bins along commercial corridors and at transit stops, schools, and parks. San Francisco has 13,000 blocks, and it is not realistic to have a trash can on every corner, she said.</p>



<p>“We don’t have an infinite number of resources,” said Gordon, adding that the city has added trash cans in some areas — for example, the Mission —&nbsp; with no noticeable effect.</p>



<p>As for the disappearing bins, it’s a chicken-and-egg problem.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A bin will overflow with trash, neighbors will complain, the city takes it away, and neighbors complain again because there&#8217;s trash all over the ground. Gordon said the city <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/05/04/illegal-dumping-investigators-public-works/">has an enforcement team on the hunt for illegal dumpers</a> and creates social media campaigns encouraging good behavior.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In the case of the missing can at 48th and Ortega, Gordon confirmed that the city determined not to replace the bin because of persistent dumping.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It became more of a problem than a help,” Gordon wrote in an email. She is convinced that a mindset change needs to occur among residents, making public cleanliness a higher priority.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Sintana Vergara, an assistant professor of engineering at Swarthmore College and an expert in all things garbage, agrees.&nbsp;</p>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-posts-container">
<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-post"></div>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-post"></div>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-post"></div>
</div>



<p>“Once the norm has been set that you have overflowing trash cans, you’re in a difficult situation,” said Vergara. “It is an important opportunity to hit reset. We’ve got to rethink how we do this.”</p>



<p>But Sharon Christen, who lives near McCoppin Hub, thinks about it differently. She’s seen trash cans get plucked away in her neighborhood and now regularly sees waste being left in tree wells and bags of dog feces in the middle of the street.</p>



<p>“How are we going to encourage good behavior if there are no trash cans?” she asked. “When it looks like crap, and there’s trash everywhere, that’s not gonna encourage people to come here.”</p>



<div style="width:100%;height:500px;" data-fillout-id="hkSxSzrLr1us" data-fillout-embed-type="standard" data-fillout-inherit-parameters data-fillout-dynamic-resize></div><script src="https://server.fillout.com/embed/v1/"></script>


Lurie’s first law asks rich people to help fix the fentanyl crisis


<p>San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie wants to turn out the pockets of members of his wealthy social circles for the public good.</p>



<p>In his first proposed law, Lurie, a centi-millionaire and heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, seeks to loosen city regulations to allow the mayor’s office to solicit donations from “various private entities and organizations” to address the fentanyl crisis, homelessness, and public safety. The loosened laws concerning private donations would be in effect for six months.</p>



<p>The draft legislation, sent to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, also asks the board to voluntarily give up its authority to approve contracts in those areas, in the name of speed.</p>



<p>“The city wants to try innovative solutions to address these crises more effectively and more quickly, but long-established rules often stand in the way of speedy progress,” Lurie’s draft law reads. He intends to “expedite the city’s response to these challenges and expand the city’s capacity to meet these challenges.”</p>



<p>The law focuses on contracts addressing homelessness, drug overdoses and substance use disorders, mental health needs, and public safety. It would likely cover a wide swath of contracts; for example, approving funds to buy property for a new homeless shelter, hiring a nonprofit health contractor to provide free checkups, or paying <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/19/urban-alchemy-san-francisco-tenderloin-layoffs/">unarmed ambassadors like Urban Alchemy</a> to patrol the Tenderloin.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1668" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg?w=2500" alt="A group of people is gathered at night on a city sidewalk, with a police car parked nearby. Many are wearing coats and appear to be outdoors in cold weather." class="wp-image-354771" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg 3000w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240211_unplazayouth-0369.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The area outside the Asian Art Museum near UN Plaza has been a hot spot for drug activity.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Negotiations with the Board of Supervisors could change the draft law. The first version is as an opening salvo — and an early test of the “new era of cooperation” between the mayor and the board that Lurie promised in his inauguration speech.</p>



<p>Already, members of the Board of Supervisors are sounding skeptical notes. </p>



