Surprise, Lurie’s charter reform campaign is raking it in

This article is from Power Play, a twice-weekly newsletter rounding up the latest City Hall and local politics gossip. To sign up, visit The Standard’s newsletter page . Some of San Francisco’s most politically active billionaires have a new target for their civic investment — and it has nothing to do with the dreaded billionaires’ tax. Rather, they’re channeling an ocean of money to Mayor Daniel Lurie ’s trio of proposed charter reform measures, which largely aim to strengthen the office of the mayor. Ripple cofounder Chris Larsen and his wife, the philanthropist Lyna Lam , contributed $2 million to the campaign, snappily titled “the Clean Up City Hall, Mayor Lurie’s Ballot Measure Committee.” Michael Moritz , the former Sequoia Capital chief and chairman of The Standard, pledged $2 million. And several other givers — including Y Combinator partner Michael Seibel , NewLimit cofounder Blake Byers, and the San Francisco Hotel Council — collectively dropped $365,000. In total, the charter reforms’ shared campaign committee is on the cusp of netting $4.3 million, Max Szabo , the campaign’s spokesperson, told Power Play exclusively. “We’re just getting started,” he said. The campaign hasn’t even finished signature-gathering, yet it has raised as many simoleons as Supervisor Aaron Peskin and former Mayor London Breed combined spent on their 2024 mayoral races. The charter reform measures are aimed at the November ballot. Two of Lurie’s desired reforms — centralizing contracting authority with the city administrator’s office and giving the mayor more firing and hiring power over department heads — are not especially controversial. But Lurie raised the hackles of labor’s progressive flank with the third measure, which would raise the threshold for signatures needed to put measures on the ballot and would increase the number of supervisors who could do the same. (Currently, four of 11 supes need to sign onto a measure; under Lurie’s reform, six — a majority of the board — would need to sign on.) Local think tank SPUR has argued forcefully for the measures, reasoning that City Hall should broker more collaborative deals around hot-button issues, rather than using the ballot as a “shortcut” when a consensus seems unlikely. Business interests and moderate Democrats have largely agreed. “Charter reform is long overdue,” Larsen told Power Play. “For too long, division has been our default, and multimillion-dollar ballot fights every election cycle are no substitute for genuine consensus-building. We need to do the hard work of finding common ground.” Some labor and housing leaders stand in opposition to the measures. “It’s all designed to try to keep working people from having their voices heard in ballot issues,” said Mike Casey , president of the San Francisco Labor Council, whose members in March voted to oppose the measures. Randy Shaw , director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, has argued that two successful ballot measures he backed in the 1990s — which cut annual rent increases by half and created the Department of Building Inspection — would have been impossible under Lurie’s proposed limits. “We could not have afforded to pay for enough signatures to qualify under the proposed new rules,” Shaw wrote. When told of the amounts Lurie’s allies have amassed in a short time, Casey was aghast. “That’s a lot of fucking money,” he said, laughing. “Wow. Unbelievable. Boy. You gotta laugh, ’cause if you don’t, you’re gonna fuckin’ cry.” — Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez MO’ MONEY, MO’ MUNI: It’s not just Lurie’s charter reform measure that’s hoovering up huge sums of money. The mayor’s proposed Muni ballot measure — which is also in the signature-collecting phase and would raise parcel taxes to help fund the beleaguered transit agency — has amassed major donations from a swarm of billionaires, AI companies, and other tech firms. The donations include $500,000 apiece from Dario Amodei ’s Anthropic, Larsen’s Ripple, and Brian Chesky ’s Airbnb; $250,000 from Visa; and $100,000 from Twilio founder Jeff