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
November 2020 Election Results
News /
This year, SPUR’s Voter Guide provided Bay Area voters with analysis and recommendations on 35 local, regional and state measures. Now that the dust has settled, a historic election in a historic year has produced a number of critical local wins in the Bay Area, despite some significant defeats.
Silicon Valley Roundtable: Recovering From the Pandemic Means Addressing Systemic Injustice
News /
Leaders in Silicon Valley are looking at the innovations that might emerge in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One thing is clear: This time, it won’t be an engineering solution. The Silicon Valley Recovery Roundtable, launched to help businesses safely reopen, realized that its goal was not to return to “normal” but to repair the systemic disparities that existed before the pandemic.
How Should We Rebuild Government After COVID-19?
News /
Should some smaller Bay Area cities merge as a way to weather the economic fallout wrought by COVID-19? The pandemic will have a significant impact on local governments — but it might also present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild a governance system that better serves the Bay Area.
A Budget Priorities Evaluation Framework for Oakland
Advocacy Letter
SPUR believes that a city’s budget is one of the clearest statements of its priorities and as such it should reflect the city’s values. Amidst this uncertainty SPUR has offered a Budget Priorities Evaluation Framework to Council to help guide deliberations
2020 SPUR Impact Awards: Senator Jim Beall Creates Solutions to California's Toughest Problems
News /
The 2020 SPUR Impact Awards recognize outstanding job performance by public sector leaders in Santa Clara County. This year’s ceremony recognized Senator Jim Beall for his three decades of public service during which he worked on legislation to address some of California's toughest issues, including transportation infrastructure and affordable housing.
2020 SPUR Impact Awards: Ed Solis Transforms Streets Into Public Space for Everyone
News /
The 2020 SPUR Impact Awards recognize outstanding job performance by public sector leaders in Santa Clara County. This year’s ceremony recognized Ed Solis for his work expands the Viva CalleSJ Open Streets Program; he utilizes the city's largest public space--the streets--to bring communities together.