San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie had a message for the city's LGBTQ community in the wake of Tuesday's election, which saw him defeat incumbent London Breed even as Republican Donald Trump was elected to a second term as president.
Lurie stopped by Openhouse, which provides services to LGBTQ seniors and is partners with Mercy Housing of California on LGBTQ-welcoming affordable senior housing split between buildings at 55 and 95 Laguna Street.
"You will have an ally every single day in the mayor's office in me," Lurie told LGBTQ seniors at the Openhouse community center near the Castro the afternoon of November 8. "I understand the dynamics nationally, but all I will say is I will always have your back. Always. Unequivocally."
Lurie also said the city needs more spaces like Openhouse, which he said was beautiful.
In fact, Openhouse and Mercy Housing were selected by the city to oversee the construction of 187-units of affordable housing aimed at LGBTQ seniors at the corner of Market Street and Duboce Avenue. Breed's administration bought the labor union-owned property for $12 million in 2020.
The project has been delayed as Mercy officials try to secure governmental funds to help pay for its construction. As the Bay Area Reporter
Breed concedes
The meeting with seniors and LGBTQ community leaders came less than a day after Breed conceded the race, which will lead to the end of her tenure January 8. In a statement November 7 Breed — who as of the most recent preliminary returns was at 46% to Lurie's 56% in the final round of ranked-choice voting — reminded voters that she initially took office when mayor Ed Lee unexpectedly died in office in late 2017, and that her tenure saw the city through the COVID pandemic.
"Being mayor of San Francisco has been the greatest honor of my lifetime. I'm beyond grateful to our residents for the opportunity to serve the city that raised me," she stated. "At the end of the day, this job is bigger than any one person and what matters is that we keep moving this city forward.
"Today, I called Daniel Lurie and congratulated him on his victory in this election," she added. "Over the coming weeks, my staff and I will work to ensure a smooth transition as he takes on the honor of serving as mayor of San Francisco. I know we are both committed to improving this city we love."
At a Friday morning speech and news conference at St. Mary's Square in Chinatown, Lurie thanked Breed for what he described as an "incredibly gracious" phone call and for her love of the city.
"No matter who you supported in this election, we stand united in the fight for San Francisco's future and a safer, more affordable city for all," Lurie said. "I entered this race not as a politician but as a dad who couldn't explain to my kids what they were seeing on our streets. In our house, when you love something as much as we love San Francisco you fight for it."
Lurie, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune who said he may forgo the mayoral salary of over $300,000, had served as the executive director of the nonprofit Tipping Point Community. The 47-year-old San Francisco native and Democrat has never held elected office and ran on a platform of addressing the problems that have dogged major metro cities nationwide, particularly since COVID and particularly in the Bay Area — street crime and the cost of living chief among them.
Similar concerns led Oakland voters to recall its mayor, Sheng Thao, on Election Day, and saw the highest-ever support for Trump in cities from New York to San Francisco (though Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris still won solid majorities).
National results loom large over SF
The national election's shadow loomed large over Friday's events, with Lurie saying he intends to make San Francisco a model of governance for the rest of the country.
"Hope alone is not enough, strong values aren't strong enough — they have to be drivers of actions and results," Lurie intoned. "Our mandate is to show how government must deliver on its promises — clean and safe streets for all, tackling our drug and behavioral health crisis, shaking up the corrupt and ineffective bureaucracy, building enough housing so our neighbors can afford to live here, supporting our small businesses, and breathing life back into downtown."
Lurie said he will work with the incoming Trump administration to help address these issues when appropriate.
"I have serious disagreements with President-elect Donald Trump, but I will never let those disagreements get in the way of addressing the problems facing our city," he said. "I will also say I have everybody's back here in San Francisco."
Lurie said his No. 1 focus will be public safety and he will declare a state of emergency over the fentanyl overdose crisis on day one. Lurie did not name specific individuals he intends to appoint to various city positions or as his staff.
He also said he intends not to interfere in Breed's prerogative to appoint a new supervisor in District 2, which includes the Marina. Incumbent Catherine Stefani (D) was elected to the state Assembly in Tuesday's election and will take office in early December, before Breed leaves. Stefani herself became a supervisor after being appointed by Mark Farrell after he left the seat to become interim mayor following Lee's death.
Other major candidates concede
The episode of Farrell taking over for Breed — and then Breed being elected in a special election in her own right in 2018 — was part of a long-standing row between the two.