Lawson and Uber. A smattering of unions, including Local 38 and the Teamsters, are also chipping in. According to Szabo, a spokesperson for the ballot measure, the campaign has raised $2.53 million. According to the city’s ethics website, it has spent more than $500,000, including $244,000 to consultants and $165,000 on polling and survey research. — Gabe Greschler Got tips? Send to us at powerplay@sfstandard.com . GROWSF ENDORSES : And if you’re not sick of hearing about outside backing for Lurie-aligned projects, we’ve got one more morsel for you. GrowSF, the moderate-leaning political group that has become a major cog in the mayor’s fundraising machine, exclusively shared its endorsements in the District 6, 8, and 10 supervisor races with Power Play. The group will back District 6 incumbent Matt Dorsey , who has been a key ally of the mayor and is running unopposed, District 8 candidate Manny Yekutiel , who established the Civic Joy Fund with Lurie in 2022, and District 10 candidate Theo Ellington , a lobbyist and community organizer based in the Bayview. None of the endorsements are particularly surprising, given the trio’s moderate leanings, but they do matter a lot for Yekutiel and Ellington’s opponents, who will face one of the most effective fundraising operations in the city. GrowSF has already been thumping for District 2 incumbent Stephen Sherrill , raising $252,000, including a donation of $26,000 Friday from Waymo executive Andrew Chatham . — G.G. BOBA TASTE : Everyone might be feeling a little fatigued about our three leading congressional candidates. They’ve debated many times. They’ve done countless media interviews. And their attack ads are ubiquitous. But here’s something you likely didn’t know: their boba orders. At a forum Thursday hosted by the API Council, each candidate was asked to order something from popular local boba shop Little Sweet to drink onstage during the event. “I went old-school,” said state Sen. Scott Wiener , holding an iced Assam milk tea with boba at 50% sweetness. Supervisor Connie Chan went in a traditional direction: “I am an old lady, so I have hot tea,” she said, sipping a cup of white gourd. Former tech engineer and congressional staffer Saikat Chakrabarti kept it minimalist: unsweetened green tea. Wiener clearly enjoyed his drink, as he frequently sipped, chewed the boba, and finished the cup. The other two left their drinks unfinished. The boba order has become a tradition for the API Council. In 2024, the group asked mayoral candidates to commit to the same bit, with each sipping from a cup with their name written on it. However, after the event, a photo surfaced showing Lurie’s nearly untouched boba tossed into the trash. A rival campaign quickly circulated the image to Power Play, attempting to turn it into a minor scandal — framing it as Lurie “hating” boba. We cannot say if it’s just a coincidence, but more than a year later, Lurie’s Instagram is filled with visits to boba shops . — Han Li POLITICAL JUNKIES, REJOICE: We have great news, politics nerds: The San Francisco Ethics Commission revamped its campaign finance dashboards, and they’re gorgeous. They’re functional as hell and are gonna fuel a lot of great accountability journalism. The dashboards are a one-stop shop for campaign donation totals and the biggest contributors in any election season. The redesign better highlights who is contributing to each candidate or campaign committee and which third-party orgs are spending the most to influence elections, and make it easier to compare and contrast rival campaigns at a glance, instead of poring through documents. The commission undertook extensive outreach for the usability upgrades, even asking journalists for our thoughts (heaven help them). “The dashboards are a vital part of the commission’s work to provide instant and easy access to campaign finance data,” Executive Director Patrick Ford said in a statement. “By making this data more easily accessible, we can help the public better understand and explore the role money has in local elections.” Give it a whirl here . Just let us know if you find anything suspicious. — J.F.R.

