THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025
To view in browser, get past issues, or subscribe, CLICK HERE
Budget deliberations reflect era of performative dètente under pressure at City Hall
by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
The main phase of deliberations over San Francisco’s city budget concluded at City Hall in the very early morning of Thursday, June 26, after fifteen hours-plus of negotiations between Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office and a special committee of the Board of Supervisors.
While budget negotiations extending into the dead of night have been a fairly familiar occurrence in recent budget years, some changes reflecting the post-covid, Trump era austere times were evident.
For instance, the infamous “add-back” process by which the Supervisors chip away at the mayor’s proposed budget to restore funding for preferred service programs had a considerably smaller scale this time around. There was no catered food for protestor/lobbyists of the budget as in previous years, and there was no list of desired exceptions the size of a phone book posted outside the budget director’s office. Everything was much smaller and more closely held, including the list.
In the end, Supervisors were able to claw back funds for 57 of the 100 positions headed for redundancy, along with funding for some homeless services programs, notably those serving transitional-age youth and persons living in vehicles. In exchange for these concessions, Mayor Lurie’s office gained greater flexibility in reallocating revenues from the Prop C homelessness services business tax to preferred programs.
“So while tonight’s agreement [was] not something we can really celebrate, we should acknowledge that we, as the legislative branch and the executive branch, have come together, despite our differences, to meet this moment,” Budget Chair Connie Chan told colleagues at the final meeting at around 2:00 AM Thursday. “We came together to deliver for our most vulnerable communities.”
“I don’t think this is a budget that any of us like,” Board President Rafael Mandelman added, describing “a tough, painful budget” that nobody felt good about approving. “The add-back list is anemic in comparison to prior years… [but] it is a necessary budget after, I think, several years where we had hoped that economic conditions would improve […] after a couple of years of relying largely on one-time solutions to solve for ongoing challenges. The mayor was determined this year to actually try to begin bringing our spending more in line with our revenue; that is important and unfortunately, the work is not done.”
Not all supervisors felt the outcome was tolerable. District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder expressed her disappointment with the agreement, in particular the concessions made by the board over Prop C funds, in an angry tone that seemed to be met with considerable irritation from Chair Chan.
“There were always going to be people that had to pay a price and burdens to shoulder, and there are vulnerable segments of San Francisco that are being asked, I think, disproportionately to shoulder those,” Fielder told colleagues. And now, this mayor wants to ask you to give up the last thing we have, which is the will of the voters… is this even legal? Why serve as supervisors if we are just going to rubber stamp the mayor’s budget? Should we even have citizen initiatives if we’re just going to negotiate the terms away at the board of supervisors?”
The following morning, Mayor Lurie issued a statement praising the agreement.
“This budget takes major strides to lay the foundation for our long-term growth—bringing spending closer in line with revenues so we don’t spend money we don’t have, while focusing our resources on providing safe and clean streets, addressing the fentanyl crisis, and advancing our economic recovery,” the statement reads. “We made common-sense decisions to dedicate dollars sitting unspent to advance our urgent work addressing the behavioral health and homelessness crisis on our streets. And even facing an historic deficit, we protected essential programs and resources to support our immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities while responsibly setting aside resources to prepare us for whatever may come our way at the federal and state levels.”
The budget will be presented to the full Board of Supervisors on July 8 and will continue until July 15, when Supervisors will vote on the first reading. The deadline to adopt the budget ordinance is July 31.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
BUSINESS
Gary Rulli wants to set the record straight about his Union Square cafes
Part 1: City officials ignore Rulli’s pleas for assistance during the pandemic and Central Subway construction, but give subsequent tenants free rent and cash.
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
Anyone from the Bay Area who loves Italian pastries has heard of Chef Gary Rulli, proprietor of RistoBar, located on Chestnut Street in San Francisco’s Marina District, and the flagship pasticceria, Emporio Rulli, in Larkspur. Rulli is a fourth-generation San Franciscan whose grandparents emigrated from Abruzzi, Italy, but it was a trip back to the Motherland that gave him an appreciation for authentic Italian baking and, in particular, panettone. When Rulli arrived in Italy in 1982, he discovered that panettone was a dying art.
OPINION
Preventing wildfires in San Francisco
Part 2: A look at what’s being done, and what needs to be done.
One of the issues that arose during the Oakland Hills fire was the incompatibility of hydrant connections. Besides water supply issues, many neighboring departments were unable to …
by Anonymous
REYNOLDS RAP
As a member of the Our City, Our Home committee overseeing millions in taxpayer funds, Friedenbach advocates for the status quo.
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
Quote of the week
“We were offered no rent relief during the entire time of the construction period even though the general contractor, through negligence, had laid down the wrong tracks and had to remove and reinstall them, which only further delayed the reopening of the Central Subway.”
—Gary Rulli sets the record straight on the end of his 12 years in Union Square and how the City abandoned him
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
TRANSIT
Bay Area transit gets $750M loan in state budget deal, eyes 2026 sales tax measure
State budget also restores funding for transit infrastructure projects.
by Jerold Chinn
EDUCATION
S.F. schools expected to pass final budget ‘exam’ tonight; tougher assignments ahead
$59 million more is needed in 2026
by John Trasviña
OPINION
It’s the thoughts that count, part 3: Centrist Democrats on the offense
Progressives are riding a wave due to the absence of an alternative.
by John Zipperer
Like what you see? Support us | Subscribe to this newsletter
EVENTS
Out and about June 27–July 2, 2025
What to do this week and beyond.
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
Here are my picks for the remainder of the week and into the next. Enjoy some Shakespeare, including a funny new twist on one; music from classical piano to jazz to Bowie; Pride events (check out the vertical dancing); art and photography exhibitions, and more.
Thursday, June 26
Marin Shakespeare Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is getting rave reviews, with its reimaging that blends “art nouveau with futuristic elegance … electrifying movement and choreography,” laughter, and magic. And the intimate Forest Meadows venue at Dominican College is the best. Through July 13. (Special pricing today: Pay What You Will). Tickets from $17.
Celebrate at the Exploratorium with After Dark: Pride: Queer Science and learn the history of the 606 Social Club, a secret society for queer and trans naturalists; enjoy a Pride cocktail or mocktail; ask a queer scientist some questions, and lots more. Tickets $23
Bowie fans (isn’t that everyone?) won’t want to miss Blackstar Symphony: The Music of David Bowie, from Bowie’s last critically acclaimed album, performed by the original Blackstar band and reimagined for a 65-piece orchestra. The performance culminates with music from Bowie’s iconic song catalog. Through Friday. Tickets from $99.
Friday, June 27
Marcus Shelby Quintet: “Monk, Mingus, and Miles” explores the music of three of the most celebrated composers who had a major influence on modern blues and swing. The group will also perform original compositions from their Blues in the City suite, commissioned by the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, where Shelby is an artist in residence. Two performances. Tickets $40.
Listen to our podcasts
- San Francisco faces major challenges in the days ahead
- SFUSD passes a balanced budget, DEI in the schools, housing density and more!!
- What will 2 hour parking mean to people who live in their cars and vans and to those who live in San Francisco?
- What is in a name, price delays plans for Portsmouth Square, an expedited process, and more!
- Plus more (and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible or everywhere else you get your favorite podcasts)
Support our newsroom
With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtful articles and media for a better San Francisco. This is your chance to support credible, community-based, public-service journalism. Please join us!
