A significant gathering of San Francisco’s political elites took place on Wednesday evening at the Westin St. Francis hotel, where attendees raised cocktails in celebration of the launch of the Blueprint for a Better San Francisco, a new initiative designed to shift political dynamics in the city.
Among those present was State Senator Scott Wiener, towering over the crowd of hundreds, which also included District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and several members of the Board of Supervisors: Rafael Mandelman, Bilal Mahmood, and Matt Dorsey.
The Blueprint initiative aims to strengthen moderate political forces in the city, pushing back against progressive dominance and proposing to serve as a model for similar cities navigating similar challenges.
“Blueprint is an organization that is unabashedly and ruthlessly committed to pragmatism,” declared the group’s new director, Scotty Jacobs, addressing the packed ballroom.
Notably absent from the event was Michael Moritz, a venture capitalist billionaire who had previously funded Blueprint’s predecessor, TogetherSF.
Following a disappointing election cycle for the group last year, TogetherSF, which spent $9.5 million on a ballot measure intending to overhaul city governance, ultimately succumbed to a rival progressive campaign with a much smaller budget.
This turned the spotlight on Moritz’s funding as a key concern, especially since TogetherSF’s second-choice mayoral candidate, Daniel Lurie, performed poorly in the elections but later became mayor.
In January, the leaders of TogetherSF announced a merger with another group, Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, rebranding as Blueprint, which is now touted as the evolution of TogetherSF and a project of Neighbors.
Jacobs shared his reflections on San Francisco’s vibrancy, citing the recent No Kings rally as a particularly inspiring moment, although he expressed regret about the absence of complimentary drinks at the event, elaborating on a past campaign strategy that involved lavish parties to generate interest.
The sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the nearby Union Square served as a backdrop for Jacobs’s remarks about the city’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
He remarked that “Union Square perfectly epitomizes the journey our city has been on,” symbolizing both the highs and lows of urban life in San Francisco.
With an initial annual budget of $2 million, Blueprint is poised to re-emerge as a strong political actor, following in the footsteps of Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, which has been recognized as one of the wealthiest groups established in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Jay Cheng, the head of Neighbors, emphasized in an interview that sustaining momentum in the city is crucial, stating, “We can’t afford to take our foot off the gas.”
However, the new organization does not appear to have continued backing from Moritz, whose previous financial support had been significant.
Although Cheng did not cite Moritz as a contributor for Blueprint, the group’s first priority is to assist Mayor Daniel Lurie in securing budget approval, a task made challenging by the steep deficit he inherited.
Jacobs has actively promoted the mayor’s plans on social media, suggesting that cuts to programs like free legal aid serve to dismantle what he terms the “nonprofit industrial complex in City Hall.”
These proposed cuts have met with resistance from a majority of the Board of Supervisors and District Attorney Jenkins, complicating Jacobs’s assertion about unified support for Lurie’s agenda.
Despite the proclamations of commitment from Jacobs and his team, challenges persist.
Lurie’s inner circle has expressed clear feelings of distrust toward many in the political camp that opposed his election, not including Cheng, who remains a controversial figure due to previous campaign finance violations.
These infractions saw Neighbors for a Better San Francisco fined $54,000 for failure to disclose payments, and further scrutiny surrounds Cheng regarding connections to a campaign accused of ethical missteps.
While Jacobs is presented as the public face of Blueprint, it is Cheng who factors prominently in the organization’s operational heart.
Blueprint’s policy agenda appears reminiscent of TogetherSF’s, advocating for limiting commissions’ influence and clarifying the mayor’s role, a continuation of themes that previously proved unpopular.
As TogetherSF’s legacy casts a long shadow, the group faces legal challenges from the Phoenix Project, a progressive organization alleging that TogetherSF operated illegally as an undeclared political committee.
Cheng has dismissed these complaints as irrational, asserting that it is absurd to pursue legal action against an entity that no longer exists.
Amidst these political machinations, many attendees at Wednesday’s event appeared less concerned with the controversy surrounding the initiative, feeling optimistic about improving San Francisco’s lingering issues.
Some shared experiences of volunteering to clean the streets of their neighborhoods while expressing hope that the Blueprint initiative could effectively address the city’s challenges, particularly its ongoing crisis of affordability.
As Jacobs spoke to the audience, he urged attendees to engage more with the Blueprint initiative, announcing, “Get on Blueprint’s listserv. Scan the QR codes scattered across the room for more information.”
He called for a collective effort among San Franciscans to contribute to what he labeled “the blueprint that will build a better San Francisco.”
Jacobs declared that although cocktails were not complimentary, attendees were welcome to enjoy the hors d’oeuvres, a light-hearted end to an evening filled with political ambitions and aspirations.
image source from：missionlocal
