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Tag: Daniel Lurie

  • San Francisco mayor appoints former pet store owner as new Sunset District supervisor

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    San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie on Thursday appointed Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz, a political novice and former small business owner, to the city’s Board of Supervisors.

    Alcaraz, a 29-year-old lifelong Sunset District resident, fills the District 4 seat recently vacated by Joel Engardio, who was recalled by voters. She was sworn in during a ceremony Thursday morning.

    “The people of the Sunset deserve to have a say on the issues that impact our lives today and will for years to come. Too many decisions have been made without us, and that changes now,” Alcaraz said in a statement. “As your supervisor, I will work to bring all of the District Four residents together to secure the future of the Sunset.”

    Alcaraz had previously owned and operated The Animal Connection, a pet supply store in the neighborhood, a business that she opened when she was 22. She sold the business earlier this year.

    San Francisco Supervisor Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz (left) appears with Mayor Daniel Lurie after she was sworn into office on Nov. 6, 2025.

    City of San Francisco


    The new supervisor has also taught art and music to children in the Sunset and has volunteered at Holy Name School, coached youth sports and performed with local musicians, according to a city statement. Alcaraz, who is of Filipino and Chinese heritage, is also the first Filipina American to serve on the board.

    “As I’ve spent time listening to families, small business owners, and seniors in the Sunset, I’ve heard the same thing: They want a City Hall that does things with them, not to them—and I couldn’t agree more,” said Lurie.

    The mayor, who himself had no previous political experience before being elected last year, described Alcaraz as a “bridge builder and problem solver” that cares deeply about her neighborhood.

    “She will bring a fresh perspective to City Hall, and I am honored to appoint her as the next supervisor for District 4,” Lurie added.

    Engardio was recalled on Sep. 16 following backlash over his support of a ballot measure that turned a stretch of the Great Highway into Sunset Dunes, a park that opened earlier this year. The measure, which was approved by voters across the city last year, faced heavy opposition from District 4 residents.

    Lucas Lux, the head of Friends of Sunset Dunes, said in a statement, “As Sunset residents, we congratulate Supervisor Beya Alcaraz on her appointment and welcome her commitment to listening to District 4 residents. Supervisor Alcaraz’s fresh voice and long ties to the Sunset community make us hopeful that she could be just what the neighborhood needs to heal after the divisiveness of the last 5 years.”

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    Tim Fang

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  • Trump says federal deployment to San Francisco called off after conversation with Mayor Daniel Lurie

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    President Trump announced Thursday that he has called off a plan to deploy federal agents to San Francisco, following a conversation with Mayor Daniel Lurie.

    In a statement on Truth Social, Mr. Trump said prominent tech company bosses had also contacted him Wednesday, urging him not to go forward with a so-called “surge” operation set for Saturday, saying the city was making “substantial progress.”

    “I spoke to Mayor Lurie last night and he asked, very nicely, that I give him a chance to see if he can turn it around,” the president said.

    “Great people like Jensen Huang, Marc Benioff, and others have called saying that the future of San Francisco is great. They want to give it a ‘shot.’ Therefore, we will not surge San Francisco on Saturday. Stay tuned!” Trump said in conclusion, mentioning Huang, the CEO of chipmaker Nvidia and Benioff, the CEO and co-founder of Salesforce.

    Two Department of Homeland Security officials also told CBS News Thursday afternoon that the planned Border Patrol operation in San Francisco had been canceled. 

    Lurie said in a separate statement Thursday that he had received a call from the president late Wednesday night.

    “I told him the same thing I told our residents: San Francisco is on the rise. Visitors are coming back, buildings are getting leased and purchased, and workers are coming back to the office,” Lurie said. “In that conversation, the president told me clearly that he was calling off any plans for a federal deployment in San Francisco. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem reaffirmed that direction in our conversation this morning.”

    The mayor added, “I am profoundly grateful to all the San Franciscans who came together over the last several days. Our city leaders have been united behind the goal of public safety. And our values have been on full display—this is the best of our city.”