Presenting the SF100

The numbers jump off the page of a recent municipal financial presentation: 48 people and $11 million. These figures represent the total size and annual budget, respectively, of the office of the mayor of San Francisco. In a city whose 34,000-plus employees operate on a budget of more than $16 billion a year, the elected leader of the city leads a Lilliputian staff operating on a relative shoestring. As a 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spur.org/publications/spur-report/2024-07-31/designed-serve">SPUR report</a>&nbsp;noted, the mayor’s office “is one of the smallest city departments and is less than half the size of the Board of Supervisors.”



Therein lies a deft metaphor for power in San Francisco: Some things that look big (like City Hall) may be small; some things that look small (like records-request savant Hazel Williams) may be big.



<a href="https://sfstandard.com/sf-100/?utm_source=apple_news&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_term=45768&amp;utm_content=in_article&amp;utm_campaign=sf100">The SF100</a> — The Standard’s first-ever list of the most influential, powerful, and culturally relevant people in San Francisco — is our attempt to measure the dimensions of power in the city. Our reporters and editors spent months digging into the deep pockets of this cultural center. There are, of course, many familiar names and organizations on this list, but there are also some surprises. While whittling down the 100, our team argued, negotiated, and compromised. But we tried our best to answer the classic question: “Who’s in charge here?”



Turns out, it’s not so easy to say.



Take the political realm. Yes, our new Mayor Daniel Lurie has real influence, particularly in the form of a bully pulpit that can be used to command the attention of citizens and bureaucrats alike. Yet the mayor shares power with a dizzying array of some 126 commissions and related advisory boards, some with real authority and others that are duplicative or personal fiefs that waste the time of those trying to solve real problems.



The corporate world is a similar story. San Francisco once was home to globe-spanning powerhouses like Chevron (decamped to Texas) and Bank of America (now in North Carolina). Today, even the last remaining old-school San Francisco bank, Wells Fargo, is&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/12/08/wells-fargo-history-museum-closes/">giving up its iconic downtown headquarters</a>. But even as these corporate powers have departed, new ones have arrived. Salesforce remains a force, despite its civic-minded CEO, Marc Benioff, seemingly abandoning his liberal ways and spending much of his time in Hawaii. New AI companies, like Anthropic and OpenAI, are taking over huge swaths of real estate and hiring a generation of programmers.



Twin clichés about San Francisco that have the benefit of being true are that it always bounces back from its setbacks and that it leads the world in innovation. The people on this list are all engaged in acts of creative regeneration, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Bit by bit, company by company, initiative by initiative, they are crafting the next San Francisco. It won’t be a straight line. But it will be a powerful thing to behold.

Pandas are expensive. The mayor wants Big Tech, wealthy donors to help pay for them

San Francisco&#8217;s highly anticipated panda plan reached a milestone Tuesday as the Board of Supervisors approved a fundraising proposal introduced by Mayor London Breed.



The mayor received approval to seek donations from Big Tech firms and prominent philanthropists to cover $25 million in panda-related costs, including rental fees to China, the construction of a panda habitat—and, of course, bamboo. One adult panda can eat more than 80 pounds in a day.



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Well-known companies like Apple, Salesforce, OpenAI, DoorDash and Lyft are listed, as are some high-profile individuals and families. Among them are former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, oil heir Gordon Getty, Chinese American community leader and former media tycoon Florence Fang and the Fisher family, who founded the Gap.



Surprisingly, the Mimi and Peter Haas Fund, the <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/01/30/daniel-lurie-mom-spends-million-dollars-san-francisco-mayor-race/">family foundation related to Daniel Lurie</a>, a mayoral candidate running against Breed, is on the list, too.&nbsp;



It’s unclear how these potential donors will react, but many of them are believed to have friendly relations with the city. The list is very similar to the donors’ list from last November’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.



Graton Rancheria casino, which <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/10/06/san-francisco-apec-summit-casino-sponsors/">donated $4.6 million to the city</a> to host the international conference, is on the list. United Airlines, Ripple, Sutter Health, Visa, MEBO International and Kaiser Permanente, who were top donors to APEC, are also listed and will likely receive a call from City Hall leaders on donations for pandas.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="6000" height="4000" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/StateOfEducation091922_PK_.jpg12.jpg?w=2500" alt="A woman in a grey suit speaks at a podium with a Salesforce logo, while a man in a black jacket and light shirt sits smiling nearby, in front of a blue and purple backdrop." class="wp-image-198300" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/StateOfEducation091922_PK_.jpg12.jpg 6000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/StateOfEducation091922_PK_.jpg12.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/StateOfEducation091922_PK_.jpg12.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/StateOfEducation091922_PK_.jpg12.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/StateOfEducation091922_PK_.jpg12.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/StateOfEducation091922_PK_.jpg12.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 6000px) 100vw, 6000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Salesforce is one of the many companies that may help Mayor Breed with donations needed to cover $25 million in panda-related costs.</figcaption></figure>



Breed and China <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/04/18/china-san-francisco-zoo-panda-announcement/">announced in April</a> that a pair of pandas will come to the San Francisco Zoo, hopefully next year. The Mayor’s Office issued a statement emphasizing that no taxpayer money will go toward their care.