<p>&#8220;I’m open to providing Mayor Lurie the necessary legislative tools to tackle the fentanyl crisis, but not at the expense of checks and balances of the legislative branch,&#8221; Supervisor Connie Chan told The Standard. </p>



<p>But publicly at the Board of Supervisors regular meeting Tuesday, and speaking to The Standard, a few noted their support: Supervisors Bilal Mahmood, Joel Engardio, Danny Sauter, and Matt Dorsey.</p>



<p>&#8220;There’s a part of this that&#8217;s personal for me as someone struggling with addiction, but also in my time in the city attorney’s office,&#8221; Dorsey said. He said he&#8217;s seen how stymied the government can get: &#8220;Sometimes we have to declare an emergency to get out of our own way internally.&#8221;</p>



<p>Others are reserving judgment before they hear more, like Supervisor Shamann Walton, who told the board, &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure how the current plan reflects action.&#8221;</p>



<p>On the campaign trail, Lurie promised to declare a fentanyl state of emergency on “Day One,” which would help him cut red tape in addressing the crisis. That didn’t happen.</p>



<p>As The Standard <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/03/27/fentanyl-state-of-emergency-mayoral-san-francisco/">has noted</a>, a legal “state of emergency” must be unforeseen and sudden to hold up to legal scrutiny. Lurie’s draft law aims to achieve similar goals without the legal mechanism of an emergency declaration.</p>



<p>Some provisions may be welcome: allowing quicker hiring, for instance, and allowing departments to more easily move money around where it&#8217;s needed, without red tape. </p>



<p>From the Board of Supervisors’ perspective, other parts of the legislation may be a hard sell.</p>



<p>The draft says the provision around board authority will sunset in 2029, a long period for the supervisors to give up the ability to provide checks and balances to Lurie’s administration. The draft also notes that some departments may award contracts without a competitive bidding process — the same lack of oversight that enabled Mohammed Nuru, the convicted former director of the SF Department of Public Works, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/04/players-in-san-francisco-corruption-scandal-mohammed-nuru/">to award contracts in exchange for bribes</a>.</p>



<p>Giving up board authority may also raise the eyebrows of the various unions who work with the board on labor practices. Rudy Gonzalez, secretary-treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, said he was guaranteed by Lurie&#8217;s administration that prevailing wages would be protected — calming his fears the legislation would cut out working-class people.</p>



<p>&#8220;I’m going to be supportive of the administration treating the fentanyl crisis as a true emergency,&#8221; Gonzalez said.</p>



<p>A source familiar with negotiations said that conversations are now focused on what would be a 45-day window for the board to reject contracts if they wanted to, which is the same for the process of commission appointments.</p>



<p>A similar concern may arise in granting Lurie the ability to solicit funds from private donors. Government staff are legally barred from soliciting donations from parties with business before their departments, a practice legally known as “behested payments.” The city at times has waived behested payment laws for specific projects. That may prove relevant as the city tries to plug its two-year $876 million budget deficit.</p>



<p>That may be why in his <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/01/08/daniel-lurie-inauguration-speech-san-francisco/">inauguration day speech</a>, Lurie described private funds as a “critical requirement” for his policy initiatives. </p>


Homeless sweeps came back with a vengeance in 2024

San Fran-stink-o? Mayoral candidates have plans to clean up nasty streets


<p>It’s a rite of passage in San Francisco: stepping over a pile of filthy boxes, Uber Eats takeout containers, and a dirty pair of shoes as you walk down the street. Even if you happen to pass a trash can, there&#8217;s a good chance there&#8217;s a bin liner missing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>The city’s streets are grimy and littered with garbage, a <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/05/23/san-franciscos-streets-are-dirty-but-just-how-dirty-exactly/">study confirmed</a> last year. It’s a problem that’s been addressed by&nbsp;the leading candidates for mayor, each of whom&nbsp; has promised to sweep up the trash and keep the avenues sparkling clean. How will they do that? We attempted to find out in our “Ask the candidates” series.</p>



<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-posts-container">
<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-related-post"></div>
</div>



