This November, Bay Area voters will decide on five measures informed by SPUR research and advanced to the ballot through years of SPUR coalition-building and advocacy. Four measures aim to improve governance in San Francisco and Oakland and one to secure regional transit funding. They underscore our commitment not only to shaping policy but also to ensuring its effective implementation.

This summer, SPUR is hosting a talented group of policy and engagement fellows through partnerships with programs at high schools, colleges, and graduate programs. Learn more about the work they’re doing with SPUR and where they’re headed after collaborating with us.

Oakland has an opportunity to adopt a governance structure that creates clear accountability, allows for decisive leadership, and enables effective action, thanks to a charter reform measure that Mayor Barbara Lee has introduced to the City Council for placement on the November 2026 ballot. The measure reflects recommendations from a charter reform working group co-facilitated by SPUR and the League of Women Voters Oakland. It would enhance the powers of both the mayor and the City Council and create an independent Budget and Legislative Analyst Office.

The June election is upon us and there’s a lot at stake on the ballot in San Francisco, San José, and Oakland. Every election, SPUR takes several months to dig deep into local and state ballot measures. Here’s a look at our analysis process and some tips on how you can use the guide in your own research — and share it with others.

San Francisco’s commission system has become unwieldy and inefficient. A voter-approved commission streamlining task force calls for reducing the number of commissions, moving many from the city charter to the administrative code, and making governance and operational changes. If enacted, these recommendations — some of which SPUR made last year — would increase flexibility, enhance accountability, and allocate resources more effectively.