SPUR and Nuestra Casa are tackling groundwater rise and drinking water safety in East Palo Alto. Osvaldo Macias describes how our partnership has advanced impactful research and strengthened Nuestra Casa's advocacy for policy changes.

Join SPUR+SJ Chamber for a lunchtime forum w/CM @tordillosd3.bsky.social, with SV Biz's Gary Boulanger. Connect w/community + hear Tordillos' goals for downtown. 📅 12–1p | Th, 10/2 📍 101 W Santa Clara St 👉 Members: https://bit.ly/3Wh5Cs9

After various wildfire disasters, California has increased investment in wildfire resilience, but most resources still go toward fire response, not proactive resilience. To match the scale of rising wildfire risks, the state must increase and maintain resilience investments.

As the 2025 CA legislative session wrapped, SPUR fought hard for transit, working to secure vital short-term loans, pass SB 63 to authorize a $1B regional transit funding ballot measure, and maintain funding for transit under the Cap-and-Invest Program. https://bit.ly/3VrJ7Az

🎭 How is CA's $2.9B creative sector evolving? Join leaders shaping the state's new arts strategy to explore funding, workforce, culture + innovation. 📅 Sept 24, 5:30–7pm | Oakstop, Oakland 🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/48qBsdk

⏰ Tomorrow 9/18 at 12:30 PT: Join SPUR's Sujata Srivastava and Bruce Katz for an online conversation about America's housing crisis, Trump 2.0's federal housing policy, and how states and cities should respond. Register now https://bit.ly/4gNmG2J

This weekend both houses of the CA legislature approved SB 63, the Connect Bay Area Act, setting the stage for a 2026 ballot measure to fund Bay Area transit. Thanks to @scottwiener.bsky.social, @jessearreguin.bsky.social, @asmloridwilson.bsky.social & other legislators for their work to get here.

The Bay Area transit system is very regional. Transit trips are 70% more likely to cross county lines than auto trips. SPUR dug into the impacts of the region's looming $800 million annual deficit and why SB 63 is the best hope to save Bay Area transit. https://bit.ly/4mZNVJD

⭐ A Cable Car is Born! 🚋 Celebrate #TransitMonth with SPUR on Sat 9/13 for a special members-only tour of SF's historic cable car system + ride. Ages 10+ welcome! Plus, meet SPUR's new CEO Sean Elsbernd. Learn more about the event and membership below. https://bit.ly/47xKO6J

1/2: New Economic & Planning Systems research we commissioned with @spur-urbanist.bsky.social finds that with current CA construction defect liability laws, developers often pay 3-4 times as much for insurance for condos as for similar rental apartments. ow.ly/qLXx50WRGaE

SF’s Family Zoning Plan would allow thousands of new apartments in west side neighborhoods that haven’t seen growth in decades.

Tomorrow, a sold-out crowd will assemble for an evening of action on family zoning, facilitated by Annie Fryman. Practice public comment, draft emails to leaders, learn organizing strategies, connect w/ neighbors, and make your voice heard. 💪📣

Today, the message was clear: transit is not optional. Fund transit now.

Today, the message was clear: transit is not optional. Fund transit now.

California lawmakers promised a $750M loan to sustain Bay Area transit until a 2026 regional sales-tax vote. But unless finalized by Tuesday, BART service could drop by 80%. "The clock is running out," says Laura Tolkoff. "We're doing our part—we need them to do theirs."

🏠 Sept 9: Join us for an evening of action on family zoning, facilitated by Annie Fryman. Practice public comment, draft emails to leaders, learn organizing strategies, connect w/ neighbors, and make your voice heard. 💪 📍 SF | 5:30–7pm | 🍕+🍺 | Free

🚆💡 Calling all transit nerds, map lovers, and daily riders! Kick off #TransitMonth with Transit Trivia Night at the SPUR Urban Center — hosted by Jeff Wood of the Talking Headways podcast! 🗺️ Prizes, snacks & bragging rights await.

