It is with a heart full of mixed emotions that I announce I will be leaving SPUR to take on a newly created policy chief role with the San Francisco Mayor’s Office. Effective February 3, I will join Mayor Daniel Lurie’s administration as Chief of Infrastructure, Climate & Mobility.
The policy chief position reports directly to the mayor and is part of a restructuring that is intended to help break down silos and reduce complexity in city government. This reorganization draws directly from good government recommendations made by SPUR. I am beyond honored to have been tapped for one of these four key roles and to have the opportunity to return to public service at such a critical time for the future of San Francisco.
In no small part, I see this appointment as a reflection of SPUR’s reputation as a trusted advisor and leading voice for innovative policy solutions in the Bay Area. During the past nine years, my policy vision and understanding have grown and deepened thanks to the work we’ve done together. This new role is an opportunity to build on our foundational work — from a different seat.
Together in recent years we have helped set the Bay Area on a new path, especially coming out of the pandemic. From publishing SPUR’s visionary Regional Strategy to identifying the tools cities need to enable our downtowns to evolve and thrive, SPUR’s impact has been profound. Our organization played an outsized role in saving transit during the pandemic and fundamentally altering how housing production is regulated. And we did all this while navigating constant societal and economic change. While news of my departure brings change for our organization, I take comfort in knowing that it comes at a time of strength and stability.
I’m pleased to share that the Executive Committee has appointed SPUR Board Member David Friedman to the role of Interim CEO while we conduct the search for my successor. There are so many reasons why David is a great fit, from his professional acumen to his deep commitment to SPUR’s mission to his extensive leadership experience.
As a highly regarded executive, David served as CEO of Forell/Elsesser Engineers for many decades — as well as on numerous nonprofit and corporate boards — earning widespread respect for his leadership and vision. David’s tenure on the SPUR Board is exceptional, with a total of twelve years of service, including two years as chair, followed by continued involvement as a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Fundraising Committee.
Perhaps most importantly, David is deeply invested in SPUR’s mission and is a believer in the transformative power of public policy to shape outcomes for our communities.
The SPUR Board has shared that the executive search process will be thorough and transparent, with opportunities for staff and stakeholders to provide input. The goal is to have a final candidate selected by this summer.
My last day at SPUR is January 29. Thank you for the opportunity to do such meaningful work together. The future is bright for SPUR, and I’m excited to see the realization of all that SPUR has underway in the new year.