DANIEL LURIE WAS officially sworn in as San Francisco’s 46th mayor on Wednesday during a star-studded celebration packed with thousands of attendees at Civic Center Plaza.
Former mayors and current local and state leaders, from Attorney General Rob Bonta to the first partner of California, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, were just a few of the big names who attended the ceremony.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr kicked off the celebration with a speech to help inspire the city to move forward through working together.
“The mayor isn’t going to fix problems by himself or herself, just like coach doesn’t score any baskets and block any shots,” Kerr said. “Just like the Warriors, we have to bring our individual talents to the table with the idea of making the whole better. Indeed, there is strength in numbers. Mayor-elect Lurie understands this dynamic and that’s why I’m so excited for his vision for the city.”
The perimeter of Civic Center Plaza was blocked off and heavily lined with police officers with no unhoused people or open-air drug use in sight, an uncommon occurrence in the area on any regular day. The cleaned-up appearance of the plaza was a symbol of the change Lurie has repeatedly promised to bring as the new mayor.
“San Francisco has long been known for its values of tolerance and inclusion, but nothing about those values instructs us to allow nearly 8,000 people to experience homelessness in our city,” Lurie said after taking his oath of office. “Widespread drug dealing, public drug use, and constantly seeing people in crisis has robbed us of our sense of decency and security … We must act with an unapologetic focus on results and create the solutions that last far beyond the tenure of this administration.”
Tackling the fentanyl crisis
He went further to say he will try to declare a fentanyl state of emergency as soon as possible.
“I’m introducing a package of fentanyl state of emergency ordinances,” Lurie said. “It will surge resources and bypass the bureaucratic hurdles standing in the way of tackling this crisis. I look forward to working with the incoming Board of Supervisors for their quick approval.”
Bilal Mahmood, District 5’s newest supervisor, reaffirmed Lurie’s steadfast plans to tackle the fentanyl crisis after the celebration, he said in an interview.
“I am really looking forward to working with Lurie and I agree with his focus on resolving fentanyl use,” Mahmood said. “I am excited to get to work.”
After Lurie was sworn in, Oakland native and singer Michael Franti performed his hit song “The Sound of Sunshine.” Local and state leaders all stood up, dancing and clapping as the sun shined down on the plaza.
“It is the greatest honor of my life to serve as your mayor at this critical moment,” Lurie concluded in his speech. “I’m asking all of you, every single one of you, to join me in reclaiming our place as the greatest city in the world with a new era of accountability, service and change. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work San Francisco.”
A video recording of Lurie’s inauguration ceremony can be viewed on the city’s official Facebook page.