Bay Area rules phasing out the sale of gas furnaces & water heaters in homes will drive a transition to heat pumps, yielding big health & environmental benefits. SPUR recommends four actions to strengthen the rules' rollout.

SF has officially adopted SPUR's recommendations to jump-start office-to-housing conversions 🏢➡️🏠 What new policies are in place — and what's next for downtown's comeback? Join us tomorrow Aug 28 at 12:30 p.m. at the SPUR Urban Center. Register below.

CalSTA Sec. Omishakin has launched the California Sustainable Communities Task Force to advance state climate, housing, equity & transportation goals. SPUR's Chief Policy Officer Sujata Srivastava will serve alongside other leaders from across California.

Tomorrow! Be among the first to view a new exhibition capturing the complexity of one of the world's largest megacities. 📅 Wed, 8/27, 5:30–7:30 p.m. 📍 SPUR Urban Center, SF 🎟️ Free tickets 👇 https://www.spur.org/exhibitions/2025-08-18/jakarta-mirror-thousand-reflections

As SF & Oakland consider changes to their city charters, now is the time to understanding what a charter is & why it matters. We dive into how a charter works & how it affects everything from the powers of elected officials to public service delivery.

📸 Jakarta: A Mirror of a Thousand Reflections opens Wed, Aug 27 @ SPUR. Through research + photography, this exhibition reveals the complexity + resilience of one of the world's largest megacities. Join us for the opening night! 📍 SF | Free | Register

Income-qualified residents in SF and other Bay Area cities can now access BayREN's Efficiency and Sustainable Energy (EASE) Home program. The program offers support for home retrofits that improve health and comfort while reducing energy costs. Learn more.

Exhibition Opening Night 📸 Jakarta: A Mirror of a Thousand Reflections — explore the complex, ever-evolving landscape of Jakarta through the lens of urban research and photography. 📅 Wed, 8/27, 5:30–7:30 p.m. 📍 SPUR Urban Center, SF 🎟️ Free tickets 👇

In California, building infrastructure, including transit, is costly & slow. A new report from @circulatesd.bsky.social & SPUR reveals permitting challenges & offers solutions. Recent legislative reforms suggest that the state may be eager to put these solutions into practice.

BART riders can now tap to pay with a contactless card or mobile wallet—one step toward the more seamless, rider-friendly transit system SPUR has long supported. ¹🛤️ "Seamless Transit" (2015)️ spur.org/seamlesstransit ²💳 "Solving the Bay Area's Fare Policy Problem" (2019) spur.org/transitfares

Join us online today for a federal housing budget and policy discussion with experts including ROAD to Housing Act legislation, the HUD budget and more! https://www.spur.org/events/2025-08-19/californias-affordable-housing-agenda-facing-trump-administration-20

Before a single rider boards, a CA busway project had to satisfy 341 conditions from 7 agencies—costing $15M more than budgeted. On Friday, August 8th at 12:30p, join SPUR and Circulate San Diego for a webinar on the challenges of permitting transit—and how to solve them

SPUR supported a Berkeley measure that uses home sales to trigger energy upgrades. The time-of-sale approach ensures steady retrofit investment while allowing flexible compliance—just one tool cities can use to grow their building decarbonization toolkit.

A recent exhibition at the SPUR Urban Center asked Bay Area residents to approach resilience to sea level rise from a starting point of opportunity. For example, adaptation projects can revive ecosystems and offer the public new amenities. Read more.

Op-ed by SPUR board member Regina Clewlow on the high cost of free parking

Both Oakland & SF are considering changes to their city charters. 🏛️ Join SPUR for "City Charters 101" to learn why charters matter, how reform works, and why thoughtful design is key to effective governance and public service. 📅July 30 | 12–1 PM | Free

As the federal government retreats from hazard mitigation, Bay Area governments must scramble to replace $270M in lost FEMA funding for resilience and adaption projects. Pausing projects now will make future climate and hazard impacts even more costly.