    Watch: San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie speaks after Trump halts federal deployment to city

    09:39

    At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Lurie noted recently released crime statistics, which showed significant declines.

    “Today, in San Francisco, crime is down nearly 30% citywide. And violent crime is at its lowest levels since the 1950s. Car break-ins are at 22-year lows and homicides are on track to hit 70-year lows,” the mayor said. “Our new approach is delivering results.”

    Lurie also revealed that he spoke with Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday, in addition to Noem, and received assurances in tackling the fentanyl crisis.

    “She echoed her willingness to our local law enforcement to combat fentanyl and hold drug traffickers responsible,” Lurie said.

    Benioff sparked controversy earlier this month in an interview with the New York Times, urging Trump to deploy the National Guard to the city to address public safety. The comments were made ahead of the company’s annual Dreamforce convention in San Francisco.

    Following pushback from city officials and after saying the conference was successful, Benioff apologized for his comments.

    Gov. Gavin Newsom voiced support for Mr. Trump’s last-minute change of plan.

    “Trump has finally, for once, listened to reason – and heard what we have been saying from the beginning,” said Newsom, who once served as San Francisco’s mayor himself. “The Bay Area is a shining example of what makes California so special, and any attempt to erode our progress would damage the work we’ve done.”

    Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the mayor in her statement. 

    “Mayor Daniel Lurie has demonstrated exceptional leadership in his steadfast commitment to the safety and well-being of San Franciscans,” Pelosi said. “He has underscored that public safety must be driven by local priorities, respectful of our values and communities.”

    The announcement came on the same day Border Patrol agents were expected to arrive at Coast Guard Island in Alameda as the Trump administration’s nationwide immigration crackdown was set to expand to the Bay Area.

    Across the Bay in Oakland, political and community leaders gathered outside Oakland City Hall to denounce the arrival of Border Patrol agents, urging citizens to remain calm despite what Mayor Barbara Lee called the federal government’s “escalated rhetoric and enforcement posture” in the Bay Area.

    “These federal actions are not about public safety,” Lee said. “They’re political stunts designed to divide and to intimidate. Oakland will not take the bait. We will remain calm, focused and united.”

    Lee said that while Trump called off a planned immigration enforcement surge in San Francisco, she doesn’t know what the administration’s plans are for Oakland and neighboring cities.

    “I have not received any communication from the White House or the Department of Homeland Security regarding federal operations in Oakland; however, I am in touch with the Governor’s Office and our federal delegation,” Lee said. 

    She added, “We know that border patrol agents are being stationed on Coast Guard Island, but let me be clear, our city, we are fully prepared.  We are monitoring developments closely and will keep our residents informed if there are any confirmed changes. We will continue to be a welcoming city for immigrants. “

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  • Trump says federal deployment to San Francisco called off after conversation with Mayor Daniel Lurie

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    President Trump announced Thursday that he has called off a plan to deploy federal agents to San Francisco, following a conversation with Mayor Daniel Lurie.

    In a statement on Truth Social, Mr. Trump said prominent tech company bosses had also contacted him Wednesday urging him not to go forward with a so-called “surge” operation set for Saturday, saying the city was making “substantial progress.”

    “I spoke to Mayor Lurie last night and he asked, very nicely, that I give him a chance to see if he can turn it around,” the president said.

    “Great people like Jensen Huang, Marc Benioff, and others have called saying that the future of San Francisco is great. They want to give it a ‘shot.’ Therefore, we will not surge San Francisco on Saturday. Stay tuned!” Trump said in conclusion, mentioning Huang, the CEO of chipmaker Nvidia and Benioff, the CEO and co-founder of Salesforce.

    Two Department of Homeland Security officials also told CBS News Thursday afternoon that the planned Border Patrol operation in San Francisco had been cancelled.

    Lurie said in a separate statement Thursday that he had received a call from the president late Wednesday night.

    “I told him the same thing I told our residents: San Francisco is on the rise. Visitors are coming back, buildings are getting leased and purchased, and workers are coming back to the office,” Lurie said. “In that conversation, the president told me clearly that he was calling off any plans for a federal deployment in San Francisco. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem reaffirmed that direction in our conversation this morning.”

