Daniel Lurie, Candidate For Mayor, Answers Reader Questions

The Ingleside Light gathered questions from the community and posed them to the District 7, District 11 and mayor candidates in advance of the Nov. 5 election.

Here are the responses from the Founder of Tipping Point Community and Levi Strauss Heir Daniel Lurie, who is no stranger to San Francisco or its efforts to revitalize its foot traffic. Having co-founded the Civic Joy Fund, which has funded multiple art installations and beautification projects in the neighborhood, Lurie is centering his campaign around small business and downtown revitalization, housing, public safety, government accountability, homelessness and climate tech innovations.

He’s running against current San Francisco Mayor London Breed, District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, current Board of Supervisors President and District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, former interim Mayor Mark Farrell and others.

Responses have been lightly edited.

How do you plan to be consistently involved in the neighborhood once in office? 

I will be a mayor in the vein of Willie Brown and Diane Feinstein, walking the streets every day, interacting with the community and giving direction to department heads based on what I see and hear on the street.

What is one issue in the neighborhood that you see ignored? How would you tackle this issue?

One issue that often gets overlooked in Ingleside is the need for more youth programs. Engaging our young people is crucial for building a stronger community. I will work to expand after-school programs, sports leagues and arts initiatives, providing safe spaces where youth can learn, grow, and thrive. By partnering with schools, nonprofits, and local businesses, we can create opportunities that keep our kids off the streets and set them on a path to success. Investing in our youth is investing in the future of San Francisco.

Will you commit to fully funding the Dignity Fund in this and future years to meet the growing number and needs of older adults and people with disabilities?

Yes, I am fully committed to funding the Dignity Fund now and in the future. Our older adults and people with disabilities deserve consistent support and the Dignity Fund is crucial for ensuring they have access to the services they need but we need to make sure nonprofit service providers are held accountable for delivering results. Too often City Hall leaders rubber stamp contracts to the same nonprofits without any meaningful accountability, measurement or outcomes tied to them. Our seniors and communities with disabilities deserve a City Hall that delivers unparalleled levels of service. I am the only candidate in this race who has a track record of holding nonprofits accountable to deliver results. I founded and served as CEO of one of the most innovative poverty-fighting organizations because the old nonprofit model was failing those in need. Under my leadership at Tipping Point Community, we built affordable housing on time and under budget with union labor, housed nearly 40,000 people, and created a new model to build housing and shelter at a small fraction of the cost and time it takes the city for similar projects. I will bring that same innovation and accountability to City Hall as mayor. 

In many ways, City College of San Francisco was the beating heart of the neighborhood, a source of jobs and customers for local businesses. But its troubles have led to a 60%+ decline in enrollment which has precipitated other issues. How will you work with the college community to turn it around?

City College has been a cornerstone of the neighborhood and the entire city and its health directly impacts the entire community. I will work closely with the college's leadership, faculty, union and students to stabilize and increase enrollment. This includes advocating for additional funding, expanding workforce development programs, reducing waitlists for core classes and creating new partnerships with local businesses. By aligning curriculum with emerging industries and providing robust support services, we can make City College a destination for education and career training. Together, we will reenergize this vital institution, ensuring it continues to serve as a hub of opportunity and a catalyst for neighborhood vitality. 

City College of San Francisco projects groundbreaking for its long-awaited Diego Rivera Theater — which will prominently feature Rivera's fresco Pan American Unity —  in December 2024. How will you work with the college community and the city's tourism sector to make it an attraction that boosts the economy and puts Ingleside on the map?

The Diego Rivera Theater will become a cultural landmark, drawing visitors from across the city and beyond. I will work with the college, the city’s tourism sector and local businesses to market this unique attraction. By integrating it into San Francisco’s cultural tours and promoting it as a venue for events, we can boost the neighborhood economy and ensure it's shared with the world. Additionally, I'll work to improve transit access and community programming around the theater, ensuring that Ingleside becomes a vibrant cultural destination that showcases our rich artistic heritage and contributes to the city’s economic growth. 

The SFMTA has big plans to speed up the K Ingleside and M Ocean View light rail lines that include boarding island modernization and consolidation, red lanes and more. How will you increase ridership in the neighborhood? 

I will work to improve the safety, frequency, and reliability of service, ensuring that residents can depend on public transportation for their daily commutes. Engaging the community in transit planning will further boost ridership. Too often SFMTA does projects to communities instead of doing projects with communities. By making these lines faster, safer and more convenient, we can encourage more residents to choose public transit. 

The tree canopy could be a lot better in this part of town — and citywide. What will you do to improve it?

The tree canopy is vital for environmental sustainability and community well-being, particularly as the climate crisis creates more extreme weather patterns. I will prioritize expanding our urban forest by protecting and increasing funding for tree planting and maintenance, particularly in underserved neighborhoods. Partnering with community groups and schools, we can launch tree-planting initiatives that enhance green spaces, improve air quality and provide shade. Additionally, I’ll push for policies that ensure mature trees are properly cared for, creating a healthier, greener neighborhood for future generations.

The Balboa Park Area Plan studied many major and minor projects, including decking the Interstate 280 freeway, realigning freeway ramps, etc. What outstanding elements will you pursue while in office?

