Mayor Daniel Lurie delivered his first State of the City address Thursday morning, painting San Francisco as a city on the rise.
“For the first time in five years, San Franciscans believe we are moving in the right direction,” he said. “That’s not spin. That’s not politics. That’s people feeling we’re making a difference in their everyday lives. People are proud to live here again, you can feel it. There has never been a more exciting time to be a San Franciscan, and it’s time to put our foot on the accelerator.”
There were many parallels in themes from his inauguration speech one year ago, but today he has a record to stand on.
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As expected, Lurie talked about public safety being his North Star – he believes the drug crisis on our streets is the top barrier in San Francisco’s recovery.
Lurie labeled 2025 as one of the safest years in city history, saying crime is down nearly 30%, but critics will note that doesn’t always capture the full picture, with many crimes going underreported. He also touted car break-ins at a 22-year low, and homicides at their lowest rate since 1954.
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Economic recovery and cutting red tape for small businesses has also been a cornerstone of his first year. With major events coming up like the Super Bowl, World Cup and MLB season opener, the mayor is hoping the momentum continues of showcasing San Francisco to the world.
The mayor’s advisors tel ABC7 News that affordability will be a key focus in City Hall this year. Lurie has already unveiled a free childcare program for qualifying families.
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Recent polls have shown more than 70% of San Franciscans approve of the job Mayor Lurie is doing.
His speech was a hopeful tone, but there are big challenges ahead with uncertainty around the ballooning budget deficit, which could grow depending on threats of more federal cuts from the Trump administration.
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