Who Pays for San Francisco?

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie poured almost $9 million of his personal fortune into getting elected. Now, he is finding an extraordinary amount of private money to pour into city government: His administration has secured more than $120 million in philanthropic dollars for homelessness, addiction and downtown revitalization. Meanwhile, a network of donors, many of them longtime supporters of Lurie’s former nonprofit Tipping Point, has poured millions into the candidates and ballot measures he favors, winning decisively in June. Supporters call it civic generosity. Critics, particularly progressives, worry that the amount of money is pulling the city rightward. We talk about the impact that money can have on local politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices