Governance
We believe: The public sector can and should serve the collective good.
• Improve government’s capacity to provide services and address challenges effectively.
• Support voter engagement.
Our Goals
SPUR Report
Designed to Serve
San Francisco’s governance structure has evolved to distribute authority and maximize oversight. As a result, policies don’t always meet the needs of the people they intend to serve. SPUR outlines how San Francisco can choose to design a better system.
SPUR Voter Guide
The SPUR Voter Guide
The SPUR Voter Guide helps voters understand the issues they will face in the voting booth. We focus on outcomes, not ideology, providing objective analysis on which measures will deliver real solutions.
SPUR Report
Making Government Work
Many of the challenges Oakland faces are worsened by its unusual government structure, which makes it harder for the mayor and other officials to do their jobs well. SPUR explores how the city can adapt its governance structure to better serve Oaklanders.
Updates and Events
Good Government Awards: How Jaime Flores-Lovo Modernized SF Public Works
News /
Jaime Flores-Lovo was honored at SPUR's 33rd annual Good Government Awards for his vision and leadership in the development of enterprise-level technology projects for the Department of Public Works, most significantly in the system migration for the department’s contract automation.
Good Government Awards: How Michelle Ruggels Helps San Franciscans Get the Health Care They Need
News /
Michelle Ruggels was honored at SPUR's 33rd annual Good Government Awards for her leadership in overseeing $490 million in annual contracts to 200 community-based organizations that provide community health services to San Franciscans.
Good Government Awards: How the Crime Data Warehouse Team Made SF Safer
News /
The Crime Data Warehouse Team was honored at SPUR's 33rd annual Good Government Awards for building a web-based, real-time, searchable database of criminal reports that police officers can access on the ground.
A Sea Change in California Politics?
Urbanist Article
The year 2012 saw a record 18.2 million voters registered in California, the debut of online voter registration, new district lines thanks to the Citizens Redistricting Commission and top-two primaries where the two candidates with the most votes in any election for state office ran against each other in the general election, regardless of party affiliation.
SPUR Ballot Endorsements Sweep Election 2012
News /
While the majority of voters were lost in a sea of presidential fervor, San Francisco was busy having a historic local election. On the ballot were a number of important issues — from education to parks, housing to taxation. Here’s how the verdicts came down on four important measures.
Why Does Civic Data Matter?
Urbanist Article
A new emphasis is being placed on the availability of open data from governments, but what use does this data have for citizens’ daily experience? Open data has the potential to spur economic development, engage citizens, reduce government costs and improve its services. But we’re not there yet.