Upcoming Events

Grab a drink and hear from the key people who are shaping the region’s future. In this installment of SPUR’s inspiring Drinks and Discourse series, we sit down with Katie Ferrick, the director of community affairs for LinkedIn. Her work bridges the gap between public policy and social impact to help communities function better. Come hear about her fascinating career path, how her time working for the U.S. House of Representatives influenced her views on community and how LinkedIn quietly...

In 2017, the California state legislature passed SB 35, providing a path for streamlining housing approvals in cities that have not met their housing targets. That bill, along with the threat of greater state legislation, is proving to be a catalytic lever in the local approvals process, especially at key Bay Area sites like Cupertino’s Vallco Town Center and the Brisbane Baylands. Hear about how this tool is being used from several stakeholders who are pushing housing development forward. +...

Electric scooters began dotting Oakland’s streets late in 2018 and soon thereafter became a popular way to zip around the city — as well as a challenge for the city’s department of transportation. But the agency swiftly reacted by implementing new plans and policies and is now conducting extensive outreach to enable this new mobility option to fit seamlessly into our urban landscape. Come learn about the current status of e-scooter legislation in Oakland and how it compares to that...

Downtown San Jose has become the South Bay’s urban center, with numerous new residential and retail projects drawn to the neighborhood’s walkability, transit and urban amenities. But commercial interest has been slow to develop — until now. With Google recently announcing a major play at Diridon Station and office space in short supply, learn how downtown is coming into its own as an urban job center. + Gary Dillabough / Navitas Capital + Nanci Klein / City of San Jose...

Cities across the world often deploy new technology in public places, collecting data that might enable energy savings, traffic reduction or a more efficient delivery of services. Questions about privacy stand out, however, when this data is gathered from residents, especially in an era of artificial intelligence and facial recognition. Who owns this data, and are there new democratic norms that should be put in place to ensure that “smart cities” do not end up discriminating against people? Learn about...

Is it possible to convert parts of our highway system into a transit network? What would that entail? In many places around the world, the implementation of express buses creates a cost-effective and efficient way to move people across a region. Come hear why this mode is not commonly used in the Bay Area and what we can learn from the cities that utilize express buses to efficiently serve their transit riders. + Linda Morris / AC Transit + Millie...

In 2018, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission convened a group of Bay Area housing experts and stakeholders to discuss housing solutions for the region. The result, the CASA Compact, is a package of policies being moved forward in 2019 with the goal of increasing housing production, preserving existing affordable housing and protecting vulnerable populations from displacement. Come learn more about the compact and what it might mean for San Francisco. Generously sponsored by Bank of the West. + Scott Littlehale /...

Data can be used to create more than just pretty maps. By offering insights into how we shape our cities and the mobility ecosystem, data gathering enables us to keep up with the new ways that people and goods move through our urban environments. Join data scientists and policy experts for a conversation on all things data, including how both qualitative and quantitative data can be effective for planning and policy purposes. + Rodrigo Davies / Strava + Shalin Mantri...

Join us for the second of two interactive storytelling workshops in conjunction with the SF Urban Film Fest. The San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) is developing an autonomous shuttle to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips around a growing Treasure Island. Participants will develop a communication campaign for eliciting public feedback on the shuttle, applying the lessons learned in the prior workshop to an urban planning process that is happening in real time. Co-presented by the SF Urban Film Fest, SFCTA...

In 2018, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission convened a group of Bay Area housing experts and stakeholders to discuss housing solutions for the region. The result, the CASA Compact, is a package of policies being moved forward in 2019 with the goal of increasing housing production, preserving existing affordable housing and protecting vulnerable populations from displacement. Come learn more about the compact and what it might mean for Oakland and the East Bay. + Fred Blackwell / The San Francisco Foundation...

The current waste and plastic pollution crisis is considered one of the world's top environmental issues. New programs and policies are being developed locally, however, to combat this crisis and encourage sustainable practices, with new initiatives aimed at decreasing plastic consumption and construction waste. Join sustainability and design experts to learn more about these strategies and explore local case studies where they have been implemented, including construction projects that reduce waste by repurposing existing materials and structures. + Jack Macy...

The Bay Area’s cultural openness, economic opportunities and diverse natural surroundings have drawn people from all over the world, but we face serious challenges that endanger our future. In recent years, several Bay Area efforts are using scenario-planning tools to imagine where we’re headed and how to shape the future. Discover how these tools help local experts develop plausible stories about possible futures based on the variables that drive change. + Nicole-Anne Boyer / Adaptive Edge + Laura Tolkoff /...

San Francisco’s latest area plan, the Central SoMa Plan, was adopted last December after more than seven years in the making. It is an ambitious and groundbreaking effort that will accommodate 32,500 jobs and 8,550 housing units, as well as public benefits that total more than $2 billion in value. Hear from both the past and present supervisors of Central SoMa’s district as they discuss what will be next for the neighborhood. + Sup. Matt Haney / San Francisco Board...