illustration of people helping each other climb a staircase made of red tape

Purchasing Power

Nine recommendations to improve San Francisco’s procurement process and make it a core part of the city’s strategy to deliver more equitable services

bicycle rider in a green bike lane on an urban street

Success on the Street

California’s CEQA exemption has helped cities build modern mobility faster — and become a foundation for future streamlining

Mural painted on the headquarters of the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District

Culture as Catalyst

How arts and culture districts can revitalize downtowns

Graphic design of an organizational chart becoming cleaner and clearer

Designed to Serve

Resetting city governance to better meet the needs of San Franciscans

Illustration of houses plugging into electricity

Closing the Electrification Affordability Gap

Planning an equitable transition away from fossil fuel heat in Bay Area buildings

How San Francisco Can Improve Public Services and Lower Costs: Q&A with Nicole Neditch

News /
Procuring goods and services is a critical facet of San Francisco’s operations, totaling more than a third of the city’s annual budget. Although the system aims to enhance service delivery and foster sustainable practices, its web of regulations results in a process that takes months or even years, limits competition, and increases costs for public goods and services. We talked to SPUR’s Nicole Neditch about how San Francisco can make its procurement system more effective, equitable, and responsive to community needs.

Why ϴIs Supporting SB 63, a Tax Measure to Keep Transit Alive

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Drastic cuts in the Bay Area’s transit services are all but guaranteed absent a regional transit funding measure. Senate Bill 63 would authorize several counties to place a tax measure on the November 2026 ballot in an effort to avoid such cuts. ϴstrongly supports the bill because it represents a practical and politically realistic framework to keep the region’s largest transit operators from going over a fiscal cliff.

Purchasing Power

ϴReport
Procurement can be a powerful tool to realize San Francisco’s goals to reduce inequalities and protect the health, well-being, and financial security of its constituents. But the complicated maze of legislation and policies that govern the city’s procurement system is making it harder to reach these goals. Our newest report identifies procurement process improvements to better wield this tool for social gains.

Clean Heating for All Is Possible with Targeted Public Programs

News /
Getting gas heating out of homes is a big part of meeting the climate challenge. But doing so means ensuring that those with the least means and greatest pollution burdens are not left behind in the transition to clean heating. Cost support, technical support, educational resources, and community engagement can make the transition equitable.

Why (and Where) San Francisco Needs to Allow More Homes: A Housing Element Primer

News /
California has set a goal for San Francisco to build 82,069 new homes by 2031. Doing so will mean changing restrictive zoning policies that are currently hindering sufficient housing construction and keeping historic patterns of segregation in place. If the city fails to update its zoning, it risks losing state funding and local control over housing development. ϴprovides a primer on the state’s housing element law and what it means for San Francisco.