    The mayor added, “I am profoundly grateful to all the San Franciscans who came together over the last several days. Our city leaders have been united behind the goal of public safety. And our values have been on full display—this is the best of our city.”

    At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Lurie noted recently released crime statistics which showed significant declines.

    “Today, in San Francisco, crime is down nearly 30% citywide. And violent crime is at its lowest levels since the 1950s. Car break-ins are at 22-year lows and homicides are on track to hit 70-year lows,” the mayor said. “Our new approach is delivering results.”

    Lurie also revealed that he spoke with Attorney General Pam Bondi in addition to Noem on Thursday and received assurances in tackling the fentanyl crisis.

    “She echoed her willingness to our local law enforcement to combat fentanyl and hold drug traffickers responsible,” Lurie said.

    Benioff sparked controversy earlier this month in an interview with the New York Times, urging Trump to deploy the National Guard to the city to address public safety. The comments were made ahead of the company’s annual Dreamforce convention in San Francisco.

    Following pushback from city officials and after saying the conference was successful, Benioff apologized for his comments.

    Gov. Gavin Newsom voiced support for Mr. Trump’s last-minute change of plan.

    “Trump has finally, for once, listened to reason – and heard what we have been saying from the beginning,” said Newsom, who once served as San Francisco’s mayor himself. “The Bay Area is a shining example of what makes California so special, and any attempt to erode our progress would damage the work we’ve done.”

    Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the mayor in her statement. 

    “Mayor Daniel Lurie has demonstrated exceptional leadership in his steadfast commitment to the safety and well-being of San Franciscans,” Pelosi said. “He has underscored that public safety must be driven by local priorities, respectful of our values and communities.”

    The announcement came on the same day Border Patrol agents were expected to arrive at Coast Guard Island in Alameda as the Trump administration’s nationwide immigration crackdown was set to expand to the Bay Area.

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    Tim Fang

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  • San Francisco police reports surge in recruits; entry-level applications up 40%

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    The San Francisco Police Department reported the largest surge of recruits in years as it seeks to address an ongoing staffing shortage, city officials said.

    In a statement Wednesday, the department said it has received 3,375 entry-level applications so far this year, up 40%. Another 195 officers from other departments have applied for a lateral move, an increase of 364%. The department reported the SFPD Academy has seen four full classes in a row and that there is a net positive increase in officers on the street for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Our political officials and the public support our police, and we’re helping make San Francisco safer than ever before. Working for the SFPD and serving the community is an incredibly rewarding career,” said interim chief Paul Yep.

    Yep cited multiple reasons for the surge in applicants, including an “aggressive” hiring strategy, competitive pay and benefits, along with Mayor Daniel Lurie’s “Rebuilding the Ranks” initiative.

    The initiative included steps to accelerate hiring and increase outreach, along with allowing recent police retirees to staff special events and shifting administrative work to civilian staff. In addition, the department said it worked with the Mayor’s Office of Innovation to implement solutions to address hiring bottlenecks.

    According to the department, the time it takes to hire new recruits has been cut by 50% and graduations have increased by more than 20%, which it says is happening without compromising training standards.

    “Thanks to our Rebuilding the Ranks plan to fully staff our police department and sheriff’s office, we are seeing real progress: Crime is down 30% citywide and at its lowest point in decades, with more applications coming in, hiring moving more quickly, and more officers coming through the academy,” Lurie said.

    On Tuesday, city officials touted new crime statistics which found violent crime is down 18% so far this year and the number of homicides in San Francisco on pace to be at a 70-year low.

    In addition to more police officers, similar reforms are being credited for the largest increase in the number of sheriff’s deputies in a decade.

    According to a city analysis, SFPD has about 1,500 sworn officers, while the recommended staffing level is more than 2,000 officers. The department said it has largely relied on overtime to meet public safety needs.

    A fifth police academy scheduled to begin in December.  