"We know how significant bringing pandas to San Francisco will be for our tourism recovery and economy, and for our residents, which is why the mayor is adamant about fundraising solely through private donations," the statement said. "The ability to privately fundraise will relinquish any possibility of burdening our taxpayers, which is ultimately our goal."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peskin-says-no">Peskin says no</h2>



To raise the needed funds, Breed has asked for an exemption from the city's complex "behested payment" rules. That would allow some city departments to receive unlimited donations from individuals, charities or private-sector companies, even if donors have contracts or do business with the city.



The request was granted by the board, although not without some drama.



In May, Supervisor Dean Preston <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/05/16/panda-fundraising-breed-supervisor-postpone/">raised some concerns</a> about the transparency of potential donors, as the disclosure is required by the behested payment law, which forced the Mayor's Office to release the list of potential donors. Preston then postponed the item for three weeks.



During Tuesday's meeting, the board approved the plan 9-2, with Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Hillary Ronen voting no.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3000" height="2000" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/featured_20240506-businesstaxreform.jpg?w=2500" alt="A woman converses with a seated man; both are in a wood-paneled room with a US flag." class="wp-image-273492" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/featured_20240506-businesstaxreform.jpg 3000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/featured_20240506-businesstaxreform.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/featured_20240506-businesstaxreform.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/featured_20240506-businesstaxreform.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/featured_20240506-businesstaxreform.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/featured_20240506-businesstaxreform.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Supervisor Aaron Peskin voted against Mayor London Breed's panda fundraising proposal.</figcaption></figure>



Peskin, who's also running to replace Breed, said at the board meeting that he's concerned about a specific company on the list, PG&amp;E. In recent years, the utility has generated a number of controversies, including <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/03/01/pge-rate-increases-customers-rage-social-media/">soaring electricity prices</a> and <a href="https://www.kcra.com/article/dixie-fire-lawsuit-pge-california-225-million/60473201">legal challenges related to wildfires</a>, as the city moves to strengthen <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/01/28/pacific-gas-electric-cleanpowersf-ratepayers/">its own public power system</a>.



"Am I comfortable ... asking them for money?" Peskin asked at the board meeting before the vote. "It doesn't feel right."



According to the Mayor's Office, the city and the zoo will develop and share a fundraising timeline and continue working with Chinese partners on the details of the panda plans.

The grassroots effort to save Muni by taxing Uber and Lyft rides (again)

San Francisco’s Muni transit system is badly strapped for cash. Ridership has yet to approach pre-pandemic levels, and the agency is struggling with a $12.7 million shortfall in the next two years, falling off a cliff to a nearly $228 million deficit in the 2027 fiscal year. 



While the city is still grappling with how to fill the gap, some San Francisco residents are putting forward their own plan—a ballot measure to tax ride-hailing companies, whose growth they say competes with transit in the city, and funnel the proceeds to Muni.



While ballot measures tend to be introduced and backed by political groups and supported by politicians, this initiative appears to be a true grassroots effort, without institutional backing or coordination with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the Office of the Mayor or the Board of Supervisors. 



Chris Arvin, one of the measure’s organizers who works a day job as a software designer, said they donated $15,000 from their own savings to help launch the effort.



“That is a pretty significant amount of money for me,” said Arvin, who is also vice chair of the SFMTA Citizens’ Advisory Council. “But at the same time, the amount of money I’ve saved from Muni because I don’t have to have a car, I figure I can give some back and try to get Muni some funding.”



