Daniel Lurie
Illustration by Margarita Babina
San Francisco is on our minds. The city that will always be famous for its unique and influential culture has lately been in the news for all the wrong reasons. We reached out to philanthropist and SF mayoral candidate Daniel Lurie (an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune) to see what’s up. We had a productive chat:
WTF SF?
WTF SF, indeed! San Francisco has its challenges, but it's also a place of tremendous opportunity and diversity. Unfortunately, our leadership at City Hall is deeply entrenched in a broken system. San Franciscans know the potential of this city and are working everyday to make their home a better place, but their efforts are hindered by elected officials at City Hall. We are facing a crisis of leadership and this is exactly why I am running for Mayor - to bring in leadership from the outside.
What news caught your attention this morning?
The GOP’s speaker selection process. It’s like a never ending game of musical chairs where the music never stops. It’s situations like this that erode public trust in our institutions, and distract from the work that needs to be done.
You come from a wealthy family; don’t you want to just travel the world or do yoga for the rest of your life?
I was raised by incredible parents and am the product of the values instilled in me by my family. From an early age, my parents taught me that if a door is opened for you, bring as many people as you can with you. Which is exactly what I intend to do as Mayor. Having wealth isn't a reason to retreat from your community, it’s a reason to engage with and support it. I can’t give up on San Francisco because I love this city and believe in its future. And when it comes to yoga, I’m not very flexible.
San Fran is my home because________.
… My story started here. I was born and raised here. From dinners with my Dad on Union Street to burritos at Gordo's to 49ers games at Candlestick Park, this is where I became who I am today. I am the product of the values instilled in me by a family whose work has directly impacted San Franciscans. I watched my mom change the face of early childhood education in San Francisco, and I saw my dad, a Rabbi, help countless Jews escape persecution here and abroad. I also watched my stepfather make Levi’s one of the most forward thinking brands in the world by extending domestic partner benefits long before it was en vogue.
What fictional character inspires you?
Sherlock Holmes. He was proficient with observation, deduction and logical reasoning – all characteristics San Francisco needs in its next mayor.
If you could trade places with anyone for a week, who would it be?
The Mayor, but I plan to stay longer than a week.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
The opportunity I have created for others. In 2005 I co-founded Tipping Point Community, a nonprofit focused solely on building community to advance the most promising, poverty-fighting solutions. The uniqueness of Tipping Point lies in the fact that we are not only in the business of cutting checks, but also investing our time and resources into the community and groups that we work with. To date, Tipping Point has raised more than $500 million to help house, employ, and educate hundreds of thousands of Bay Area families. Last year alone Tipping Point provided over six thousand people with services that either helped them transition out of homelessness or prevented them from experiencing it. Tipping Point works to create and sustain relationships with parts of the city that have often been ignored. We believe in the potential of every corner of San Francisco. I am extremely grateful for and proud of my time with Tipping Point, and am excited to take my proven record of building diverse teams, and taking on obstacles of politics and bureaucracy to win on the issues most important to San Franciscans.
Top 3 favorite TV shows ever?
The Wire, West Wing & Seinfeld!
When was the last time you saw a drag show?
It’s been too long but you just gave me a great idea for a campaign event.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Of course! When I first met my wife Becca, I definitely knew it was the real thing.
