As the Oakland cannabis industry comes out of the shadows, there are many issues to resolve. Members heard from Robert W. Selna, Attorney at Law, Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean LLP, and Andrea Unsworth, Owner of StashTwist, a delivery-only marijuana dispensary, who are shaping Oakland's approach to this potentially lucrative and still controversial industry.

Just 10 percent of the vote in San Francisco went to Donald Trump. Since his election, the city’s elected leadership has spoken out against many of the president's stated priorities. California Assemblymember David Chiu, Audrey Cooper, Editor in Chief at The San Francisco Chronicle, and Fred Blackwell, CEO at The San Francisco Foundation, joined members for a discussion and exploration of the upcoming issues and possibilities facing America's…

Members joined us in welcoming four emerging councilmembers and heard how they their priorities will shape San Jose's future. The newly elected leaders are: Sergio Jimenez, District 2 Councilmember Lan Diep, District 4 Councilmember Dev Davis, District 6 Councilmember Sylvia Arenas, District 8 Councilmember

Downtown Oakland’s largest project to date proposes three acres of office, housing, and retail space for 2100 Telegraph Avenue, in the heart of the Uptown arts and entertainment district. Managing Partner at SUDA, Alan Dones, Principal at Lane Partners, Drew Haydel, and Senior Associate/Studio Director at Gensler, Manan Shah, discussed plans for large floorplate offices, retail, restaurants, and community arts and open spaces.

This fall, Jean Fraser took the helm as CEO of the Presidio Trust. Fraser, a former deputy city attorney, public health executive and SPUR board member, joins the Trust with an eye toward making sure that as America becomes more diverse, the benefits of parks are available to all. Members heard about her vision for stewardship of this unique national park.

With so much going on in downtown Oakland it is hard to believe that we haven't seen a new tower go up – yet. Alex Waterbury, President of Lennar MultiFamily Northern California, came to SPUR to talk about plans in the works for a 33­-story, 254­-unit residential high rise community at 17th & Broadway and a 224-­unit mixed­use community at 19th & Harrison.

San Francisco 49ers Vice President and Executive Director of Community Relations, Joanne Pasternack, discussed the team’s philanthropic engagement in Silicon Valley. The 49ers Foundation supports programs for underserved youth to keep them “Safe, On Track, and in School.” In 2015 it contributed $4 million to nonprofits, including City Year San Jose, the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute. Since its inception in…

Members joined us to hear Interim Chief of Police Toney Chaplin's plans for the San Francisco Police Department and its duty to serve and protect the city’s public realm. Chief Chaplin voiced the importance of reform in light of our civic and national conversation about police, violence and racism in America.

Members heard from two of the key transportation and infrastructure leaders in the Bay Area, Chris Lytle, head of the Port of Oakland, and Bryant L. Francis, the port's new director of aviation. Lytle is leading the port through a period of change. His vision for this critical public entity will affect the region's economic sustainability for generations to come. Francis brings more than a decade…

Mayor Ed Lee promised to get 6,000 people off the streets during his term. Just last month, Jeff Kositsky made the commitment to achieve that goal when he was appointed director of the city's Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. Join us on June 14th as Jeff discusses his role in the newly created department dedicated to tackling the city's longtime struggle with homelessness.