Arvin and fellow advocates hope the new tax would put up to $30 million each year into Muni’s coffers. Companies that offer rides in San Francisco, including Uber, Lyft and Waymo, would be taxed between 1% and 4.5% on all revenue they earn in the city.



“We have been hearing for a long time about the sort of doom and gloom of the transit funding situation and the fiscal cliff that Muni is going to hit,” Arvin said. “At some point, you get tired of hearing about the doom and gloom, and you want to do something about it yourself.”



If passed, the <a href="https://www.sf.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/20240418_TS%20and%20Legal%20Text_Additional%20Business%20Tax%20On%20Transportation%20Network%20Companies.pdf">tax</a> would be levied on top of San Francisco’s existing ride-hailing charge, which is 1.5% for shared rides and 3.25% for solo rides. Uber and Lyft both supported the current tax when it went before voters in 2019. They supported the measure hoping to dodge more onerous proposals floated by city leaders, who criticized the companies for <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/SF-ballot-measure-would-tax-Uber-and-Lyft-rides-14510226.php">increasing street congestion</a>. Both companies now pass the fee directly to consumers, as any customer in the city can see on their receipt.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4032" height="3024" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/april-5-photo-by-cyrus-hall.jpg?w=2500" alt="People queuing at a post office counter, some are wearing masks, and promotional posters are visible." class="wp-image-269548" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/april-5-photo-by-cyrus-hall.jpg 4032w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/april-5-photo-by-cyrus-hall.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/april-5-photo-by-cyrus-hall.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/april-5-photo-by-cyrus-hall.jpg?resize=2500,1875 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/april-5-photo-by-cyrus-hall.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/april-5-photo-by-cyrus-hall.jpg?resize=2048,1536 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Proponents of the ComMUNIty Transit Act proposal file paperwork with a San Francisco Department of Elections employee on April 5. The advocates are, back to front, Lian Chang, Chris Arvin and Kat Siegal.</figcaption></figure>



&#8220;While we have not reviewed the proposed measure, Uber already supported a dedicated per-ride fee that has provided millions in funding for public transit and transportation infrastructure in San Francisco in 2019,” an Uber spokesperson said. Waymo and Lyft did not reply to a request for comment.



The existing tax brought about $17 million into city coffers in the most recent fiscal year, with much of the money going toward street safety projects, according to San Francisco County Transportation Authority spokesperson Stephen Chun.



Arvin and their allies hope to place their proposal, which they’re dubbing the ComMUNIty Transit Act, on the November 2024 ballot. They’ll need to gather about 10,000 signatures in support of the initiative by July 8 to do so.



Donations from Arvin, along with those from fellow campaign leaders Kat Siegal, Lian Chang and others involved in the effort, have brought their war chest up to $100,000 in pledged contributions, according to Arvin. That money will fund paid signature-gathering to supplement their volunteer work, they said.



The campaign’s fundraising goal is $200,000. But spending on San Francisco ballot measures has often dwarfed that amount in recent years. For example, opponents of the police staffing measure last March doled out nearly $1.4 million.&nbsp;



Meanwhile, ride-hailing companies have marshaled major resources in past political campaigns. Uber and Lyft spent $640,000 combined supporting the ride-hail tax in 2019. Then in 2020, they, along with other ride-hail companies, dropped over $200 million <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-california-837ebb151c7aa65596537b4a5f7a2f9d">on a California measure</a> that kept drivers from becoming employees eligible for benefits.



Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who authored the 2019 tax on ride-hailing companies, raised concerns that the independent activists’ effort may overlap awkwardly with proposals that are already in process.



