Building an informed, engaged citizenry
SPUR serves as a watchdog for the public interest. We analyze each ballot and provide recommendations on how to vote. We try to help the City make wise decisions in budgeting. We monitor capital spending, civil service reform and changes to contracting rules. And we do all of this with a goal of improving outcomes and raising public awareness.
promoting GOVERNMENT AS A FORCE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
SPUR believes in our local government as a positive force for social change. But it is not enough to simply want an active public sector. The practical challenges of operating a large, complex public organization are enormous. SPUR works to ensure that government has the appropriate policies and tools to make the most of our investment in government and provide the highest quantity and quality of public services to San Francisco residents with the resources at its disposal.
creating an effective public sector
SPUR's approach is to be constructive about changes that need to be made, from the perspective of an ally of government, rather than an adversary. SPUR believes that government can be effective and efficient at what it does to continue to carry out indispensable functions for the quality of life of the city. From parks, to public transit, to street cleaning, to public safety—and the list goes on—there is simply no way for San Francisco to be a good place to live unless local government is well-funded and well-managed.
good government projects
Ballot Analysis
Before every local election, SPUR's Ballot Analysis Committee and Board
of Directors investigate all local and some state ballot measures, and
prepare an analysis for the public. Our analysis includes the
background behind the measures, pros and cons, and a recommendation on
how to vote. This is widely regarded as the single best source in San
Francisco for citizens to get an understanding of the issues they will
face in the voting booth. Because we typically complete our analysis in
advance of other election observers, we share our ballot analysis with
community organizations and local media to help them make their own
recommendations on the ballot.
The Municipal Fiscal Advisory Committee
The Municipal Fiscal Advisory Committee—now a part of SPUR—serves as the coordinating body for many efforts to
help government work better. Through public/private collaboration, MFAC
helps strengthen the City’s ability to manage its operations, maintain
essential services and manage revenues. We usually work closely in
partnership with City departments as we bring outside expertise to help
solve City problems. Occasionally, we will identify a volunteer to help
a City agency or department resolve a specific problem. Our committee
may also produce independent policy analyses and go directly to
legislators or the ballot box to achieve policy reform.
Annual Economic Outlook Briefing
Each year, SPUR's MFAC organizes an economic briefing to the
Controller's Office and the mayor's budget director. The focus of the
briefing is to bring experts from key industry sectors - real estate,
retail, hotels and banking—to discuss economic trends that will
affect the City and County of San Francisco budget. This information
helps validate the assumptions made by the controller's staff as they
form revenue projections for the upcoming fiscal year. The outside
guidance also strengthens the acceptance of the budget projections by
the Board of Supervisors.
Good Government Awards Program
SPUR holds an annual awards event to
honor exemplary city managers who are models of good public service.
This is the only citywide awards program for exemplary management in
the city's public sector. Managers are nominated by their department
heads and are reviewed by a panel that includes City staff and members
of MFAC. Over nearly three decades, this event has honored hundreds of
nominees and winners, of whom many have gone on to become department
heads.
Ballot Reform Task Force and Coalition
In reaction to the plethora of poorly conceived ballot measures on the
San Francisco ballot, SPUR has founded a task force to study and
recommend ways to assure that each go through the proper process of
public review before being placed on the ballot. Future projects will
include additional measures to help increase meaningful public
participation and voting. SPUR is also leading a coalition of
organizations looking at ways to improve and reform process by which
ordinances appear on the local ballot. These reforms require changes to
the City charter.
To get updates on good government activities, contact Sarah Karlinsky, SPUR Deputy Director, at skarlinsky@spur.org.