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    Tim Fang

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  • San Francisco crime debate heats up as tech leaders demand National Guard

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    Another tech giant has joined Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff in calling for National Guard troops to be deployed in San Francisco. Tesla CEO Elon Musk criticized the city this week, saying he supports federal intervention to combat crime.

    The debate comes as tens of thousands of tech workers from around the world arrive in the city for the annual Dreamforce conference, which kicks off on Tuesday and is expected to draw about 50,000 attendees.

    San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has rejected the idea of bringing in the National Guard by pointing to recent crime reductions and praising local law enforcement. Laurie has also been careful not to offend those who contribute millions of dollars to the city.

    At the annual Italian Heritage Parade on Sunday, support for the mayor’s stance was evident among San Franciscans. Parade-goer Ana Hernandez said she does not believe soldiers are necessary.

    “I’ve been here 25 years, and we’ve never had the need of having them here. Bringing them here,  I think it would bring more chaos, scare for the people,” Hernandez said.

    She and her family said they feel safe in the city, although they acknowledge that homelessness and open-air drug markets remain significant challenges.

    “It takes time, but I feel like it will change for good,” Hernandez added. 

    Her sister, Susana Chavez, emphasized collaboration. 

    “We have work to do. I say we collaborate and work with what we have,” Chavez said. 

    Benioff recently told The New York Times that President Trump should send in the National Guard to fight crime. Musk supported Benioff over the weekend on X, formerly Twitter, describing downtown San Francisco as a “drug zombie apocalypse” and saying federal intervention is needed.

    “Crime is down 30 percent citywide. SFPD, our sheriff’s department, is doing an incredible job. We’re going to keep people safe during Salesforce and Dreamforce this week.  And we’re going to keep people safe 365 days a year,” Lurie said.

    The mayor added that involving the National Guard would strip local control from law enforcement.

    “Local law enforcement knows how to police here in San Francisco. They know how to protect our citizens. They know how to protect our conference-goers,” he said.

    Interim SFPD Chief Paul Yep echoed the mayor’s praise for the police. 

    “Crime is down in San Francisco. I’m proud of the work that the rank and file do every day,” he said.

    Benioff appeared to soften his stance on Sunday, tweeting that his comments were really about addressing the city’s police shortage. He also announced that Salesforce will donate $1 million to fund larger hiring bonuses for new police officers.

    Many residents said that focusing on local law enforcement is the right approach. 

    “Invest more money into the law enforcement. Let them clean it up, not the National Guard,” Antonio Carter, a new San Francisco resident, said.

    “That’s why we have our own local police, to fix whatever problems or issues we have,” Hernandez said.

    Lurie said the city is working hard to recruit and retain police officers and is confident that Dreamforce will be safe.

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    Da Lin

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  • Contributor: California Democrats aren’t just resisting; they’re governing

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    Gov. Gavin Newsom answering the Republican redistricting power-grab in Texas with a plan of his own is a powerful example of how Golden State Democrats are standing up to President Trump and firing up their base. But while the partisan fireworks draw attention, California Democrats are also quietly offering a different kind of model for the national party that may prove more meaningful in the long run. They’re not just resisting Trump; they’re actually governing.

    Forget what you think you know about California and its lefty Democrats. They’re inching to the center, meeting voters where they are, and it’s improving people’s lives.

    Just look at San Francisco, long seen as a dysfunctional emblem of failed progressive governance.

    The city’s new mayor, Daniel Lurie, a nonprofit leader and philanthropist, has shaken off left-wing taboos and focused on delivering results. Instead of defunding the police, he’s hiring more officers and cracking down on shoplifting and drug crimes. Instead of demonizing the business community, he’s partnering with them. He’s also reforming zoning laws to make it easier to build more housing, which should ease the city’s affordability crunch and the homelessness crisis. Lurie has been in office less than a year, but already crime is plummeting and his approval rate has reached 73%.

    National Democrats can find a lesson here: Voters care about results, not just empathy and ideology.

