Governance
We believe: The public sector can and should serve the collective good.
• Improve government’s capacity to provide services and address challenges effectively.
• Support voter engagement.
Our Goals
ϴReport
Designed to Serve
San Francisco’s governance structure has evolved to distribute authority and maximize oversight. As a result, policies don’t always meet the needs of the people they intend to serve. ϴoutlines how San Francisco can choose to design a better system.
ϴVoter Guide
The ϴVoter Guide
The ϴVoter 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.
ϴReport
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. ϴexplores how the city can adapt its governance structure to better serve Oaklanders.
Updates and Events
Time to Rethink How Oakland Passes Budgets
News /
July marked the beginning of the new fiscal year for the City of Oakland, and with it the end of a rancorous two-month-long adoption process for a new two-year budget. Without a city controller to establish a common set of financial facts , the debate in Oakland is not only over which priorities to fund but whose numbers to believe.
ϴresponds to City of San Jose proposed General Plan Four-Year Review Scope of Work
Advocacy Letter
ϴweighs in on city staff recommendations for the scope of work for the San Jose General Plan four-year review, which will begin in the fall of 2019. ϴsupported staff recommendations but proposed additional items to be considered by the Task Force. The letter address SPUR's recommendations for consideration by city council.
ϴresponds to San Jose Mayor's June Budget Message for 2019-2020
Advocacy Letter
ϴsupports the San Jose mayor's June Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 and proposes additional set funding allocations to better support the future of Guadalupe River Park, the need for increased community engagement, dedicated resources to complete an Alum Rock Urban Village plan, and to support the creation of an equity framework.
ϴsubmits comments on Stanford's proposed 2018 General Use Permit
Advocacy Letter
ϴsupports Stanford’s application to update their permit granting an extension for future campus development through 2035.
ϴsupports creating a formal process for adopting city-sponsored ballot measures in Oakland
Advocacy Letter
ϴbelieves that creating a process for City Council to place city-sponsored measures on the ballot is a positive step toward good government in Oakland.
ϴsupports putting the affordable "by-right" charter amendment on San Francisco ballot
Advocacy Letter
ϴurges the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to support placing this proposed charter amendment on the ballot in order to streamline the review and approval of 100% affordable housing and housing for educators.