“Given the city&#8217;s ongoing work to craft a sensible business tax reform measure, I wish they would have worked with the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor&#8217;s office so our efforts don&#8217;t conflict,” Peskin wrote in a text to The Standard.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1684" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-scaled.jpg?w=2500" alt="Uber and Lyft stickers are seen through a car windshield." class="wp-image-137898" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-300x197.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-2500x1645.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-768x505.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-1536x1011.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-2048x1348.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-650x428.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-370x243.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-800x526.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-450x296.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-20x13.jpg 20w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-185x122.jpg 185w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-740x487.jpg 740w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-400x263.jpg 400w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-1600x1053.jpg 1600w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-225x148.jpg 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-900x592.jpg 900w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP23072862402856-73x48.jpg 73w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing companies are facing a second San Francisco tax under the new proposal.</figcaption></figure>



The SFMTA, while not officially involved with the measure, is taking a sunnier view of the initiative.



“We did not sponsor the measure but appreciate efforts to increase revenue for transportation in San Francisco,” SFMTA spokesperson Michael Roccaforte said. &#8220;If this measure were to pass, it would be used to sustain the transit services we are providing today, but by no means closes our deficit completely.”



State lawmakers have <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2024/03/18/bay-area-transit-ballot-measure-wiener-wahab-sb1031/">already proposed</a> a much larger 2026 ballot measure that could inject as much as $2 billion a year into Bay Area transit. But in the meantime, the transportation agency has been left grappling with a $40 million hole in its annual capital budget stemming from the razor-thin electoral loss of a <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2022/06/13/the-muni-bond-is-going-to-lose-now-what/">2022 Muni bond measure</a>, according to the agency&#8217;s director, Jeffrey Tumlin.



That’s why Arvin, who worries that the 2026 measure may come too late for the city’s struggling system, wanted to put this measure forward now.



“Just because we’re solving part of the problem doesn’t mean that this is not worthwhile,” Arvin said, adding that they think that city residents will throw their support behind the new tax. “I think if we can get on the ballot, we can win.”
...

San Francisco mayor proposes record spending despite $780M deficit

Mayor London Breed’s budget proposal ramps up spending on homelessness and the police department and grows San Francisco&#8217;s budget by $612 million from the current year to $14.6 billion for the next fiscal year, which begins on July 1.



The proposed increase, unveiled in a speech at City Hall Wednesday, comes as the city faces a projected two-year deficit of <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/city-hall/san-franciscos-deficit-swells-to-780m-in-latest-sign-of-budget-distress/">$780 million</a> in the general fund, which accounts for its discretionary spending.



In the coming fiscal year, Breed is proposing a 1% increase to $6.86 billion in San Francisco’s general fund; in the following year, general fund spending is projected to breach $7 billion. To offset higher spending, Breed’s budget dips into budget reserves, relies on other sources of funding and lays out cuts in select city departments.&nbsp;



“I’m really proud that in balancing this budget, we were still able to deliver for our nonprofit workers, our public safety officials and other things, even though we’re facing a budget deficit,” Breed said her speech. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1128" height="752" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1BreedBudgetReveal053123-035.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-165909" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1BreedBudgetReveal053123-035.jpg 1128w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1BreedBudgetReveal053123-035.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1BreedBudgetReveal053123-035.jpg?resize=768,512 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1128px) 100vw, 1128px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor London Breed talks about the balanced budget and key priorities for the city in San Francisco, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. | Justin Katigbak for The Standard</figcaption></figure>



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Breed’s budget proposal will be hashed out at the Board of Supervisors and must be signed by Aug. 1. If the board&#8217;s Budget Committee Chair Connie Chan’s statement on the budget proposal is any indication, the negotiation process could prove contentious.



“I will go through every line item, and ask each and every city department how they will spend our public dollars and deliver the results we all deserve,&#8221; Chan said in a statement. &#8220;They all will be held accountable, dollar for dollar.&#8221;



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To balance the budget, the proposed spending increase is paired with departmental cuts that include a reduction of certain contracts and decreased salary budgets by eliminating vacant positions. The proposed budget funds salaries and benefits for 33,476 city employees next year, a 0.8% increase in the labor force compared with last year.&nbsp;



As part of her budget instructions to departments, the mayor required general fund budget reductions of 5% next year and 8% the year after.&nbsp;



The departments that are seeing the biggest increases in year-over-year funding include the Department of Public Health, the Airport Commission, the Department of Public Works and the Municipal Transportation Agency.&nbsp;



Those seeing the biggest losses by dollar amount include the San Francisco Port, the Department of Early Childhood and the Office of the Mayor.



