Gabriel Metcalf is the executive director of the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR), a nonprofit membership organization that promotes good planning and good government through research, education and advocacy. Under Gabriel’s leadership, SPUR has grown dramatically in influence and membership.

Gabriel has authored or co-authored such notable articles as “The Northern California Megaregion” (2007), “Civic Planning in America” (2007), “Regional Planning without Regional Government” (2004), “Democracy and Planning” (2003), Vision of A Place: A Guide to the San Francisco General Plan (2002) and “City of Safety” (2001).

Before becoming executive director in 2005, Metcalf headed up SPUR’s policy and advocacy work for five years. Prior to working at SPUR, he worked for The Bay Institute, an environmental organization focused on California water policy. He was also a co-founder and, for many years, Board Chairman of City CarShare.

A frequent writer and speaker on planning and policy topics, Gabriel earned a Master’s degree in city planning from the University of California, Berkeley College of Environmental Design.

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