Power Play

The vibes were celebratory Friday in the Sunset, where thousands gathered along three blocks of Irving Street for a night of food trucks, cultural dances, and, of course, some politics. 

The event came 10 days after the recall of District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, a mastermind of the popular night market. Despite his resounding defeat, Engardio was all smiles at the event, where he competed in a rib-eating contest. 

“I'm just enjoying the fact that this night market is continuing, enjoying the fact that Sunset Dunes is as popular as ever, and becoming more popular,” he told Power Play.  

Maybe not as popular as Mayor Daniel Lurie, who was mobbed by supporters after opening the event with a speech celebrating the market’s return.

“It takes the people to make change. It can’t come from City Hall,” Lurie said. “We’ve got to listen, we’ve got to work with each other."

Lurie told reporters that he and his team were holding community meetings and walking the streets talking with residents about what kind of supervisor they want to replace Engardio. 

“I believe when a supervisor listens, works with, and represents their community, that’s what we all want, and that’s what I’m looking for in the next supervisor,” he said. 

Sure. But wouldn’t he want to appoint someone who supports his policy priorities — say, on his upzoning proposal that would pave the way for more housing in the city, including on the west side? 

“I think the ‘Family Zoning Plan’ is widely popular across the entire city, so it's going to pass,” Lurie said, “and I'm excited to work with whoever's appointed. But I’m not putting a red line down on any issue. It’s got to be someone who works with and listens to the community which they’re serving.” 

Lurie didn’t comment on whether he would factor in candidates’ positions on Proposition K, the ballot measure that closed the Great Highway to cars. But he said he wants someone interested in running for a full term next year to represent D4 “for the duration.” 

As for the city’s much-used recall process, which has toppled five officials in recent years, Lurie offered a characteristically tactful opinion. 

“That is for the people to decide,” he said. “I’m obviously not a huge fan of recalls, but it’s there, and people are using it. So we have to go with the will of the people.” 

— Hannah Wiley and Han Li

RAISE THE ISSUE: Sean Elsbernd, the new president and CEO of SPUR, offered a preview of his organization’s upcoming efforts to overhaul the city’s roughly 538-page charter during a conversation Thursday night with The Standard’s own Adam Lashinsky. 

SPUR is expected to release a report this fall that, in theory, would provide a blueprint for the mayor and supervisors to consider in crafting a 2026 ballot measure on charter reform.

On that menu could be anything from “the structure of the city administrator's office” to “how procurement should work” to “changes to how things get on the ballot,” Ensbernd said. 

“No more A-to-Z ballot measures,” he added. 

One thing Elsbernd said the report is “silent” on is commission reform, which he noted should be tackled through recommendations made by the Proposition E task force. Otherwise, it’s fair game. 

“The big piece that we are trying to impress upon folks is we’ve put so much into the charter that it makes it impossible to govern the city without going back to the voters,” Elsbernd said. 

He acknowledged that the report’s more ambitious proposals, like axing “budget set-asides,” are longer-term and politically complicated.  

“We are definitely going to highlight some things that aren’t going to get touched with a 10-foot pole,” he said. “But that’s what SPUR needs to do. … Raise the issues. Create the public dialogue. Let's see where it goes. Who knows? Maybe it might fail in 2026; 2028 is only two years away; 2030 is right around the corner.” 

— Hannah Wiley 

HERE WE GO AGAIN: Does anyone remember Supervisor Julie Christensen?

Old-timers who’ve witnessed more than a few City Hall slugfests are starting to murmur about a historical parallel to Lurie’s anticipated appointment to replace Engardio. 

The mayor faces a crucial choice. He wants someone who will support one of his key policy priorities — in this case, his upzoning plan — which some voting blocs hate. Meanwhile, community leaders are pushing for a supervisor with strong community ties — who would also vote against that policy. Closely watching it all is Aaron Peskin, ready to seize on a political misstep.

In 2015, the late mayor Ed Lee faced a tough decision for District 3 supervisor, between planning commissioner Cindy Wu, who was backed by progressives and the late power broker Rose Pak, and Christensen, supported by billionaire angel investor Ron Conway. 

At stake was a closely watched vote on regulations to rein in short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, which were contributing to an avalanche of evictions that had North Beach and Chinatown up in arms. Wu would have voted for more restrictions on the industry. Instead, Lee picked Christensen, who promptly voted in favor of Airbnb. 

Entire swaths of Lee’s base evaporated, forever branding him as indebted to tech. 

But Lee’s decision had other far-reaching consequences: It kicked the door open for Peskin to successfully run against Christensen and return to the board. One of the first things he did? Rein in Airbnb.  

Lurie’s camp may feel he’s untouchable. Polls show he’s wildly popular. His Instagram has won him adoring fans. He’s notched a few legislative victories. 

That could all change. 

Consultant David Ho said that if Lurie’s appointee votes for the zoning plan or rejects rumored efforts to repeal Proposition K, “this person might not survive the June election.”

“This is a huge opening for the old progressive coalition of the 20th century to come back together: progressives, NIMBYs, and labor,” Ho added.  

As for Peskin, he’s already headlining packed-room community meetings, decrying the dangers of what detractors call “extreme upzoning.” 

Peskin can’t run in D3, but trust that he can find an ally who will. 

— Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez

UP IN THE AIR: Lurie’s decision to replace YIMBY organizing director and trans activist Jane Natoli with San Francisco Democratic Party Chair Nancy Tung on the Airport Commission has sparked political backlash in the days since his Friday announcement. 

Gary McCoy, a rumored District 8 supervisor candidate and political director for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s campaign, blasted the move on social media. 

“When we demote our strong LGBTQ community members from commissions,” McCoy wrote, “what message does that send to those in power?”

David Campos, a former supervisor and current vice chair of the California Democratic Party, also criticized the appointment in an email to Power Play. He noted that Tung unsuccessfully tried to amend a recent California Democratic Party resolution to oppose sharing license plate data with immigration authorities, drawing criticism from progressives. 

“[The appointment] sends a very scary message, especially to Latino immigrants who fly in and out of SFO,” Campos said.

Tung said she strongly opposes sharing data with immigration agents and federal law enforcement. She also authored a resolution on the issue that easily passed at the party’s meeting last week. 

Lurie’s office declined to comment.

— Han Li

PAID LEAVE: A lucrative contract to help manage San Francisco’s $2.6 billion in business taxes imploded, and a top city manager was suspended, after The Standard launched an investigation into whistleblower allegations of conflicts of interest and bid-rigging at the tax collection agency.

NEW CHIEF: The mayor named Jessica MacLeod to be his fifth policy chief, overseeing the city’s strategy and performance.

— Edited by Hannah Wiley