“Welcome to my city. » As soon as they exit the plane at the airport, Daniel Lurie’s face, plastered on posters of all sizes, reminds visitors that they are entering “his” territory. Elected mayor of San Francisco a year ago, this 48-year-old billionaire looks like an ideal son-in-law, heir to the Levi Strauss family – creator of blue jeans in the 19th century – has set itself the objective of reviving a city which has fallen to the dark side since the Covid crisis.
Across the streets, from the port, from where we can see the Alcatraz prison on its rocky islet, and further away, the mythical Golden Gate, we can see to what extent “the city by the bay” no longer has anything of the cinema image that has made Europeans dream so much since the 1960s, and whose tranquility was sung by Maxime Le Forestier. “Downtown”, the city center: at the foot of the towers, clusters of zombies, bent double, some completely petrified on the spot under the effect of the high – mainly fentanyl – haunt the sidewalks deserted by passers-by. Behind the windows of empty stores, the signs “Retail for lease” (shop for rent) follow one another, symbols of the desertion of businesses in entire neighborhoods. Some intersections convey the image of a ghost town in which processions of driverless white cars circulate, the famous “Waymo”, which have made the reputation of the city of technological progress.
One priority: safety
As we leave this desolate center to reach the town hall, an imposing imperial palace with colonnades, life is reborn, businesses reappear. The picture is mixed, but hardly rosy. “It was worse before I took the reins”puts Daniel Lurie into perspective by welcoming the Tangwall Campagin. The Covid crisis has emptied the towers of the tech giants, their thousands of employees have taken up their quarters far from the center, converted to teleworking. In a few years, the city lost 10% of its population, particularly working people. Poverty and the ravages of fentanyl – with nearly a hundred overdoses per month – have caused crime to explode.
“When I ran, I campaigned on one priority: safety”insists Lurie. The number of police officers on patrol has doubled, drug treatment programs and crackdowns on drug dealers have been strengthened, with the appointment of a new prosecutor. “We have brought the homicide rate down to a level comparable to that of the 1950s, the number of overdose deaths has been halved”underlines the mayor. Above all, Lurie brought together 35 tech CEOs behind his project. In exchange for security and a particular effort on education, they have committed to reinvesting office towers. No more teleworking, 70% of employees are in-person five days a week. “Microsoft has returned, that represents 20,000 employees, $68 million in annual revenue”continues Daniel Lurie. Restaurants are reinvesting in the city, cultural life is resuming. One Thursday a month, an entire neighborhood is closed to traffic to attract 20 to 25,000 visitors to the art galleries and concert halls.
Lurie sells his city, as much as his success, like a Trump
Everything is not yet rosy: 35% of commercial and office premises are still deserted, but progress is such that Donald Trumpwhich was considering deploying the National Guard to SF, chose to trust Lurie. “The president called mehe says, I explained the situation to him. He told me – and he said it publicly – that he thought we could do better and faster, but that I had to be given a chance to prove myself, which is what I’m doing. » There is no formal deal, but Lurie reassured Trump by confirming enhanced collaboration with the FBI and the DEA – an agency fighting drug trafficking.
Lurie sells his city, as much as his success, like a Trump. “Last Saturday, I was walking on North Beach, there was not a free place in the restaurantspleads the mayor. You are right to come see us, now is the right time, Frisco is where you need to be. If you are looking for a good spot, follow me on social media. » Marie-Noelle Favard, a Frenchwoman who recently arrived in San Francisco to work at Benefit, says she is impressed by the man’s voluntarism: “I thought, at first, that with his enthusiasm and sales force on social media, Lurie was an influencer. I ended up understanding that it was the mayor and I realize the extent of the work he accomplished. » So much the better, Lurie knows he is being watched by a president who only recognizes winners.
