San Francisco City Hall lit up red, white and blue during election season

Governance

We believe: The public sector can and should serve the collective good.

Our Goals

• Improve government’s capacity to provide services and address challenges effectively.

• Support voter engagement.

San Francisco skyline centering on City Hall

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.

San Francisco skyline centering on City Hall

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 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.

Oakland skyline featuring City Hall

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.

Oakland skyline featuring City Hall

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

March 2004 Voter Guide

Voter Guide / February 6, 2004

Includes SPUR's analysis of 11 city measures on the Mar 4, 2004 ballot.

The City's Budget 2003 - 2005

Urbanist Article / February 1, 2004

This article describes how the budget gap was closed in 2003 and makes predictions for the city budget in 2004-2005.

Business Taxes in San Francisco

SPUR Report / February 1, 2004

Though businesses weigh benefits beyond tax rates when choosing a location, there is a point where types and rates of taxes do matter. This report compares the varying business taxes and their extents.

November 2003 Voter Guide

Voter Guide / October 1, 2003

Includes SPUR's analysis of 14 city measures on the November 4, 2003 ballot.

Supervisors as Planners

Urbanist Article / July 1, 2003

Jim Chappell outlines the changes in the roles of the Board of Supervisors in the planning process, which empowers both the Board and the neighbors of proposed projects in appealing building changes and restricting permits.

Democracy and Planning

Urbanist Article / July 1, 2003

Everyone thinks the planning process should be democratic. To act in the name of greater democracy trumps almost all other claims in the public discourse. But it’s not at all obvious what this idea really means.