Farrell ran in this year's mayoral race and came in fourth among first-choice votes, with 18.5%, according to the most recent preliminary returns.
He acknowledged defeat November 7.
"While the election results weren't what we'd hoped for, together we built a citywide movement fueled by our shared vision for a cleaner, safer, and more vibrant San Francisco," he stated.
"Let's make sure as San Franciscans that we get behind our next mayor," Farrell continued. "It is the right thing to do. Let's pledge ourselves to cheering for their success while holding them accountable to make sure that San Francisco reaches the potential that we know it can."
District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí came in fifth place in first-choice votes, with 2.7%, according to the most recent preliminary returns.
"It has been the honor of a lifetime to campaign for mayor of this great city over the past 18 months with you in my corner. ... I've been humbled by all of the support we have received from every corner of this city, from working families in every neighborhood," he stated. "From teachers, plumbers, janitors — folks from every walk of life who want the same thing we all want: a city that works, safe streets, affordable housing, and a future that includes them too."
Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin came in third place in first choice votes, with 21.6%, according to the most recent preliminary returns.
Peskin told the B.A.R. he called Lurie.
"In my five races for supervisor I have never declared victory until the ballots were counted in a principled show of respect for the voters," Peskin stated. "There are still over 140,000 voters' ballots left to count but I did call Daniel Lurie yesterday and wished him an early congratulations and let him know that I look forward to working together to do what's best for San Francisco."
Peskin is termed out of his supervisor seat in January. Candidate Danny Sauter is leading in the race to succeed him, according to the most recent results.
LGBTQs react
LGBTQ seniors at Openhouse were pleased with Lurie stopping by.
"I personally was glad to see him out visiting this soon afterward and that he came by our place, the LGBTQ people, the senior, LGBTQ people," Zwazzi Sowo, a 71-year-old lesbian, told the B.A.R. "I was impressed with that — that he's not going to forget us. I like that."
Sowo's wife, Naomi Prochovnick, a 70-year-old lesbian, said, "I'm disappointed he didn't take questions."
"But I'm sure it's been a busy day," she added.
Mark Leno, a gay man and former supervisor and state legislator, ran against Breed in 2018, narrowly losing. This year, he endorsed Peskin as his first choice and Lurie as his second. He told the B.A.R. at Openhouse that "I'm sure it was done thoughtfully that though we are all feeling vulnerable he wants to show his support and strength" to the LGBTQ community in the wake of Trump's election night victory.
Sister Roma of the drag nun philanthropic group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence was also on hand.
"I'm excited to work with him and continue the progress Mayor Breed started for the LGBTQ community — especially the trans community," said Roma.
Indeed, Breed's efforts on behalf of the LGBTQ community included supporting plans to renovate Harvey Milk Plaza (and Proposition B to fund it, which is passing, according to preliminary returns); appointing the inaugural drag laureate in the city; appointing LGBTQ heads of the fire, transportation, human resources, homelessness, and public health departments; and declaring a public health emergency over the mpox outbreak in 2022 to mobilize city resources in fighting it. (Former lesbian fire chief Jeanine Nicholson, whom Breed appointed in 2019, retired in August and was replaced by Sandy Tong, a straight ally and the city's first Asian American head of the department.)
Breed also pledged to end trans homelessness by 2027. She allocated $6.5 million in her proposed budget in 2022 and maintained that commitment in the most recent city budget.
Tyler TerMeer, Ph.D., a gay Black man who's HIV-positive, is the CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
"I want to congratulate Mayor-elect Lurie and thank him for engaging the San Francisco AIDS Foundation through his campaign to learn about the work we do to support the LGBTQ community, people with HIV, and people who use substances," TerMeer said. "We look forward to a seat at the table as we work together in collaboration to support vulnerable communities."
Tyler "Tye" Gregory, a gay man who is the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, told the B.A.R. that "we're proud to have a Jewish mayor in San Francisco" and that speaking "as an LGBTQ Jew, I know he'll [Lurie] stand up for the rights of our queer and trans San Franciscans ... and all members of minority groups."
Never miss a story! Keep up to date on the latest news, arts, politics, entertainment, and nightlife.
Sign up for the Bay Area Reporter's free weekday email newsletter. You'll receive our newsletters and special offers from our community partners.
Support California's largest LGBTQ newsroom. Your one-time, monthly, or annual contribution advocates for LGBTQ communities. Amplify a trusted voice providing news, information, and cultural coverage to all members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay -- Donate today!