SPUR Members—let's roll! 🚲 Join SPUR and SF Bicycle Coaltion for a beginner-friendly ride through Sunset Dunes as we celebrate a major win for SF's public spaces. 📅 Friday, July 25, 4–6 PM 🎟 Free for SPUR Members—join to attend: spur.org/join

Next Tuesday, our Managing Director of Real Estate @carolynchoy.bsky.social will be joining @spur-urbanist.bsky.social's virtual discussion about how arts and culture can drive community well-being. Register here: www.spur.org/events/2025-... #CASTSF #SPUR #UrbanPlanning #ArtsandCulture

How can arts and culture strengthen community, renew neighborhoods, and support resilient city development? Join us July 22 @ 12:00pm PT for "Urban Planning Culture Now" — a webinar on cultural planning strategies for vibrant cities. https://www.spur.org/events/2025-07-22/urban-planning-culture-now

Oakland's fiscal crisis reflects decades of revenues failing to keep pace with rising pension, healthcare & operations costs. To right the ship, the city must follow its own sound fiscal policies. Read Part 3 in our series on closing Oakland's deficit.

Mayor Lurie's Family Zoning Plan reimagines zoning regulations to better meet the housing needs of all San Franciscans—avoiding the significant consequences of failing to meet state-set housing goals while remedying historic patterns of segregation.

SF has adopted all 6 of SPUR's recommendations to convert obsolete office buildings into housing, providing a host of benefits, including worker housing, support for small businesses and cultural organizations, and increased property & sales tax revenues.

Relief funding in California's newly adopted budget averts transit service cuts and restores at-risk funds and support to Muni, BART, Caltrain, and AC Transit. But a lasting fix depends, in part, on new regional and local solutions.

For SF's new planning director, Sarah Dennis-Philips, the 2007 recession revealed how market realities shape development—regardless of a city's vision. She says the planner's role has evolved from designer and regulator to strategist and problem solver.

🗞️ BDC’s July Decarb Digest highlights our Q2 Momentum Report, other recent reports from @spur-urbanist.bsky.social & @neepenergy.bsky.social ‪& recent reforms to gas line extension subsidies & other state #BuildingDecarb policy updates! #EnergySky #HeatPump #ClimateSky zpr.io/FNdWftA3ETjz

SF's challenges—from housing production to downtown revitalization—require a structurally sound budget. Attempts to close a projected nearly $1B shortfall in coming years must navigate spending mandates & other budget constraints

SPUR sponsored 3 of the bills in the California State Legislature's Fast-Track Housing package, and we're working on 4 more to promote critical housing development—especially in transit-rich areas where it will boost transit use & help meet climate goals.

SPUR supported a Berkeley measure that uses home sales to trigger energy upgrades. The time-of-sale approach ensures steady retrofit investment while allowing flexible compliance—just one tool cities can use to grow their building decarbonization toolkit.

To remedy its structural budget deficit, San Francisco must end reliance on one-time revenue sources, redefine core services, implement permanent cost controls, and consider reforms to the city's charter, labor agreements, and voter-approved measures.

CA & the Bay Area are paving the way to zero-emission buildings, but outdated permitting is slowing heat pump adoption. Streamlining permitting can cut costs & speed delivery of health & climate benefits. SPUR details 5 recommendations. spur.org/GreenlightingCleanHeat

Oakland's fiscal crisis reflects decades of revenues failing to keep up with rising pension, healthcare & operating costs. In a recent report, SPUR offers 9 recommendations to balance the budget — starting with the city following its own sound fiscal policies spur.org/oaklandbudget

SF's Mayor Daniel Lurie has already made significant strides since taking office. What should his administration focus on next? SPUR offers an urbanist decision-making framework to keep the momentum going. Read more at spur.org/next100days