San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie promises "new era of accountability" at City Hall
Under clear San Francisco skies, the heir to the Levi Strauss fortune and philanthropist Daniel Lurie was sworn in as the city's 46th mayor late Wednesday morning.
Lurie, who founded the anti-poverty nonprofit Tipping Point Community 20 years ago and led the organizing committee that brought Super Bowl 50 to the Bay Area, won a contentious mayoral race in a crowded field last November. He declared victory several days after the election and the morning after incumbent Mayor London Breed conceded the race.
Lurie has promised to reorganize City Hall when he takes office, implementing "a new governance structure" with his administration by having four policy chiefs who will report directly to him covering the areas of "Housing and Economic Development; Infrastructure, Climate and Mobility; Public Health and Wellbeing; and Public Safety."
Before the inauguration, Lurie visited various San Francisco neighborhoods, walking through the Tenderloin District with Police Chief Bill Scott, riding on a cable car and getting hot chocolate with his family at the Ghirardelli Experience Shop.
The ceremony outside City Hall included opening remarks by former Surgeon General of California Dr. Nadine Burke Harris and a performance of the National Anthem by ex-Tower of Power vocalist Lenny Williams with the Glide Ensemble. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Lurie's wife Becca Prowda also spoke to prior to the new mayor taking the oath of office.
In his address, Lurie said his administration is "the beginning of a new era of accountability and change at City Hall."
"I entered the mayor's race not as a politician, but as a dad who couldn't explain to my kids what they were seeing on our streets," he said.
Lurie shared a story about a recent visit to San Francisco General Hospital, where he visited the neonatal intensive care unit which included babies recovering from exposure to fentanyl.
"It was a heartbreaking picture of our city's shortcomings in addressing the crisis on our streets," Lurie said.
Lurie went on to list several issues concerning residents, including homelessness, drug use, and safety.
"You voted for accountability and change, a clear mandate that my administration will work to fulfill every single day," he said.
Lurie also addressed the city's $800 million budget deficit, saying San Francisco "can no longer hide from our fiscal reality". The mayor said the deficit will require "some painful decisions" and a rethinking about how the city operates.
"We need to stop spending more than we can afford," he said. "We need to prioritize essential services and make the investments that are critical to getting San Francisco up and running again."
Lurie also struck an optimistic tone, saying that the city is in the midst of a rising sense of pride and momentum, requiring San Francisco to prepare for the next housing boom, streamline permitting for small businesses to help the local economy grow, and improve coordination between departments that he said would "be a hallmark of this administration."
"We have allowed far too many people to lose faith in government," Lurie said. "I know we can restore that faith."
Lurie's address was music to the ears of many San Franciscans who voted for change. Frederick Jordan serves as the President of the African American Chamber of Commerce. He's hopeful Lurie will make good on his commitments made in his speech.
"It is definitely going to be a new day and we're really looking forward to all the things the mayor has talked about, and somehow we've missed a lot of that, so we're definitely hopeful," said Jordan.
Among the thousands in the crowd at Civic Center Plaza was longtime resident Susan Fisch. She liked what she heard, but said she knows the road ahead won't be easy.
"He said any number of times change is not going to happen overnight and it's going to depend on a lot of people working together," Fisch told CBS News Bay Area. "And I'm optimistic that will happen if we are patient and if we remember what the goal is."
Lurie closed his inaugural address with a focus on the positive and an invitation to San Francisco's residents to help the city enjoy a renaissance.
"Now is a time for action. This is where our comeback begins," Lurie said. "There are green-shoots everywhere, but my standard for success is sky-high."
"It is the greatest honor of my life to serve as your mayor at this critical moment in our history," he added. "I'm asking you to join me in reclaiming our place as the greatest city in the world, with a new era of accountability, service, and change. It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work, San Francisco."
Lauren Toms contributed to this report.