    In Sacramento, Newsom and legislative Democrats are taking a similar tack, with a stubborn focus on affordability and the courage to stare down opposition, even in their own coalition. For example, the Legislature recently reformed the California Environmental Quality Act, a well-intentioned 50-year-old law that had been twisted to obstruct construction projects, clean energy development and public transportation. This angered some powerful environmental activists, but it will ultimately help bring down costs for housing and energy.

    CEQA reform is emblematic of California’s new, more balanced approach on some thorny issues, like energy and climate. The state recently announced that two-thirds of its power now comes from clean energy sources — a major achievement. At the same time, Newsom and the Legislature agreed to a package of bills that will increase oil drilling while extending the state’s cap-and-trade program. Together, the package can reduce energy costs for Californians and strengthen our state’s chances of reaching carbon neutrality by 2045. Some environmental justice advocates and climate purists oppose the deal, but it’s an example of how to make progress in the long term while addressing affordability in the short term.

    Immigration is another example: Newsom and other leading California Democrats continue to stand up to the Trump administration’s inhumane immigration policies, including suing to stop the deployment of troops to Los Angeles. But they also recently passed a budget that pulls back on costly plans to provide health insurance to all low-income undocumented immigrants.

    This reflects the new California model: principled resistance and pragmatic governance. The results speak for themselves. The Golden State recently surpassed Japan to become the fourth-largest economy in the world.

    Democratic leaders are making these moves because they are listening to voters who consistently say that the high cost of living is their top concern.

    In 2024, these concerns contributed to a surprising number of Californians abandoning Democrats, even with Kamala Harris, the state’s former U.S. senator and attorney general, on the ticket. Trump flipped 10 counties and boosted his support in 45. Since 2016, 72% of California counties have gotten redder, including many with heavy Latino populations.

    Democrats are paying attention and are wisely changing course. Being responsive to voter concerns doesn’t have to mean sacrificing core values, but it does require new approaches when the old ways aren’t working.

    Karen Skelton (whose father is a political columnist for the Los Angeles Times) is a political strategist, having worked in the White House under Presidents Clinton and Biden and at the United States Departments of Energy, Transportation and Justice.

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    Ideas expressed in the piece

    • California Democrats are demonstrating effective governance by moving toward the political center while maintaining their core values, offering a model for the national Democratic Party that goes beyond mere resistance to Trump’s policies.

    • San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie exemplifies this pragmatic approach by hiring more police officers, cracking down on shoplifting and drug crimes, and partnering with the business community rather than demonizing it, resulting in plummeting crime rates and a 73% approval rating.

    • Sacramento Democrats are prioritizing affordability and practical results over ideological purity, as demonstrated by their reform of the California Environmental Quality Act despite opposition from environmental activists, ultimately helping to reduce housing and energy costs.

    • The state’s balanced approach to energy and climate policy shows how Democrats can make long-term progress while addressing immediate affordability concerns, achieving two-thirds clean energy power while also increasing oil drilling through a cap-and-trade package.

    • On immigration, California Democrats maintain principled resistance to Trump’s policies while making pragmatic budget decisions, such as pulling back on costly plans to provide health insurance to all low-income undocumented immigrants.

    • This strategic shift reflects Democrats’ responsiveness to voter concerns about the high cost of living, which contributed to Trump gaining support in 10 counties and 45 others in 2024, with 72% of California counties becoming redder since 2016.

    Different views on the topic

    • Republican leaders view California’s redistricting response as a partisan power grab rather than principled governance, with some vowing to challenge the maps in court and arguing that the redistricting process violates the California Constitution by relying on outdated population data[1].

    • Environmental activists and climate advocates oppose California’s pragmatic approach to energy policy, particularly the package that increases oil drilling while extending cap-and-trade programs, viewing it as a betrayal of environmental justice principles.

    • Progressive organizations initially opposed California’s redistricting efforts, with Common Cause, a good governance group supporting independent redistricting, originally opposing the state’s partisan response before later reversing its stance[1].

