Balancing Oakland's Budget
Closing the city’s structural deficit to move toward fiscal solvency and economic growth
The Urban Future of Work
SPUR Report / As the Bay Area’s economy changes, many firms are finding they need the vibrancy and density of an urban-style environment in order to collaborate, innovate and stay competitive. There is a strong link between density and job growth. In fact, we believe that locating jobs closer to transit — and closer to one another — will be key to the Bay Area’s long-term economic growth.
The Trouble With Ranked-Choice Voting
News / Professor Corey Cook responds to Professor Rich Deleon's criticism of Cook's original Urbanist article covering ranked choice voting.
In Defense of Ranked-Choice Voting
News / Professor Corey Cook’s article in the December 2011 Urbanist assesses San Francisco’s ranked-choice voting (RCV) system in the 2011 mayoral election. His opening statement concludes that “by most objective measures the system held up rather well: The election results were clear and uncontroversial, individual ballots contained fewer errors than in past contests and most voters chose to participate fully by ranking their first-, second- and…
SPUR Comments on Central Market Economic Strategy
Advocacy Letter / SPUR's comments contemplated actions to achieve the following objectives: enhance and activate the public realm, stabilize the existing community and support the establishment of a creative arts community, reduce vacancies and catalyze development, build community capacity and improve safety.
The Future of Sharp Park
Policy Brief / San Francisco is considering proposed legislation to change recreational uses at Sharp Park, a city-owned golf course and natural area located in Pacifica. The ordinance would end golfing at the site and restore it to more natural conditions. Activists eager to see a newly restored natural area and golfers eager to sustain and upgrade the course have debated the issues. SPUR weighs in with recommendations.