San Francisco’s new Mayor, Daniel Lurie, took office in January with a clear commitment to acknowledging the city’s pressing issues. In contrast to his predecessor, former District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who attributed a surge in property crime to economic hardships linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, Lurie recognizes the urgent need for accountability and action.
During his inauguration, Lurie candidly stated, “Widespread drug dealing, public drug use, and constantly seeing people in crisis has robbed us of our sense of decency and security.” Within his first month in office, Lurie made it a point to visit all police stations and frequently toured areas heavily affected by crime and drug-related issues.
He described scenes he witnessed at 16th and Mission Street, where he encountered distressing situations involving individuals passed out or using fentanyl in public while children made their way to school.
Acknowledging the problems is only the first step; the next involves overhauling inefficient systems. Previously, five different city departments responded to crisis calls on the streets, resulting in fragmented and ineffective responses. Lurie has streamlined this process by establishing a single integrated team dedicated to addressing these issues within specific geographic areas. “Before, it was nine different outreach teams, five different departments. No one was in charge. Now, someone is in charge,” he explained in an April interview.
While Lurie’s approach shows promise, he confronts significant challenges that extend beyond administrative changes. He must work to alter the public’s perception of San Francisco as a city that tolerates drug use and provides services to those engaging in illegal activities. The city’s history of compassion—where services such as free needles and pipe distribution for drug users became a norm—has contributed to this negative image.
To combat this perception, Lurie could draw inspiration from the federal government’s strategy for managing the southern border. By amplifying enforcement measures and communicating a clear message about the city’s stance on addiction and homelessness, he can work towards a vision where compassion translates into effective treatment rather than the acceptance of lawlessness.
Implementing large-scale solutions, such as transforming the Cow Palace grounds into a temporary homeless shelter, could serve as a powerful gesture. The Supreme Court’s Grants Pass ruling allows for the removal of homeless individuals from the streets if adequate shelter options are available. By swiftly providing thousands of beds and addressing homelessness visibly, Lurie could signal a new era of accountability and support in San Francisco.
Another fundamental challenge on Lurie’s agenda is addressing the city’s worrying financial situation, which features a nearly billion-dollar budget deficit. However, a closer examination reveals that the city grapples with a more profound spending problem. Over the past decade, San Francisco’s population has declined by 5 percent, yet its budget has soared by 54 percent in constant dollars, resulting in per capita spending of over $19,000.
Comparatively, in 2012, the city spent $12,500 per capita. If spending levels had remained consistent with those of 13 years ago, San Francisco would currently boast a $4 billion surplus.
When compared to a selection of other consolidated cities and counties in the U.S., San Francisco’s budget stands out as approximately double the average per capita spending. To counterbalance this trend, Lurie must take decisive steps to reform work rules, eliminate unnecessary positions, and invest in technology that enhances operational efficiency.
If successfully executed, these reforms could lead to improved core services for residents and potentially lower tax rates.
Ultimately, if Mayor Lurie can achieve his objectives of reshaping the public narrative around addiction and homelessness while streamlining government functions, he will set San Francisco on a path toward recovery. The engagement of major tech companies based in the city, along with the ongoing support of key Anchor businesses, will be crucial for the city’s fiscal health. Whether Lurie possesses the determination to address these challenges remains to be seen.
image source from：https://www.city-journal.org/article/san-francisco-mayor-daniel-lurie-homelessness-spending
