Current:Home > ScamsLevi Strauss heir Daniel Lurie pledges to make San Francisco safer as mayor-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Levi Strauss heir Daniel Lurie pledges to make San Francisco safer as mayor
View Date:2025-01-12 10:11:28
Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Daniel Lurie, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune and philanthropist who has never held public office, promised on Friday that as San Francisco’s mayor he will help struggling small businesses and bring an end to the open-air drug markets.
“Your voices and your call for accountable leadership, service and change have been heard,” Lurie said at a park in San Francisco’s Chinatown, delivering his first public remarks since Mayor London Breed called him to concede the race the previous day.
Lurie said he chose Chinatown for Friday’s event to underscore how important the area’s health is to turning San Francisco around. He walked the neighborhood the day after the election and visited again with merchants Friday. Chinese voters are also critical to winning citywide in San Francisco.
The Associated Press has not declared a winner in Tuesday’s election because tens of thousands of ballots have not yet been counted and added to the ranked choice voting calculations.
But on Friday, Lurie held a commanding lead in early election results and Breed called Lurie on Thursday to congratulate him. She posted on the social platform X that she and her staff will work to ensure the political newcomer has a smooth transition when he takes over as mayor.
“I know we are both committed to improving this City we love,” Breed wrote.
Lurie’s ascent was remarkable for a candidate with little name recognition who appears to have bested two San Francisco supervisors and a former interim mayor to unseat.
His deep pockets helped. Lurie spent nearly $9 million of his own money on his first-time campaign for mayor and raised more than $16 million, including $1 million from his mother Mimi Haas. Lurie is the stepson of the late Peter Haas, a great-grandnephew of Levi Strauss and longtime CEO of the iconic clothing company.
Breed’s victory six years ago as the city’s first Black female mayor — who grew up impoverished living in public housing — showed that no dream was impossible in the progressive, compassionate and equitable city. But the honeymoon was short-lived as the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered stores and tech workers retreated to home offices. Tent encampments proliferated, as did public drug use.
Streets did become cleaner and homeless tents much harder to find, but the daytime shooting in September of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall in a popular central shopping district reignited a debate over public safety. She faced off with multiple opponents who accused her of doing too little too late.
On policy, Lurie does not differ much from Breed. Lurie said he wants to build more housing, crack down on drug dealers, get homeless people off the streets and take a compassionate yet firm approach to drug users who refuse help.
But he said that as a political outsider, he would bring a critical eye to bureaucracy, weed out nonprofits and department heads who fail to deliver, and focus on results.
Lurie plans to beef up the city’s police presence, declare a fentanyl state of emergency, set up 1,500 temporary shelter beds within six months, and drastically streamline the permitting process so small businesses can thrive, he said.
His opponents on the campaign trail trashed Lurie for spending so much money, but his supporters did not seem to mind, nor did they seem bothered by his lack of experience in government. Several people at Friday’s event said they were familiar with the anti-poverty nonprofit he founded in 2005, Tipping Point Community.
What to know about the 2024 election:
- The latest: White evangelical voters showed steadfast support for Donald Trump in the election, and some supporters of Kamala Harris are attributing some of the blame for her loss to President Joe Biden.
- Balance of power: Republicans won control of the U.S. Senate, giving the GOP a major power center in Washington. Control over the House of Representatives is still up for grabs.
- AP VoteCast: Trump slightly expanded his coalition to include several groups that have traditionally been a part of the Democratic base. AP journalists break down the voter data.
- Voto a voto: Sigue la cobertura de AP en español de las elecciones en EEUU.
News outlets globally count on the AP for accurate U.S. election results. Since 1848, the AP has been calling races up and down the ballot. Support us. Donate to the AP.
“I’m so happy to have Daniel here because, you see, special interests is gone. He doesn’t need the money, it’s all about passion for this city,” said Shirletha Holmes-Boxx, 67, a community organizer.
Lurie, 47, said he plans to put his holdings into a blind trust and talk to the city attorney about forgoing the mayor’s $380,000 annual salary.
Paul Yep, a retired San Francisco Police Department commander, said Lurie convinced him early on with his ideas, passion and purpose for running.
“I saw his commitment and his love for San Francisco,” Yep said. “I knew that the outsider point of view was exactly what was needed.”
Lurie planned to visit other parts of the city Friday, including a senior center, lunch at a gumbo social, ice cream with his two children and happy hour at a pub.
“So many people love this city, it’s time for us to start making people feel like the city loves them back,” he said Friday, with his wife Becca Prowda at his side as scores of supporters snapped photos, clapped their hands and hooted with joy.
veryGood! (4469)
Related
- Rita Ora Says Liam Payne “Left Such a Mark on This World” in Emotional Tribute
- What the Cast of Dance Moms Has Been Up to Off the Dance Floor
- Alleged Hezbollah financier pleads guilty to conspiracy charge
- The first day of fall is almost here: What to know about 2024 autumnal equinox
- Mississippi man charged with shooting 5 people after not being allowed into party
- US stops hazardous waste shipments to Michigan from Ohio after court decision
- The politics of immigration play differently along the US-Mexico border
- National Queso Day 2024: Try new spicy queso at QDOBA and get freebies, deals at restaurants
- 2 dead in explosion at Kentucky factory that also damaged surrounding neighborhood
- A man is fatally shot by officers years after police tried to steer him away from crime
Ranking
- How Saturday Night Live Reacted to Donald Trump’s Win Over Kamala Harris
- The Fate of Pretty Little Liars Reboot Revealed After 2 Seasons
- Ex-Memphis police supervisor says there was ‘no need’ for officers to beat Tyre Nichols
- Civil War Museum in Texas closing its doors in October; antique shop to sell artifacts
- Inside Dream Kardashian's Sporty 8th Birthday Party
- Nikki Glaser Trolls Aaron Rodgers Over Family Feud and More at New York Jets Game
- Lindsay Lohan's Rare Photo With Husband Bader Shammas Is Sweeter Than Ice Cream
- Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom's Daughter Daisy Seemingly Makes Singing Debut in Song Wonder
Recommendation
-
Advocacy group sues Tennessee over racial requirements for medical boards
-
Alleged Hezbollah financier pleads guilty to conspiracy charge
-
Secret Service’s next challenge: Keeping scores of world leaders safe at the UN General Assembly
-
Deadly violence on America's highways wreaks fear, havoc, and frustration
-
MLS Star Marco Angulo Dead at 22 One Month After Car Crash
-
Police chase in NYC, Long Island ends with driver dead and 7 officers, civilian taken to hospitals
-
Ex-Memphis police supervisor says there was ‘no need’ for officers to beat Tyre Nichols
-
Alabama lawmaker arrested on domestic violence charge