Too often in this city plans and projects are promised to communities but City Hall fails to deliver. I will change that. I’ve spent my career getting big things done by bringing people together as a trusted leader. There is rampant dysfunction within City Hall, with layers of bureaucracy and a broken culture that fails to deliver on visionary projects like those imagined in the Balboa Park Area Plan. I’ve worked with City Hall for years to get big things done for our city but I am not a creature of their failed bureaucracy. San Francisco needs someone with executive experience outside of City Hall to change the system and the culture. My opponents have collectively spent almost 70 years inside City Hall and have helped create the system they are now proposing to change.

What will you do to breathe new life into the neighborhood's commercial corridors? Please list 10 concrete proposals.

Small businesses and neighborhood commercial corridors are the backbone of our beautiful city but too often they are put on the frontlines of our public safety challenges and face a maze of bureaucracy in a City Hall that looks at them as a revenue source rather than a constituent. In Spring 2023, I co-founded The Civic Joy Fund, a $2 million effort that is bringing more art, music, energy and enthusiasm to our city streets. Successes include the adoption of city blocks most in need of renewal, a Summer of Music along eight business corridors every Saturday and Sunday trash pick-ups. As mayor, I would be able to address the challenges and decay in our public system to make our programs and dollars deepen their impacts throughout San Francisco. 10 concrete proposals include: 

1. Ensure our streets are safe and clean so businesses and people return for nightlife and cultural events through fully resourcing the police department and implementing my Drug and Mental Health Plan.

2. Waive small business startup fees and licenses for their first year by making the First Year Free program permanent, which is set to expire in 2025.

3. Close the loopholes that allow City Hall to delay reviewing permit requests when a small business needs to remodel or make upgrades, outlined in my City Hall Accountability Plan.

4.  Fully Staff the Graffiti Abatement Unit in SFPD to effectively investigate, enforce and prevent vandalism, contributing to a cleaner and safer downtown environment.

5. Eliminate inspection fees for bars and restaurants on their first remodel, which can reach into the thousands of dollars on even small upgrades.

6. Build upon community safety programs in order to provide community-rooted de-escalation and safety services (e.g., Castro Community on Patrol).

7. Create a business mentorship program to support local entrepreneurs.

8.  Expand and better utilize small business grant programs and façade improvement funds.

9. Improve signage and way-finding to attract visitors.     

10. Launch a shop-local campaign to encourage neighborhood spending.

What does adequate community policing look like for the greater Ingleside neighborhood and its diverse communities?

Public safety is my number one priority every day, not just during an election year or when a conference is in town. I will fully staff our police department, ensuring that SFPD reflects the community it serves. With a fully staffed police department, neighborhood walking officers will be able to stay on their beats and bond with the neighborhood to more holistically and effectively serve residents. Adequate community policing means officers who are not just enforcers but also partners in community safety. I envision a model where officers are embedded in the neighborhood, attending community meetings, building relationships with residents and working proactively to address issues before they escalate. This approach includes regular foot patrols, culturally competent training and collaboration with community organizations. By fostering trust and ensuring officers are visible and accessible, we can create a safer and more united city, where everyone feels protected and heard. 

Do you support the renewal and expansion of the Ocean Avenue Community Benefit District? If so, why and how will you work with its leadership to make sure it delivers the best results for all stakeholders?

I fully support the renewal and expansion of the Ocean Avenue Community Benefit District. The CBD plays a critical role in maintaining and improving the commercial corridors, making them safer, cleaner and more vibrant. I will work closely with its leadership to ensure the district delivers tangible benefits to all stakeholders. This includes enhancing safety measures, beautifying public spaces and supporting local businesses through marketing and events. Together, we can create a thriving commercial environment that reflects the diversity and dynamism of the Ingleside neighborhood.

Will you support the Recreation and Parks Department in achieving the completion of Phase 2 of the Geneva Office Building? If so, how?

Yes, I support the completion of Phase 2 of the Geneva Office Building. This historic structure can be a beacon of community and cultural activity. I will work with the stakeholders to secure private and public investment, explore innovative financing mechanisms, streamline approvals and engage the community in the planning process. By prioritizing this project, we can create a vibrant space that serves the needs of residents, offers cultural programming and preserves a key piece of San Francisco’s history, enhancing the community fabric of the neighborhood.

What will you do about our waste collection monopoly?

I will explore options to introduce competition or tighter regulation in the waste collection industry to ensure better service and fairer pricing for Ingleside residents. We need a system that incentivizes waste reduction, recycling and composting, while also providing high-quality and affordable service to all neighborhoods. By holding service providers accountable and exploring alternatives, we can create a more efficient and environmentally responsible waste management system. 

How will you incentivize landlords to rent out long-vacant units and thus increase the housing stock?

While we must do more to activate vacant units of housing and provide support to small landlords, ultimately the state is requiring San Francisco to build 82,000 new units of housing by 2031 or we face losing even more local control over land use decisions as well as eligibility for key affordable housing and transportation funds. We need an all-in approach to housing that involves activating vacant units, unsticking the 70,000 units languishing in the pipeline and building more housing at all income levels.

I will explore tax incentives for landlords who rent out long-vacant units at below-market rate rents. Additionally, I will work on reducing bureaucratic hurdles that delay the leasing process and support programs that match landlords with tenants in need. These steps will not only help alleviate the housing crisis but also ensure that existing housing is used efficiently. By encouraging landlords to bring units back to the market, we can make a significant dent in our housing shortage.