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
SPUR Report
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. SPUR outlines how San Francisco can choose to design a better system.
SPUR Voter Guide
The SPUR Voter Guide
The SPUR Voter 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.
SPUR Report
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. SPUR explores how the city can adapt its governance structure to better serve Oaklanders.
Updates and Events
Belonging and the Civic “We”
Urbanist Article
Roberto Bedoya led the creation of Oakland’s cultural plan, Belonging in Oakland, framing it as a prompt that enlivens civic life, place, and belonging. In this essay, he argues that facilitating social cohesion among residents needs to be framed as a municipal goal. And cities need to invest in this goal as our social networks are changing, collapsing, and being reimagined.
What Happens Now? Filling an Unanticipated Open Council Seat in San José
News /
With the resignation of San José Councilmember Omar Torres, many in District 3 are wondering what comes next and who will be representing them on the City Council. SPUR looks at the two possible paths forward and the considerations for balancing city needs with community representation.
Prop. 5: Giving Communities Better Tools to Invest in Housing, Parks, and More
News /
Local bond measures to fund essential services often garner the support of a majority at the ballot box yet fail to pass because they don’t meet California’s requirement that bonds be approved by a two-thirds supermajority. Proposition 5 would amend the state constitution to lower the voter approval threshold for bonds to fund housing, infrastructure, wildfire prevention, and parks.
How a Governance Reset Could Improve San Franciscans’ Well-Being: Q&A with Nicole Neditch
News /
San Francisco's system of governance has evolved over the decades into a complex web, making it hard for the city to implement policies and serve residents effectively. We spoke with Nicole Neditch about a new SPUR report that breaks down this complexity and proposes a redesign focused on leadership, empowerment, and accountability.
Designed to Serve
SPUR Report
Over time, San Francisco’s governance structure has evolved to distribute authority and maximize oversight. As a consequence, policies don’t always meet the needs of the people they were intended to serve. The lack of clear, coordinated action to address big challenges has led to a growing perception that city government isn’t working. SPUR’s latest report outlines how San Francisco can choose to design a better system that supports leadership and empowerment with clear lines of accountability.
Rethinking Revenue: Business Tax Reform in San Francisco in the Era of Remote Work
News /
The rise of remote work and other economic changes have exposed vulnerabilities in San Francisco’s business tax structure. The city’s controller and treasurer have studied potential tax reform recommendations for a possible November 2024 ballot measure. Their proposal aims to increase the city’s economic resilience, create more transparency for taxpayers, and help struggling small businesses.