Mayor Daniel Lurie just gave his first State of the City speech. He came across as hopeful and a bit scrappy, showing he knows we’ve got some big challenges ahead.
Standing outside in the Inner Richmond, Lurie basically said.. we’ve been through a lot, we’re not all the way back, but we’re moving in the right direction.
For voters, that’s the frame he wants you to keep in mind as we head into a critical election year likely jam packed with ballot measures and choice for new city personnel.
Lurie pointed to wins from his first year — falling crime, his “Family Zoning” housing plan passing, more drug treatment and shelter, and the fact that federal agents didn’t flood the city — as evidence that his approach is working.
But he was also blunt that San Francisco still faces serious challenges: a nearly $1 billion budget deficit, visible drug and homelessness crises, and major ballot measures coming this November that could reshape Muni funding and how City Hall actually works.
The part most likely to matter to everyday voters? His new “Family Opportunity” agenda.
Lurie is leaning hard into affordability, especially for families. That means:
- Expanding free and subsidized childcare by letting more families qualify
- Creating a new pathway for high schoolers to earn City College degrees or job certifications before graduation
In plain terms: if you’re a parent, a young person, or someone worried about the cost of living, this is meant to help you stay in San Francisco.
Lurie also acknowledged what many residents feel: when tech booms, jobs return — but rents and displacement fears come roaring back too.
He’s trying to argue that growth and stability can rise together, not just for wealthy newcomers but for longtime San Franciscans.
For small business owners and homeowners, another big promise was about permits.
Lurie says a new permitting tool launches in February, and eventually the city will merge multiple departments to make approvals faster and less painful — something many voters have complained about for years.
Housing remains the most controversial piece. Lurie doubled down on his “Family Zoning” plan to allow taller, denser housing in parts of the west and north side, even as lawsuits and possible ballot challenges loom.
Critics like Supervisor Jackie Fielder argue the plan could put rent-controlled tenants at risk — a debate voters will likely keep hearing about all year.
Finally, Lurie is asking residents to pitch in too. His wife will lead a citywide day of service this summer — a very San Francisco call for neighbors to help clean, build, and care for their communities.
Big picture for voters:
Lurie is betting that if he can make childcare cheaper, housing more plentiful, permits less maddening, and government more efficient, San Franciscans will feel enough progress to stick with his agenda in November.
