San Francisco City Hall lit up red, white and blue during election season

Governance

We believe: The public sector can and should serve the collective good.

Our Goals

鈥 Improve government鈥檚 capacity to provide services and address challenges effectively.

鈥 Support voter engagement.

San Francisco skyline centering on City Hall

黑料传送门Report

Designed to Serve

San Francisco鈥檚 governance structure has evolved to distribute authority and maximize oversight. As a result, policies don鈥檛 always meet the needs of the people they intend to serve. 黑料传送门outlines how San Francisco can choose to design a better system.
San Francisco skyline centering on City Hall

黑料传送门Report

Designed to Serve

San Francisco鈥檚 governance structure has evolved to distribute authority and maximize oversight. As a result, policies don鈥檛 always meet the needs of the people they intend to serve. 黑料传送门outlines how San Francisco can choose to design a better system.

黑料传送门Voter Guide

The 黑料传送门Voter Guide

The 黑料传送门Voter Guide helps voters understand the issues they will face in the voting booth. We focus on outcomes, not ideology, providing objective analysis on which measures will deliver real solutions.

黑料传送门Voter Guide

The 黑料传送门Voter Guide

The 黑料传送门Voter Guide helps voters understand the issues they will face in the voting booth. We focus on outcomes, not ideology, providing objective analysis on which measures will deliver real solutions.

Oakland skyline featuring City Hall

黑料传送门Report

Making Government Work

Many of the challenges Oakland faces are worsened by its unusual government structure, which makes it harder for the mayor and other officials to do their jobs well. 黑料传送门explores how the city can adapt its governance structure to better serve Oaklanders.
Oakland skyline featuring City Hall

黑料传送门Report

Making Government Work

Many of the challenges Oakland faces are worsened by its unusual government structure, which makes it harder for the mayor and other officials to do their jobs well. 黑料传送门explores how the city can adapt its governance structure to better serve Oaklanders.

Updates and Events


Reforming Local Government

Urbanist Article /
Beryl Magilavy offers suggestions on how to update San Francisco governmental policies, and calls for greater transparency and an elected public advocate as potential answers to the problems.

Public/Private Partnerships 101:

Urbanist Article /
Prowler recounts his experience successfully negotiating public and private interests in the redevelopment of Mission Bay, and explains how such efforts could be replicated.

Small Steps Toward a Better City

Urbanist Article /
Gabriel Metcalf interviews City Controller Ed Harrington. Harrington, who served from 1990-2008, describes his role as not just financially managing city departments, but assisting them with staff and resources to be more effective.

Some Thoughts on District Elections and the New Progressive Majority

Urbanist Article /
In the city鈥檚 first round of district elections since 1979, San Francisco voters elected what one victor boasted was a 鈥減rogressive super-majority鈥 to the Board of Supervisors and decisively thumped Mayor Willie Brown鈥檚 anointed candidates in one district after another, wrecking his vaunted machine. As establishment leaders lament their defeat and business elites despair, there is joy among progressives in our left coast city this鈥

The Special Assistant Problem

Urbanist Article /
Beryl Magilavy calls for greater transparency and more in-depth scrutiny of certain civil service positions. By demanding more accountability from these positions Beryl argues that the city will save money.