<p>We’ve&nbsp;collected questions from readers on the most pressing issues facing San Francisco and are publishing them leading up to the Nov. 5 election.</p>



<p>Here’s what a reader named Gina G. had to say:&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>&#8220;No one is picking up the garbage, and the amount of trash everywhere is unprecedented. Even the public trash can near my building has been missing its door for a year, and reports to 311 go unanswered. What is your plan to fix this?&#8221;</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1997" height="2994" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08192024breeddncinterview-8.jpg?w=1668" alt="A woman in a blue suit stands smiling by a river, with modern high-rise buildings and a bridge in the background. She wears a white top and a gold necklace." class="wp-image-303844" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08192024breeddncinterview-8.jpg 1997w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08192024breeddncinterview-8.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08192024breeddncinterview-8.jpg?resize=768,1151 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08192024breeddncinterview-8.jpg?resize=1668,2500 1668w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08192024breeddncinterview-8.jpg?resize=1025,1536 1025w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08192024breeddncinterview-8.jpg?resize=1366,2048 1366w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1997px) 100vw, 1997px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor London Breed says she has put significant resources toward fighting the city&#8217;s garbage problems.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mayor-london-breed">Mayor London Breed</h2>



<p>Breed called tackling rubbish “no easy task” but maintains that it is a top priority of her administration. She said she has provided ample resources to the trash-fighting Department of Public Works staffers and noted that 311 calls are down, which she described as an indication of progress on the garbage issue.</p>



<p>“DPW aims to resolve 95% of street cleaning requests within 48 hours, which is on top of the regular cleaning they do all over the city every day,” Breed wrote in her questionnaire. “And I’m proud that we met that goal. But there is always more work to be done, and I am committed to doing that work.”</p>



<p>Breed said she has put additional resources toward power-washing teams, steam trucks, funding for graffiti abatement, and more Public Works cleaning shifts in afternoons and evenings. She also has funded more trash cans, she said, and promises to get rid of broken ones.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“All of us working together can make this city shine, and I am committed to keeping the necessary city investments going to do just that,” she wrote.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3000" height="2001" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined00_20240520-housingballotccdc.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man speaks at a podium with multiple microphones, surrounded by people holding protest signs in various languages. Some wear masks and hats." class="wp-image-276999" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined00_20240520-housingballotccdc.jpg 3000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined00_20240520-housingballotccdc.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined00_20240520-housingballotccdc.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined00_20240520-housingballotccdc.jpg?resize=2500,1668 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined00_20240520-housingballotccdc.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined00_20240520-housingballotccdc.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin called out Breed for the city&#8217;s expensive trash cans.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aaron-peskin">Aaron Peskin</h2>



<p>The progressive-leaning Board of Supervisors president blames the junk challenge on Breed, <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/08/17/heres-what-a-san-francisco-20k-trash-can-looks-like-after-a-month-of-city-living/">pointing to bespoke trash cans</a> that cost up to $21,000 a pop and became <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/sf-bespoke-trash-can-garbage-budget-deficit-breed-18617624.php">a punch line and symbol of San Francisco’s governance problems</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Peskin said he would instead purchase thousands of “off-the-shelf, inexpensive” bins to immediately line streets. Additionally, he will require the city’s garbage contractor, Recology, to meet “cleanliness and service standards” that include the areas around the bins, where trash often spills over.</p>



<p>“I will set standards and metrics for cleaning our streets and hold the City’s contractors accountable,” he wrote in his questionnaire. “Like so many problems facing San Francisco, the solutions start not with talk, but with smart management and that is what I will bring to the mayoralty.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4522" height="3015" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240614-secondmayoraldebate-ac-421.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a dark suit and pink tie is speaking on stage, with a blue background and a microphone attached to his jacket." class="wp-image-284221" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240614-secondmayoraldebate-ac-421.jpg 4522w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240614-secondmayoraldebate-ac-421.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240614-secondmayoraldebate-ac-421.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240614-secondmayoraldebate-ac-421.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240614-secondmayoraldebate-ac-421.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240614-secondmayoraldebate-ac-421.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 4522px) 100vw, 4522px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nonprofit executive Daniel Lurie says the garbage problem is directly linked to homelessness.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-daniel-lurie">Daniel Lurie</h2>