    • Some Democratic constituencies argue that pulling back on progressive policies like universal healthcare for undocumented immigrants represents an abandonment of core Democratic values rather than pragmatic governance.

    • Critics contend that the centrist shift represents capitulation to conservative pressure rather than principled leadership, arguing that Democrats should maintain their progressive positions rather than moderating in response to political setbacks.

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    Karen Skelton

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  • San Francisco Supervisor Engardio concedes as preliminary results show recall succeeding

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    San Francisco District 4 supervisor concedes in recall election



    San Francisco District 4 supervisor concedes in recall election

    03:11

    San Francisco District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio conceded Tuesday in the recall election against him as preliminary results show it succeeding.

    Engardio conceded on Tuesday, saying, “My time as a city supervisor will be shorter than expected. I accept the election results. But we can still celebrate. We are on the right side of history.”

    Preliminary results show that 15,468 mail-in votes have been counted, with 9,969 of them being yes votes. The yes votes amount to about 65% of the votes counted as of the 8:45 p.m. update on the San Francisco Elections page.

    The no votes amount to about 35%. According to the SF Elections page, there was an almost 31% turnout.

    Mayor Daniel Lurie released a statement just before 9:30 p.m. regarding the special election.

    “I want to thank Supervisor Joel Engardio for his years of service and commitment to San Francisco. And I want to thank all the District Four residents who made their voices heard and participated in today’s special election,” Lurie said. “As votes are still being counted and the election will be certified in the coming weeks, our team is evaluating next steps for the District Four supervisor seat.”

    The Friends of Sunset Dunes’ also issued a statement.

    “Joel Engardio had the courage to let San Franciscans decide the future of their coast. Sunset Dunes is already one of the city’s most popular parks, bringing joy to tens of thousands of people every week – kids on bikes, people using wheelchairs, and everyone of all ages enjoying easier access to the coast. More voters in District 4 supported creating the park than voted to recall Joel. As Sunset residents, we know that Sunset Dunes is here to stay and will continue to grow in popularity as it evolves to reach its full potential.”

    Jose Fabian

    Jose Fabian is a web producer for CBS Bay Area where he reports on local crime, politics and breaking news. He studied political science and journalism at Sacramento State and was born and raised in Northern California.

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  • San Francisco police recruit officer dies after suffering medical emergency while at academy

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    CBS News Live



    CBS News Bay Area

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    A recruit officer with the San Francisco Police Department died on Friday after having a medical emergency while at the academy, the department said.

    The recruit officer, identified as Jon-Marques Psalms, had a medical emergency after finishing a training exercise on Wednesday, police said. He was given medical treatment at the scene and then taken to the hospital.

    On Friday, Psalms died at the hospital. He was 30 years old and was part of Recruit Class 286.

    “Losing any police officer is a tragedy. Losing a recruit who had committed himself to this police department and to the safety of our community is especially painful. My heart goes out to Recruit Officer Psalms’ family and fellow officers. As I’ve spoken to Recruit Officer Psalms’ parents over the past couple of painful days, they told me about the sense of purpose he found from his work and his squad of fellow recruits,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a statement. “He was so looking forward to graduating with all of them and joining the ranks of the SFPD. His dedication to the city will never be forgotten by his fellow recruit officers, our police department, and a grateful city.”

    Psalms was living in San Francisco, but grew up in Southern California. He studied and worked in Louisiana in the tech industry before moving to the Bay Area to become a police officer, San Francisco Police said.

    Police have not released information about the medical emergency or after what training exercise it happened, but the department said it was a course mandated by the Peace Officer Standards and Training.

    Cal/OSHA is investigating, as it is a workplace death. An investigation will also be done by San Francisco police. Police said the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will be investigating the death and will be issuing a report.

    “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Psalms’ parents and brother who have asked for privacy at this time,” police said. 

    Police said they will release information about arrangements and how people can help the family. 

    Jose Fabian

    Jose Fabian is a web producer for CBS Bay Area where he reports on local crime, politics and breaking news. He studied political science and journalism at Sacramento State and was born and raised in Northern California.

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    Jose Fabian

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