SF Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie's new transition team includes OpenAI co-founder, former fire chief
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie announced his new transition team on Monday nearly two weeks after he was elected as mayor.
The team consists of co-chairs and advisors. Some of the names include Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO OpenAI, and former San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White.
"I'm excited to introduce this talented and diverse team who will help guide our transition and lay the groundwork for the change San Franciscans demand," Lurie said in a press release to ABC7.
"Every one of these incredible leaders brings a track record of shaking up the status quo to deliver results. My transition co-chairs share my commitment to building an accountable, effective government to tackle the many challenges confronting our great city."
VIDEO: Daniel Lurie gives ABC7 1st Bay Area TV interview after becoming SF mayor
Lurie says the co-chairs will be providing counsel to him and his advisors.
Daniel Lurie's transition team, co-chairs:
- Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI
- Joanne Hayes-White, former SFFD Fire Chief
- José A. Quiñonez, founding CEO of Mission Asset Fund
- Ned Segal, Co-Chair of the Daniel Lurie for Mayor campaign
- Michael Tubbs, former Mayor of Stockton
- Nancy Tung, prosecutor and Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party
- Paul Yep, SFPD Commander in the Chief of Staff's Office
RELATED: Daniel Lurie delivers first remarks as San Francisco Mayor-elect, shares vision for city
Advisors
- Sara Fenske Bahat- Transition Director
- Ann O'Leary - Transition Counsel
- Ben Rosenfield - Senior Advisor
In an interview with ABC7 News, Lurie said he hopes the mix of professionals from the private and public sector will help him work toward one of his top priorities - bringing businesses back to downtown.
"It's a group of great people committed to turning around San Francisco," he said. "... bring a diverse group of companies back to San Francisco. I want the message to be loud and clear that entrepreneurs and innovators and creatives are welcome in San Francisco again are welcome."
Lurie is succeeding incumbent Mayor London Breed, who conceded to Lurie on Nov. 7, after election results showed Lurie receiving more first-place ranked-choice votes than Breed.
It is the first time since 1991 that an incumbent mayor has been unseated.
VIDEO: SF Mayor London Breed gives concession speech for mayoral race
What are his top priorities?
Lurie has said he would declare a fentanyl state of emergency on his first day in office, without offering further details about what that would entail.
During his interview with ABC7 News, Lurie said his perspective as a parent has shaped his priorities for the city - with public safety and "cleaning up the streets" topping his list.
"It's unacceptable, you can walk down the streets right now of Market Street or Mission or Van Ness, and you see people asleep in the middle of the day. We have to do better," he said. "We have to build more mental health and drug treatment beds we have to keep people off the street."
On the public safety front, Lurie said he has met with San Francisco's chief of police Bill Scott, but did not commit to whether or not he plans to keep Scott as chief, saying he understands Scott's commitment to the city and that the two will keep having "continued talks."
Lurie said his third priority is "streamlining bureaucracy" in city government, in order to make governmental operations more efficient for everyone in San Francisco.
He said one of his main benchmarks will be changing the feel of the city, so people in the Bay Area and beyond will be comfortable returning to the city on a regular basis. Lurie said part of that entails looking at benchmarks like filling empty office spaces downtown and measuring the number of people moving "off the streets and into beds."
"We can measure that and we will," he said.
About the new mayor
He is an heir to the Levi Strauss estate, a father of two and a San Francisco native.
"I have an unwavering commitment to this city," he said. "I just care deeply, I was worried about direction of our city and I decided to jump in...whether you voted for me or not, I'm going to work for you."
He founded and served as the CEO of the nonprofit organization Tipping Point Community in 2005 to focus on anti-poverty initiatives such as housing, education and job training.
Lurie will be sworn in as San Francisco's 46th mayor on Jan. 8.
Bay City News contributed to this report