<p>The self-proclaimed City Hall outsider says the city’s streets have “deteriorated to unprecedented levels” and blamed the issue partially on drug use and individuals with visible mental health crises.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Lurie is selling his “Home Run” shelter plan, which he claims will end homelessness “as we know it within the city limits,” for less money than is currently spent. The plan would create 1,500 emergency shelter beds in the first six months and 2,500 interim units in the first two years. He points to <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/tiny-homes-sf-18522368.php">a development at 33 Gough St</a>. as a model for generating quick shelter for homeless San Franciscans.</p>



<p>“It’s a smarter, more sustainable approach that benefits everyone, from taxpayers to those experiencing homelessness,” Lurie wrote in his questionnaire. “We need to both address unsheltered homelessness and help people off the streets.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4128" height="2752" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/secone-mayoral-debate2-13.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a suit sits in an auditorium, facing slightly to the left, with an American flag and others in the background. The setting appears professional." class="wp-image-284178" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/secone-mayoral-debate2-13.jpg 4128w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/secone-mayoral-debate2-13.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/secone-mayoral-debate2-13.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/secone-mayoral-debate2-13.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/secone-mayoral-debate2-13.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/secone-mayoral-debate2-13.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 4128px) 100vw, 4128px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Former interim mayor Mark Farrell wants to reform Recology, which picks up the city&#8217;s trash.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mark-farrell">Mark Farrell</h2>



<p>The former interim mayor has pr...

Watch: Mark Farrell says he would have cleared homeless despite court order: ‘Sue me’


<p>Mayor London Breed should have defied a 2022 court injunction that restricted the city from enforcing laws against sitting, lying, or sleeping on public property.</p>



<p>That’s according to San Francisco mayoral candidate and former Mayor Mark Farrell, who says he would’ve continued to sweep homeless encampments no matter what a judge said.</p>



<p>“You would have just done it? You just would’ve cleared the camps?” ABC7 reporter Reggie Aqui asked during a recent interview with the candidate hosted by The Standard, the television network, and tech reporter Kara Swisher.</p>



<p>“One hundred percent,” Farrell answered. “If you want to sue me in my capacity as mayor because you don&#8217;t agree with what I&#8217;m doing, I welcome that.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3000" height="1688" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/san_francisco_standard_abc7_mayoral_candidate_interview_mark_farrell.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a suit is being interviewed on TV about San Francisco's mayoral race. The banner reads, &quot;Reviving Downtown: Tax breaks for businesses?&quot;" class="wp-image-317842" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/san_francisco_standard_abc7_mayoral_candidate_interview_mark_farrell.jpg 3000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/san_francisco_standard_abc7_mayoral_candidate_interview_mark_farrell.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/san_francisco_standard_abc7_mayoral_candidate_interview_mark_farrell.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/san_francisco_standard_abc7_mayoral_candidate_interview_mark_farrell.jpg?resize=2500,1407 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/san_francisco_standard_abc7_mayoral_candidate_interview_mark_farrell.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/san_francisco_standard_abc7_mayoral_candidate_interview_mark_farrell.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Farrell said he&#8217;d take a hard line on homelessness and public safety during an interview with The Standard, ABC 7, and journalist Kara Swisher.</figcaption></figure>



<p>The injunction was the result of a 2022 lawsuit filed by the Coalition on Homelessness, which accused <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/09/07/what-to-know-about-san-franciscos-thorny-legal-battle-over-homeless-encampment-sweeps/">San Francisco of violating federal precedent</a> in clearing encampments without having shelter available. A U.S. Supreme Court decision in June <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/07/08/local-homelessness-injunction-lifted-after-landmark-u-s-supreme-court-ruling/">resulted in the injunction being overturned</a>, though there’s an ongoing legal challenge alleging the city improperly destroys the belongings of homeless people.</p>



