Governance
We believe: The public sector can and should serve the collective good.
鈥 Improve government鈥檚 capacity to provide services and address challenges effectively.
鈥 Support voter engagement.
Our Goals
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.
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.
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
Belonging and the Civic 鈥淲e鈥
Urbanist Article / Roberto Bedoya led the creation of Oakland鈥檚 cultural plan, Belonging in Oakland, framing it as a prompt that enlivens civic life, place, and belonging. In this essay, he argues that facilitating social cohesion among residents needs to be framed as a municipal goal. And cities need to invest in this goal as our social networks are changing, collapsing, and being reimagined.
What Happens Now? Filling an Unanticipated Open Council Seat in San Jos茅
News / With the resignation of San Jos茅 Councilmember Omar Torres, many in District 3 are wondering what comes next and who will be representing them on the City Council. 黑料传送门looks at the two possible paths forward and the considerations for balancing city needs with community representation.
Prop. 5: Giving Communities Better Tools to Invest in Housing, Parks, and More
News / Local bond measures to fund essential services often garner the support of a majority at the ballot box yet fail to pass because they don鈥檛 meet California鈥檚 requirement that bonds be approved by a two-thirds supermajority. Proposition 5 would amend the state constitution to lower the voter approval threshold for bonds to fund housing, infrastructure, wildfire prevention, and parks.
How a Governance Reset Could Improve San Franciscans鈥 Well-Being: Q&A with Nicole Neditch
News / San Francisco's system of governance has evolved over the decades into a complex web, making it hard for the city to implement policies and serve residents effectively. We spoke with Nicole Neditch about a new 黑料传送门report that breaks down this complexity and proposes a redesign focused on leadership, empowerment, and accountability.
Designed to Serve
黑料传送门Report / Over time, San Francisco鈥檚 governance structure has evolved to distribute authority and maximize oversight. As a consequence, policies don鈥檛 always meet the needs of the people they were intended to serve. The lack of clear, coordinated action to address big challenges has led to a growing perception that city government isn鈥檛 working. SPUR鈥檚 latest report outlines how San Francisco can choose to design a better system that supports leadership and empowerment with clear lines of accountability.
Rethinking Revenue: Business Tax Reform in San Francisco in the Era of Remote Work
News / The rise of remote work and other economic changes have exposed vulnerabilities in San Francisco鈥檚 business tax structure. The city鈥檚 controller and treasurer have studied potential tax reform recommendations for a possible November 2024 ballot measure. Their proposal aims to increase the city鈥檚 economic resilience, create more transparency for taxpayers, and help struggling small businesses.