Upcoming Events

In 2020, the FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) Act is set to expire. The bill, which provides $305 billion in transportation funding over five years, has been critical for the building and maintenance of the country’s transportation infrastructure. Hear what advocates and policy-makers are pushing for in a reauthorization of the bill, which programs may or may not make the cut and what it could mean for the Bay Area.

Unfortunately, due to low pre-registration, this event has been canceled. In the Bay Area, we all know we should have disaster kits at the ready, but it’s tough to find the time to assemble all the items necessary. Go MacGyver with us and make your own portable disaster kit while hearing from experts about how to organize a neighborhood response in the event of emergencies like earthquakes. Bring a backpack and we’ll provide most of the essential supplies, including flashlights, whistles, emergency blankets, gloves, sanitation supplies and more while we learn. Generously sponsored by Cole Hardware and Center Hardware.

The continued use of fossil fuels is forcing us to pay the high cost of climate change. While some industries are making strides in sustainability, most buildings in California still burn natural gas, accounting for nearly 12% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. It makes sense, then, to fully electrify buildings, but what does that require? Learn about the impacts that building electrification can have on our health, economy and power grid and why it is imperative to act soon.

From bikeshare acquisitions to scooter permitting, the past year has been an interesting one for public-private partnerships for transportation. While these new relationships have presented unforeseen challenges, they have also offered fresh opportunities in how transportation is delivered. Because contracts and partnerships permitting the private sector to deliver public transportation are likely to become more common in the future, what lessons can be learned from recent experiences?

San Francisco’s Civic Center comprises thirteen governmental and cultural buildings in the city's core, including City Hall and municipal agencies, the main branch of the public library, the Supreme Court of California, numerous performing arts venues and more. Classified as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, the area has served as the heart of San Francisco governance for more than a century, and became a key gathering place for the city’s residents long before that. A fascinating new book, The San Francisco Civic Center: A History of the Design, Controversies, and Realization of a City Beautiful Masterpiece, catalogues the rich and complex history of the neighborhood. Come learn more about the past, present and future of this civic treasure.

San Jose’s general plan is set to begin its four-year update this fall, and a key component that will be examined is the future of Coyote Valley. Although the area has long been designated as a site for future job growth, over the past decade the city has seen strong support for preserving Coyote Valley’s expansive open space. Come hear a bold vision for preserving, maintaining and operating this land.

The November election puts hot-button issues before the voters. What will the results mean for the city, the new mayor and the next set of election cycles? In a much-loved tradition, SPUR and local political analysts provide a witty and incisive post-election recap.

While the single family house is central to the American Dream, that dream, built on a foundation of racist housing policies, has never been accessible to everyone. Exclusionary zoning not only contributed significantly to huge wealth and other disparities, it also laid the foundation for the housing crisis we face today. The Bay Area, typical of American cities, has roughly 75% of its urban land zoned for single family homes. But across the country the American dream is being reconsidered,...

This fall, San Jose launches its second four-year review of its general plan, Envision 2040. But what exactly is a general plan? Who requires it? Why do general plans matter? What does a general plan cover…or not cover? Join us as we answer these questions and more while learning how San Jose’s own plan works and how it may be changing.

From a changing climate to the PG&E bankruptcy, San Francisco is facing a new energy landscape and the city’s elected leaders are considering a shift to public power to stabilize costs, ensure reliability, increase local oversight and expand the city’s use of renewable energy. But can this approach work? What have other cities learned about public power and when should San Francisco take the next step?

In the coming years, new development at Treasure Island is slated to slowly create homes for 8,000 new households, as well as restaurants, retail, entertainment, open space, a marina, new transportation options and more. With the development of San Francisco’s newest neighborhood well underway, come learn how various aspects of these plans are unfolding and what they hold for the future of Treasure Island.

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 Lindsay Baker, Global Head of Sustainability and Wellbeing at The We Company. Come hear about her career path, the role of large companies in solving environmental challenges, the metrics behind “wellbeing” and much more.

With nearly 100 regional and neighborhood parks, as well as over 53 miles of trails, San Jose has developed a robust program for investing in open space and recreation on a citywide scale. How might this program serve as a lesson to other South Bay cities, and how can these types of places catalyze a sense of community in our neighborhoods? Join us to learn about the new projects that are underway for improving our public spaces.

What is now named Oracle Park opened 19 years ago as the new ballpark for the San Francisco Giants. At the time, the surrounding China Basin and South Beach neighborhoods were far different than the vibrant, transit-accessible district we see today. As the A’s plan a move to Oakland’s Howard Terminal, what can the team learn from the Giants’ experience across the bay? Join us to explore what successful neighborhood investment looks like for a sports team.