<p>Farrell said he “completely disagrees” that the city could not enforce its homeless laws because of the injunction. There were conflicting legal opinions on the city’s rights in that case, he said.</p>



<p>“I think this is a great demonstration of a difference of leadership between Mayor Breed and how I was as mayor, and how I will be next year,” Farrell said. “In the light of conflicting legal opinions, the current mayor&#8217;s approach was not to do anything and to let it be, and essentially fester on the streets of our city.”</p>



<p>U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu has already dinged the city for not complying with the injunction and called the lack of training around the seizure of homeless people’s property “troubling.” To put the city in compliance, she ordered the Department of Public Works to meet with the Coalition on Homelessness to jointly develop training for staffers on how to handle homeless people’s property.</p>



<p>Watch more here:</p>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="360" src="https://abc7news.com/video/embed/?pid=15377739" allowfullscreen frameborder="0"></iframe>


Asian Art Museum

Office of the City Administrator

Adult Probation Department

Airport

Arts Commission

Office of the Assessor-Recorder

Board of Appeals

Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

Office of the City Attorney

Department of Children, Youth and Their Families

Controller's Office

Planning Department

Civil Service Commission

District Attorney's Office

Department of Building Inspection

Department of Early Childhood

Department of Emergency Management

Department of Police Accountability

Department of Public Health

Department of Public Works

Office of Economic and Workforce Development

Environment Department

Ethics Commission

Fine Arts Museums

Fire Department

Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing

Human Rights Commission

Department of Human Resources

Human Services Agency

Health Service System

Juvenile Probation Department

Public Library

Municipal Transportation Agency

Office of the Mayor

Public Defender's Office

Police Department

Port

Public Utilities Commission

Recreation and Park Department

Department of Elections

Retirement System

Rent Board

Sheriff's Department Office of Inspector General

Sheriff's Department

Department of Technology

Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector

War Memorial

Department on the Status of Women

General City Responsibilities

General Administration & Finance

Culture & Recreation

Community Health

Human Welfare & Neighborhood Development

Public Works, Transportation & Commerce

Public Protection

SF Civil Grand Jury

The Abatement Appeals Board provides a final review process for City permitting decisions. It ensures fair and efficient adjudication of permit-related disputes before an impartial panel. The board holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals concerning notices of abatement.

Abatement Appeals Board

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 1

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 2

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 3

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 4

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 5

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 6

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 7

The Access Appeals Commission provides final reviews for a wide range of City permitting decisions. It ensures an efficient, fair, and expeditious permit issuance process through an impartial panel. The commission holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals related to City permits.

Access Appeals Commission

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 1

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 2

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 3

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 4

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 5

The Adult Day Health Care Planning Council advises on the development and improvement of adult day health care services. It provides expertise in healthcare planning, policy recommendations, and program evaluation. Key responsibilities include assessing community needs and advising on service delivery enhancements.

Adult Day Health Care Planning Council

Adult Probation Department supervises individuals on probation and facilitates their reintegration into the community. It provides reentry and rehabilitative services, including victim restitution and financial assistance for crime victims. The department values public safety, offender rehabilitation, and community partnerships.

Cristel Tullock

The Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners evaluates arts and crafts applicants and monitors program compliance. It conducts studio visits and public screenings to ensure adherence to established criteria. Members also revise program criteria and undertake additional tasks as needed.

Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners

The Advisory Council on Human Rights advises on anti-discrimination laws and racial equity initiatives. It provides expertise on reparations and public policy impacts on Black communities. It guides efforts to establish partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in San Francisco.

Advisory Council on Human Rights

San Francisco Airport manages air traffic operations and ensures safe aircraft movement. It provides parking facilities and maintains airport infrastructure to accommodate travelers and staff. The department oversees ground transportation and coordinates with airlines for efficient passenger services.

