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
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Solving the City's Deferred Maintenance Problem
Urbanist Article
This article describes the way San Francisco pays for infrastructure, how we underfund maintenance and makes several proposals, including a set-aside for deferred maintenance.
The Special Assistant Problem
Urbanist Article
Beryl Magilavy calls for greater transparency and more in-depth scrutiny of certain civil service positions. By demanding more accountability from these positions Beryl argues that the city will save money.
Reinventing Government in San Francisco
Urbanist Article
Metcalf considers various reforms to make San Francisco City government run more efficiently.
November 2000 Voter Guide
Voter Guide
Includes SPUR's analysis of 18city measures on the November 7, 2000 ballot.
It Takes a City
Urbanist Article
Arlene Ackerman and Kathleen Turner field questions on educational reform, the role of parents in education, and the position the city must take to ensure the success of the system.
March 2000 Voter Guide
Voter Guide
Includes SPUR's analysis of seven city measures on the March 7, 2000 ballot.