A mayor’s first term is filled with milestones, like the first successful legislation and the first time officiating a wedding. We’ve got the deets on another first: Mayor Daniel Lurie’s inaugural lobbyist meetings. In keeping with his self-professed low-key, no-drama style, Lurie’s first lobbyist contact centered around keeping Union Square streets clean. His second contact was far more interesting: Lurie hosted Silicon Valley angel investor Ron Conway, former Police Commission President Thomas “Tip” Mazzucco, and former SFPD Chief Greg Suhr to talk public safety. 

Suhr resigned in 2016 after a string of police killings, some of which prompted extensive police reforms. But the former chief, who now leads security for Boston Properties, remains popular in many corners of the city. Conway’s representative Tony Winnicker helped convene the group, which also included Paul Yep, Lurie’s safety policy chief, and Staci Slaughter, the mayor’s chief of staff.

The main discussion points were what has worked to curb drug dealing and other crimes, and what tactics other administrations left on the table. Suhr discussed repeat overdose victims who need treatment and the possibility of enforcing more involuntary holds. While we’re told they didn’t speak directly about police commissioner Max Carter-Oberstone, whom Lurie is trying to oust from his seat, they danced around the topic. 

Lurie didn’t ask Conway to pitch in money as part of his plan to raise private funds to tackle fentanyl — the meeting took place before the legislation allowing private solicitation passed. But Conway, an insider said, emphasized to Lurie, “Be bold, be aggressive.” Maybe that advice will come with some financial support. 

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TAX CUTS?: Speaking of lobbyists, the mayor also fielded ideas from a group of business advocates who want the city to pull back on certain taxes to incentivize growth in the downtown area. The group, which met with Lurie last week, includes TMG Partners Chairman Michael Covarrubias, Associate Capital Managing Partner Enrique Landa, and Kilroy senior VP Mike Grisso, among others.

According to Covarrubias, the group came up with a list of ideas, including ways to reduce the city’s transfer tax, which has seen record low revenues since work-from-home trends spurred an office vacancy crisis. 

The group is also looking at the commercial vacancy tax, which critics say has had little success in filling empty storefronts. (They had other proposals, too, though Covarrubias wasn’t willing to spill all the beans.) 

The city is struggling with an $840 million deficit over the next two years — and projections show expenses rapidly outpacing revenues, a situation that could result in a $1.5 billion hole by 2030.

“We are the poster child of what needs to be reversed,” Covarrubias told Power Play. “We thought we were the golden goose. We proved it could get hurt.”

The mayor’s office declined to comment on the meeting but pointed to legislation Lurie announced Tuesday with state Sen. Scott Wiener that aims to revitalize nightlife downtown by adding more liquor licenses.

Meanwhile, Lurie’s housing and economic development chief, Ned Segal, has been gathering with other business leaders, according to his calendar records. In January, he took meetings with the Gap’s Bob Fisher, billionaire Chris Larsen, real estate executive Dan Blatteis, former First Republic Bank president Katherine August-deWilde (she is also on the board of Lurie’s nonprofit Tipping Point), Macy’s CEO Tony Spring, real estate investor couple Tom and Linda Coates, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, developer executive Dan Hedigan, and JPMorgan healthcare executive Dan Mendelson.

NOT SO BULLETPROOF: As The Standard first reported, Carter-Oberstone is on the verge of an ouster. The behind-the-scenes reason, of course, is that Lurie wants a hand in the selection process for the next police chief. That process is led by the Police Commission, and, yes, Carter-Oberstone was a strident voice for an independent commission during Mayor London Breed’s tenure. But Lurie’s public pretext for bouncing Carter-Oberstone is less clear. 

In a letter to the board clerk, Lurie wrote that he was looking forward to nominating a commissioner who will “work collaboratively” to make the city safer. Power Play hears the source of conflict was literally a joke.

Sources say Carter-Oberstone took a meeting with Yep, Lurie’s public safety chief, in attendance. When Yep was a police commander, he frequently sparred with the commissioner. So when Carter-Oberstone saw Yep, he put an arm around him, smiled, and said, “If I knew you were coming, I’d have worn a bullet-proof vest.” 

The joke was meant as a tension-breaker, but Yep didn’t find it funny. He reportedly relayed it to Lurie as an example of Carter-Oberstone’s disrespectful tone. Insiders apt to agree with Yep say the quip was part of a pattern of behavior. Whether or not that’s true, we’ll find out the jokester’s fate when the Board of Supervisors votes on Lurie’s move, likely next week.

BREED’S VICTORY LAP: After spending time traveling and networking, Breed  resurfaced at the NBA All-Star festivities, snapping photos with celebrities and taking credit where credit is due. In her first post on her official social media account since leaving office, the former mayor shared snaps with Warriors star Stephen Curry; District Attorney Brooke Jenkins; her boyfriend, Dustin Sharpe; ex-Warrior Zaza Pachulia; CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer; and Tony! Toni! Toné! impresario Raphael Saadiq. "I'm really proud that I had a part in bringing [NBA All-Star Weekend] to our city," she wrote.

It’s true that San Francisco was selected as a host city in 2023 under Breed’s tenure. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged her contributions at a press conference last week, saying, "Without her, this game, these festivities would not be happening here." Silver also praised Lurie, saying San Francisco is experiencing a "renaissance." 

After all the fun, Breed needs to make a call on her next career move. Sources indicate she’s considering consulting opportunities. 

‘EXISTENTIAL’: As Lurie shies away from criticizing President Donald Trump, four Bay Area Democrats are the new faces of the anti-MAGA movement, which looks a lot different than it did during his first term. 

SCHOOL CUTS: As Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency reportedly takes aim at the U.S. Department of Education, local school officials are worried. “[Federal cuts] would devastate this district,” San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su said at a board meeting Feb. 11.

DIRTY STREETS: With San Francisco facing a huge deficit and potential layoffs, Public Works could reduce its services — potentially leaving streets even dirtier, according to an initial budget proposal.