Mike Nakornkhet

The Airport Commission oversees policy and strategic planning for San Francisco International Airport. It makes key decisions on airport development projects and financial management. It ensures compliance with regulations and collaborates on initiatives like terminal naming.

Airport Commission

Airport Commission Commissioner 1

Malcolm Yeung

Jose F. Almanza

Mark Buell

Susan Leal

Airport Director

Animal Care and Control Department manages animal sheltering, adoption, and emergency response services. It enforces animal-related laws and regulations, ensuring the humane treatment and safety of animals. The department also provides public education on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

Animal Care and Control Department

Virginia Donohue

Animal Care and Control Department, Director

The San Francisco Arts Commission oversees the integration of arts into city life and ensures public access to cultural experiences. It makes decisions on public art programs and allocates grants to support local artists and performances. The commission actively shapes policies affecting the arts ecosystem in San Francisco.

Arts Commission Commissioner 1

Arts Commission Commissioner 2

Arts Commission Commissioner 3

Arts Commission Commissioner 4

Debra Walker

Suzanne Ferras

Jessica Rothschild

Seth Brenzel

JD Beltran

Marcus Shelby

J Riccardo Benavides

Nabiel Musleh

Charles (Chuck) Collins

Lydia So

Arts Commission Commissioner 15

San Francisco Arts Commission invests in a vibrant arts community and shapes cultural policy. It enlivens the urban environment through public art programs and supports diverse artistic expressions. The commission facilitates meetings and discussions to engage the community in cultural development.

Ralph Remington

Arts Commission, Director of Cultural Affairs

The Asian Art Commission determines policy and administers the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. It oversees museum operations and collaborates with the Asian Art Museum Foundation on fundraising efforts. Commissioners ensure the museum's strategic direction and financial sustainability.

Asian Art Commission

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 1

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 2

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 3

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 4

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 5

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 6

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 7

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 8

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 9

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 10

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 11

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 12

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 13

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 14

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 15

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 16

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 17

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 18

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 19

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 20

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 21

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 22

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 23

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 24

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 25

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 26

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 27

Asian Art Museum showcases Asian art and culture through exhibitions and educational programs. It offers diverse collections and hosts special events to engage the community. The museum fosters cultural appreciation and understanding by providing access to its extensive art collections.

Dr. Soyoung Lee

Asian Art Museum, Director

The Assessment Appeals Board #1 hears property tax assessment appeals in San Francisco. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine property values. The Board has the authority to make final decisions on assessments regardless of property type or value.

Assessment Appeals Board #1

Assessment Appeals Board #1 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #1 Commissioner 2

Richard Lee

Stephen Wasserman

Adena Gilbert

Paul Bellar

Quirina Mitchell

Hilary Winslow

The Assessment Appeals Board #2 adjudicates property tax assessment appeals for San Francisco taxpayers. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine accurate property values. The Board exercises authority to render final decisions on residential properties and specific real estate assessments.

Assessment Appeals Board #2

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 3

Claire Ervin Lee

Louisa Mendoza

Joyce Lewis

Nicholas Goldman

Michelle Domingo

The Assessment Appeals Board #3 provides a platform for San Francisco taxpayers to contest property tax assessments. It conducts hearings where evidence from both taxpayers and the Assessor is evaluated. The Board makes binding decisions on property assessments based on presented evidence.

Assessment Appeals Board #3

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 3

Marc Dickow

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 5

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 6

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 7

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 8

Assesses property, applies exemptions, collects transfer taxes, and records official documents.

Assessor-Recorder

Joaquín Torres

The Ballot Simplification Committee ensures voter materials are clear and understandable. It reviews and revises ballot language to accurately reflect propositions and measures. The committee advises on simplifying complex legal and technical terms for voter comprehension.

Ballot Simplification Committee

The Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee provides policy advice on planning and land use matters in Zone 2 of Bayview Hunter's Point. It offers expertise in land use policies, zoning issues, and urban development. The committee advises the Board of Supervisors, City Boards, and commissions on relevant projects and initiatives.

Bayview Hunters Point Citizens Advisory Committee