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Cuts also include reduced funding for the city’s 10-year capital plan. Instead of wholesale elimination of individual programs, departments generally proposed marginal cuts across a variety of programs and spending areas. The city is also dipping into an additional $76 million in reserve funds, as well as $90 million in previously appropriated reserve funds, to close the budget shortfall.&nbsp;



In order to sustain or increase spending in priority areas while balancing the budget, Breed’s proposal also relies on some creative accounting, like shifting spending to non-general fund revenue sources like state funds and special tax funds.



The budget directs revenue from 2018’s Prop. C, known as Our City, Our Home, toward helping to fund efforts to combat homelessness. As proposed, Breed’s budget <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/public-health/homelessness/san-francisco-mayor-to-increase-homelessness-spending-despite-budget-deficit/">increases homelessness spending</a> from $672 million this year to $692.6 million next year. If approved, Breed has said the spending would help create 600 shelter beds and 545 housing units over the next year. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1507" height="1005" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-229-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-165900" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-229-1.jpg 1507w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-229-1.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-229-1.jpg?resize=768,512 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1507px) 100vw, 1507px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">People in the crowed held up signs around housing including “Family and Tay Housing” during Mayor London Breed speech about the City's budget. | Justin Katigbak for The Standard</figcaption></figure>



That’s tied to an effort to <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/public-health/breed-to-fund-wellness-hubs-for-overdose-prevention-in-upcoming-budget/">boost funding for behavioral health and addiction initiatives</a>, including the addition of 30 beds for those with both mental health and substance abuse disorders, implementation of the state’s Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court system and three new wellness hubs for overdose prevention.&nbsp;



The city will rely on a portion of the <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/public-health/walgreens-to-pay-san-francisco-230m-for-opioid-crisis/">$350 million settlement</a> gained through litigation against pharma companies and Walgreens to help shift spending away from general revenue and start new programs.&nbsp;



The budget also allocates around $30 million in <a href="https://sfoece.org/2021/06/29/baby-prop-c-fact-sheet-legal-uses-and-allocations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">revenue from Baby Prop. C</a>, a tax measure to fund early childhood services, to the city’s Food Access Program, which supports food pantries and grocery vouchers.&nbsp;



On the public safety front, the mayor is <a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/politics/london-breed-wants-sfpd-to-hire-200-new-cops-by-end-of-2024/article_fa4482c4-fbe8-11ed-a1e0-f364c1df2fea.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proposing increased investment</a> for recruiting at the San Francisco Police Department with the goal of hiring 220 officers in the next two years. Her budget proposal also includes additional hiring and retention bonuses, boosting the number of police service aides and maintaining existing ambassador programs. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1667" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-233-2500x1667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-165906" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-233-2500x1667.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-233-300x200.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-233-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-233-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-233-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-233-650x433.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-233-370x247.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-233-800x533.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BreedBudgetReveal053123-233-450x300.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-conten...

Asian Art Museum

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Marc Dickow

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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

The Behavioral Health Commission advises on mental health policy implementation and quality service delivery. It reviews and advocates for effective mental health services, ensuring policies meet community needs. It educates stakeholders to integrate mental health considerations into broader health strategies.

Behavioral Health Commission

The Bicycle Advisory Committee advises on making bicycling safer and more accessible in San Francisco. It provides recommendations to city agencies to address traffic violence and climate change. The committee advocates for cyclists and addresses biking-related complaints.

Bicycle Advisory Committee

The Board of Appeals provides final review for a wide range of City permitting decisions. It ensures an efficient and fair permit issuance process through an impartial panel. The Board exercises authority to make binding decisions on appeals.

Jefferson Robert Eppler

John Trasviña

Jose Lopez

Rick Swig