Levi Strauss heir Daniel Lurie files paperwork to take over London Breed as San Francisco mayor after condemning ‘chaotic and violent’ open-air drug trade
- Nonprofit founder Lurie, 45, filed the necessary paperwork Thursday
- He is expected to announce his candidacy during a speech on Tuesday
The heir to Levi Strauss’ denim fortune has filed paperwork to run against San Francisco’s London Breed in the next mayoral election.
Nonprofit founder Daniel Lurie, 45, filed papers with the city’s Ethics Commission on Thursday.
He is expected to formally announce his bid for office during a speech on Tuesday San Francisco standard reports.
Lurie, who runs anti-poverty charity Tipping Point, has reportedly emailed family and close supporters asking them to keep the date free.
The email said: ‘As we move forward, I am excited to share a new journey that I embrace and that aligns with our shared passion and commitment to San Francisco.
Daniel Lurie has filed papers to usurp the incumbent mayor of San Francisco, Democrat London Breed
More than 849 people are expected to die from drug overdoses in 2023, which is on pace to exceed the current record of 720 deaths in 2020
“While I cannot reveal all the details yet, I would be grateful if you, your family and friends could join me for this special announcement.”
He will face incumbent Mayor London Breed, who would be vulnerable in next year’s elections.
Under her watch, the Dem-led city has been ravaged by crime, with San Francisco residents plagued by quality of life issues since the pandemic.
Lurie’s candidacy follows his recent condemnation of the California city’s “chaotic and violent” open-air drug markets.
The outspoken philanthropist has been active in efforts to curb rising homelessness and poverty in San Francisco, but it is unclear what his campaign platform would be.
Lurie comes from one of San Francisco’s most powerful families. His father, Rabbi Brian Lurie, was the executive director of the Jewish Community Federation.
Meanwhile, his stepfather was Peter Haas, the great-grandnephew of denim magnate Levi Strauss, who died without children in 1902 and left his fortune to four cousins and other relatives.
London Breed, who took office in 2018, has come under fire for increased crime rates and quality of life issues following the pandemic
People taking drugs outside a store in San Francisco last month, as Mayor London Breed continues to face criticism for her handling of the problems facing the city
In 2021, Lurie purchased a 3.5-acre mansion worth $15.5 million in Malibu’s coveted Point Dume neighborhood, according to real estate news. The real deal.
His candidacy means he will face off against Breed, who has been in office since 2018 after winning a special election to fill the office following the death of Mayor Ed Lee.
Democrat Breed is seeking a new four-year term and is encountering resistance from the ultra-woke faction of her party, which believes that she is not going far enough.
Crime in the city has soared in recent months. The number of robberies between January and September 2023 increased by 15.9 percent compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, car jackings have increased by 10.8 percent.
The Bay Area is also facing a massive homelessness crisis of about 40,000 people, according to a Yahoo study.
San Francisco native Lurie, pictured with London Breed in 2019, has previously criticized the city’s “violent” open-air drug markets
Meanwhile, safety concerns combined with a post-pandemic drop in footfall have been blamed for a series of downtown store closures.
The number of retailers operating in the city’s Union Square area has plummeted from 203 to 107 since 2019 — a 47 percent drop.
According to CBRE, a commercial real estate services company, nearly a quarter of offices were vacant in the first half of the year, more than five times higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The property tax shortfall is estimated at $196 million per year.