The challengers are weighing a run for the mayor of San Francisco
San Francisco voters say in poll after poll that they are unhappy with the direction of their city and that they don’t like Mayor London Breed. They say they want better leadership to solve homelessness, property crime, fentanyl overdoses and other crises in the city.
And yet the 2024 mayoral election so far has a distinct air of “meh.” Only two challengers have declared they will face Breed: Ahsha Safai, a member of the Board of Supervisors, and Daniel Lurie, heir to the Levi Strauss fortune. Neither is gaining much traction.
Even an unpopular mayor can have a large enough power advantage in San Francisco to fend off many challengers. It’s been 28 years since a mayor — former Police Chief Frank Jordan — was booted after just one term.
Yet there are now at least three names of potential mayoral candidates floating around the city.
One of those is Mark Farrell, a former member of the Board of Supervisors who served as interim mayor for six months in 2018 after the death of Mayor Ed Lee. Farrell has since disappeared from the public eye and is apparently enjoying the quieter, more lucrative life of venture capitalism while raising three children. But he is strongly considering challenging Breed, and a “Design Mayor Mark” campaign was created.
Farrell said in a statement that he was considering a run. “San Francisco has been cratering for the past five years,” he said. “In all my recent conversations, one consistent theme has emerged: No one believes Mayor Breed, or any of her challengers, has the experience, policies and leadership to change San Francisco.”
Another possible candidate is Aaron Peskin, chairman of the Board of Trustees. He said on Monday morning that he had already been asked three times that day whether he would participate in the race. He said the incumbents had such a strong advantage that he thought Breed would win despite being unpopular.
“I have no desire to be mayor,” he said. “It’s a very, very difficult job, and these are even more difficult times.”
Another possibility: Manny Yekutiel, who runs the civic engagement space Manny’s, recently told The San Francisco Chronicle that he could jump into the race. On Monday he said: “I am seriously considering running for mayor.”
It is still too early to say how the race will develop. Lurie, the heir to Levi Strauss and founder of the anti-poverty nonprofit Tipping Point Community, will have plenty of resources.
He said he has raised more than $500,000 from 1,300 donors since he took the field in September. He will stand to benefit even more from an independent commission led by Dan Newman and Brian Brokaw, two longtime advisers to Gov. Gavin Newsom, that could raise millions from Lurie’s wealthy network of supporters.
Newman declined to say whether he had spoken to the governor about the mayoral race. Lurie’s wife, Becca Prowda, is a longtime ally of the governor. She worked for him when he was mayor and now serves as his protocol director.
Safai, the supervisor who became Ms. Breed’s first official challenger, said rumors of additional candidates had been circulating for months, but it was one thing to get into the race — and another to be able to run the city .
“This is not an easy undertaking,” he said. “You have to be ready to lead and take on a city in crisis.”
Maggie Muir, a political adviser to Breed, said it was notable that the likely challengers are white men, with less experience than the mayor, a black woman.
Muir pointed out that car burglaries and shoplifting are down this year and several law enforcement agencies are working together to crack down on the fentanyl markets.
“I bet none of them will suggest anything different than what they’re already doing,” Muir said.
Political consultant Jim Stearns, who doesn’t work for anyone in the race, said he agreed it’s Breed’s race to lose. But he thinks there is someone who can beat her: the city attorney, David Chiu.
Stearns pointed to Chiu’s experience on the Board of Supervisors and in the State Assembly, his ability to move between the progressive and moderate camps, and his Chinese background in a city where a third of residents are Asian.
However, Chiu said he planned to serve another four years as city attorney next year.
Where we travel to
Today’s tip comes from SK Tomczak, who lives in Novato:
“My family and I love exploring Big Sur and its surrounding area. One can hike to numerous trails. One of our favorite trails is the Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View trail. With its amazing nature atmosphere and beauty, you can enjoy walking along the path with few hikers around.
From Highway 1 we would stop at the Henry Miller Memorial Library to browse and read. Our favorite place to stay is Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn, a place where you can rest and feel refreshed. A place with charm and character. Finally, there are several cafes to choose from with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
No one can deny that Big Sur is uniquely beautiful. It is such an icon for us who live in Northern California.”
Tell us about your favorite places to visit in California. Email your suggestions to CAtoday@nytimes.com. We will share more in future editions of the newsletter.
Tell us
What will be your New Year’s resolutions? Tell me what you hope for in 2024.
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And before you go: good news
A bus driver in Los Angeles serves as an amateur trumpeter and to the delight of passengers and spectators, his favorite location is on his bus and there is daily showtime.
Kazi Myers, a driver for the Big Blue Bus service in Santa Monica, has started practicing his instrument during 20-minute breaks on his route along Venice’s Grand Boulevard.
The performances, which vary in tone and material, have captured the interest of passengers and residents along its route, many of whom are moved by the soulful sets. Myers has even won a few loyal fans who now look forward to his late-night stops and the chance for some music.