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SPUR Submits Comments on Oakland’s Draft Housing Element

Advocacy Letter /
On May 12, 2022, Oakland's draft General Plan Housing Element was published for public review, which outlines the strategies Oakland will execute over the next eight years in order to achieve the city’s housing goals. SPUR submitted a letter with feedback on the Draft Housing Element.

SPUR Supports the Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act

Advocacy Letter /
The 2022 Statewide Housing Plan estimates that California needs to build 2.5 million units of housing over the next eight years. Yet California averages less than 100,000 new units per year and has never produced more than 20,000 new affordable homes in any year. AB 2011 will do just that. It pairs the ability to build housing by right on underutilized commercial sites with strong labor standards that ensure all construction workers earn prevailing wages and receive health benefits. SPUR and its partners support AB 2011.

SPUR Joins 13 Organizations in Calling for the Removal of Parking Minimums in San José

Advocacy Letter /
On June 14th, the San José City Council voted unanimously to adopt the staff recommendation to prepare an ordinance that removes mandatory parking minimum requirements citywide, updates the City’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) requirements and develops a program for ongoing monitoring and compliance for the citywide TDM program. San José has taken a critical step in ensuring that the costs of building parking are based on market demand and not arbitrary required minimums.

SPUR Encourages Movement Towards Regional Housing and Transportation Measures

Advocacy Letter /
SPUR encourages ABAG and MTC to pursue a multi-pronged strategy for public transit, places a $10-20 billion regional housing measure in November of 2024 and supports the staff proposal to move forward with enabling legislation and other foundational work as part of the pathway towards a regional measure for public transit and sustainable transportation.
People waiting outside the Palo Alto Caltrain station. Caltrain and Bus are present. Lightpost with two lamps next to the people.

Setting the Region’s First Connected Network Plan Up for Success

News /
The Bay Area’s plan for stabilizing and reimagining public transit in the wake of COVID-19 calls for a connected network plan, a strategic vision to guide planning and investment. In this article, we’ll look at what a network plan is, why it’s important to do one and how it differs from other kinds of transportation plans. We’ll also recommend a scope for the Bay Area’s connected network plan.
SPUR Voter Guide

June 2022 Voter Guide

Voter Guide /
SPUR analyzed all local and state measures on the San Francisco, San José and Oakland ballots for the June 2022 election. Our analysis includes the background behind the measures, pros and cons, and a recommendation on how to vote.
SPUR Voter Guide

San Francisco Prop A - Muni and Street Safety Bond

Ballot Measure /
Authorizes the City and County of San Francisco to issue $400 million in general obligation bonds for certain transportation, street safety and transit-related capital improvements.
SPUR Voter Guide

San Francisco Prop C - Recall Timelines

Ballot Measure /
Limits the period of time when voters can recall an elected official and prohibits anyone appointed to a seat left vacant by a recall from running for that position in the following election.
SPUR Voter Guide

San Francisco Prop D - Victim and Witness Rights

Ballot Measure /
Establishes an Office of Victim and Witness Rights in San Francisco and plans for the establishment of a right to counsel to provide legal services for victims of domestic violence in civil cases.
SPUR Voter Guide

San Francisco Prop E - (6/2022) Behested Payments

Ballot Measure /
Expands current behested payments law to prohibit the Board of Supervisors from soliciting donations to third parties from city contractors who require the Board of Supervisors to approve their contracts. Makes it more difficult to pass future amendments to this law.
SPUR Voter Guide

San Francisco Prop F - Refuse Rate Reform

Ballot Measure /
Establishes the city controller as the administrator and monitor of rates, expenses and revenues for waste collection services in San Francisco and establishes a ratepayer advocate to serve as a resource to residents throughout the rate-setting process.
SPUR Voter Guide

San Francisco Prop G - Emergency Leave

Ballot Measure /
Requires employers with more than 100 employees worldwide to provide two weeks of public health emergency leave to employees who work in San Francisco during a public health emergency and to vulnerable employees who primarily work outside during a Spare the Air alert.
SPUR Voter Guide

San José Measure A - Term Limits Extension

Ballot Measure /
Extends term limits for the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors to four successive four-year terms, from three successive four-year terms.
SPUR Voter Guide

San José Measure B - Mayoral Elections Measure

Ballot Measure /
Moves San José mayoral elections from gubernatorial to presidential election years beginning in 2024 and limits the mayor elected in 2022 to a two-year term, with the option to run for and serve as mayor for two additional, successive four-year terms.
Karen Steen wearing long red pants, a black long-sleeved shirt, and black boots. Karen is sitting on yellow wooden benches outside at Brooklyn Basin on a sunny day.

Staff Profile: Karen Steen, 11-year Spurrito

News /
This year, SPUR is celebrating staff members — a.k.a. “Spurritos”— who have served the organization for 10 years or more. This month we profile Communications Director Karen Steen, who oversees SPUR’s communications, messaging and publications while also maintaining SPUR’s brand across the region. Karen is responsible for ensuring the high quality of SPUR’s publications.
Pink and white sign strapped to a lightpost on a city street. Sign states "It is a 4 minute walk to high-speed rail (soon)" with a QR code and an arrow pointing right. In the background, there are trees, a yellow bus stop, and a tall, tan building with several tall windows.

How Cities Can Make the Most of California’s High-Speed Rail Investment

News /
Over the summer and fall of 2021, SPUR and the California High-Speed Rail Authority produced a series of webinars to help cities make the most of high-speed rail stations and station areas. We’ve gathered some of the key themes and best practices we learned about, along with the concrete steps station cities and the authority can take to get the most from this generational investment.