San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is reaching out directly to tech industry leaders, asking them how he can convince them to reinvest in the city. In remarks delivered at the StrictlyVC event, Lurie emphasized his proactive approach in addressing the city’s economic and social challenges.
“I’m a mayor who picks up the phone and calls CEOs,” Lurie stated, explaining that he actively engages with entrepreneurs to find practical solutions that will either retain businesses or encourage the return of those who left.
One of Lurie’s first priorities has been to tackle the overdose and homelessness crises that drove many businesses away from San Francisco. In his first 100 days in office, he has personally visited some of the city’s most troubled areas. This week, Lurie canceled a controversial city policy that distributed free drug paraphernalia like pipes, foils, and straws used for consuming narcotics like fentanyl. These initiatives, which Lurie refers to as “common sense policies,” have garnered quick praise from key tech executives.
As a core part of his strategy to restore business confidence, the mayor is seeking ways to simplify construction permitting processes and enable easier establishment of businesses. San Francisco recently launched Permit SF, an initiative designed to significantly cut down the bureaucratic hurdles entrepreneurs face when setting up shop in the city.
Additionally, Lurie introduced a zoning measure aimed at increasing building height limits, enabling denser residential construction in neighborhoods that traditionally only permitted single-family homes. If approved, the policy would represent the city’s first significant rezoning since 1970.
“We want our entrepreneurs starting businesses and then staying here,” Lurie explained. “That means streamlining permitting—making it easier to open restaurants, bars, and startups.”
Lurie also stressed the need for practical collaboration between city administrators and business communities. “We need people coming together and taking a pragmatic approach,” he said. “We lost sight of that in San Francisco. I strongly believe the businesses that stayed and didn’t leave understand our values, and we’ll attract them back again.”
In a bid to solidify San Francisco’s position as a technology hub, particularly in artificial intelligence, Lurie indicated he’s considering competitive tax incentives for companies willing to invest and commit to the city. He pointed to recent successes, such as convincing Databricks to host its major AI conference in San Francisco through at least 2030 and attending OpenAI’s office opening. He also urged tech leaders like Sam Altman to publicly highlight their existing contributions to the city’s cultural and artistic communities.
Recognizing the importance of direct partnership, Lurie recently unveiled the “Partnership for San Francisco,” an assemblage of influential figures including Laurene Powell Jobs, Apple’s former designer Jony Ive, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. This high-profile group aims to facilitate clear communications between local government and businesses.
However, his administration faces challenges, such as balancing innovation with community concerns. For instance, Waymo’s successful bid to obtain mapping permits allowing its robotaxis at San Francisco International Airport drew significant attention. Because of union opposition spearheaded by the powerful Teamsters, Waymo’s permit included tight restrictions preventing commercial cargo transport.
Nevertheless, Lurie remains supportive of autonomous vehicle technology, seeing it as integral to the city’s future growth. He emphasized discussions already underway with other companies interested in expanding autonomous vehicle infrastructure in San Francisco.
While much of California’s tech scene historically centered around Silicon Valley, the recent AI boom appears firmly anchored to San Francisco’s core. Mayor Lurie believes this wave of innovation provides an opportunity not only to bring tech giants back downtown, but also to restore the city’s global reputation.
“Our ultimate goal,” Lurie concluded, “is to make sure people say, ‘I must be in San Francisco. Otherwise, I’ll miss out.'”
