Daniel Lurie, a philanthropist and nonprofit founder with ties to the Levi Strauss family fortune, has announced his candidacy for the mayoral race in San Francisco. Lurie’s decision to enter the race comes at a challenging juncture for the city. San Francisco witnessed a significant population decline during the pandemic, and its reliance on the tech sector for tax revenue has left its economic stability uncertain. Furthermore, high rates of property crimes, homelessness, and drug abuse have plagued the city’s residents and negatively impacted its national image.
Lurie will be challenging the incumbent, Mayor London Breed, who is seeking a second full term in the upcoming election. Although this marks Lurie’s inaugural foray into public office, he has wasted no time in outlining his priorities. In a campaign video released on Tuesday, he emphasized his commitment to public safety, affordable housing, and addressing the pervasive issue of open-air drug dealing in the city. Lurie, at 46 years old, stated, “When I say I’m going to do something, I get it done and I bring everyone along with me. I love this city, but what we are seeing on the streets of San Francisco is not progressive.”
While Lurie may not be a household name among San Franciscans, his family’s deep-rooted ties and substantial wealth have established their prominence within the local and broader Jewish community. His mother, Mimi Haas, is a billionaire, owning 16% of Levi Strauss & Co. and having served on its board for many years. She was also married to Peter E. Haas, a great-grandnephew of Levi Strauss, until his passing in 2005. Mimi Haas currently presides over the Mimi and Peter Haas Fund, a philanthropic organization primarily focused on early childhood education. The Haas family’s charitable contributions have significantly benefited various institutions in the Bay Area, much of it done anonymously.
Rabbi Brian Lurie, Daniel Lurie’s father, was the director of the Jewish Community Federation in San Francisco from 1974 to 1991. In the late 1990s, he played a pivotal role as the president of the San Francisco Jewish Museum, overseeing its transformation into the Contemporary Jewish Museum from a smaller entity. Subsequently, he served as the president of the New Israel Fund.
Daniel Lurie’s own background includes chairing the host committee for Super Bowl 50 in 2016, a committee that raised millions for charitable causes. He completed his master’s degree in public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2005. In the same year, he founded Tipping Point Community, an organization that has disbursed over $350 million to Bay Area initiatives addressing poverty through avenues such as housing, early childhood education, and employment opportunities.
In addition to Mayor Breed and Daniel Lurie, the 2024 San Francisco mayoral race will feature Supervisor Ahsha Safaí as another candidate.
{Matzav.com}
I support Landecker, John, records
I wish him luck.