How San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie’s diverse transition team hopes to lay the foundation for change

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — A group of technology industry, nonprofit and former government leaders hopes their diverse experience will help incoming San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie prepare for success before he is sworn into office in January. I am doing it.

Lurie on Monday announced a new transition team with co-chairs and advisors including influential figures such as OpenAI CEO and co-founder Sam Altman and former San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hazewhite.

Hayeswhite told ABC7 News he’s excited about the coalition Lurie was able to put together.

“It’s a great mix of people and I’m sure there will be some very interesting interactions,” she said. “We receive instructions from our boss, and we are sure that he will clarify his goals and priorities. And we will fill in his blanks, provide recommendations and advice. I bring As a lifelong San Franciscan, I want to work to really get the city back on track and reset. ”

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Ms. Lurie, who previously founded and ran an anti-poverty nonprofit, said improving public safety was her top priority, followed by addressing the behavioral health crisis among the unhoused and building a downtown tourist attraction. and revitalize business.

Hayeswhite, who has a nearly 30-year career in public safety, said he wants to help Lurie achieve these goals, especially when it comes to responding to the fentanyl epidemic on the streets. The next mayor said he would declare a “fentanyl emergency” on his first day in office.

“Just last month, we saw some improvements under Mayor Breed, and we know that fentanyl deaths have gone down quite a bit, but they are still too many. “I think one is, ‘Rather than working in silos, we encourage you to consider whether you need crossover between departments,'” Hayeswhite said. “Let’s reevaluate that relationship and see if we can be a little more efficient.”

Video: Daniel Lurie gives ABC7’s first Bay Area TV interview after taking office as SF mayor

Another co-chair, Michael Tubbs, was elected mayor of Stockton in 2016, making him one of the youngest mayors in the nation. He said one of Mr. Lurie’s strengths, not weaknesses, is that he comes to City Hall with a fresh perspective. Government outsiders. Tubbs said he encourages Lurie to not be afraid to question why things work a certain way and seek innovative solutions.

“I actually think the best leaders are the people who are the most inquisitive and the most inquisitive,” Tubbs said. “What’s really important is to be open to what you don’t know, to be open to new things, to be open to being able to ask questions, because people take a lot of things for granted.”

The teams will hold their first meeting on Wednesday. There is no timeline yet for when Lurie’s team will announce a full-time senior position, such as chief of staff.

RELATED: Daniel Lurie delivers first remarks as San Francisco’s next mayor and shares vision for the city

Who is on his transition team?

Daniel Lurie Transition Team, Co-Chair:

Sam Altman, OpenAI co-founder and CEO Joan Hayes-White, former SFFD Fire Chief Jose A. Quiñones, Mission Asset Fund founding CEO Ned Segal, former Twitter CFO, Lurie Mayoral Campaign Co-Chair Michael Tubbs, former Stockton Mayor Nancy Tan, San Francisco Prosecutor, SF Democratic Party Chair Paul Yep, former SFPD Police Commander

Advisor:

Sarah Fenske-Bacht: Transition Director Anne O’Leary: Transition Advisor Ben Rosenfield: Senior Advisor

Lurie is replacing incumbent Mayor London Breed, who conceded to Lurie on Nov. 7 after election results showed Lurie received more first-place votes than Breed. He will be his successor.

This is the first time since 1991 that a sitting mayor has been removed from office.