A Look at Our First Term, and the Future

The New Year brought a milestone and a millstone, of sorts. The milestone: the conclusion of my first four-year term in office, and the beginning of my second and final term. But it came with new challenges as well: a cycling collision with an SUV left me laid up for a couple of weeks with broken vertebrae in my back, and a fractured chest plate. My time convalescing has given me an opportunity to reflect on the work we’ve done with the community, and to plan our journey for the next four years.

I’m grateful for the 76% of voters who supported my re-election last spring, enabling me to continue to do a job that I love and to serve my community. I also appreciate that I have taken an oath to serve 100% of our residents — not only those who supported me, but most importantly those who felt — often justifiably–I didn’t serve them well enough.

I’ve learned much over my first term in office: the importance of forging partnerships outside of City Hall, of building a great team, and of learning from those who dissent and disagree. I’ve also learned well that in governance, what matters most often won’t make the headlines. For example, dramatic improvements in emergency medical response by our Fire Department — which has now exceeded its response time targets for eight consecutive months as a result of critical investments in people and technology — will save lives. But it won’t make the news.

So, for those interested in a deeper dive into the work we have collectively undertaken, I’ve prepared a series of pieces discussing each of these issues in detail. For each of the next several months, you can read my perspective about the policies and programs we’ve implemented over the last four years to address those priorities, and how we’ll grapple with them in the years ahead. I’ll bluntly admit what hasn’t worked, shine a light on successes, and identify our next steps.

Specifically, in the months ahead, I’ll discuss several critical priorities: public safety, equity and prosperity, transportation, the environment, innovation, and community engagement. I’ll begin, though, by focusing on the single, most daunting challenge facing our community, and indeed in all of California: housing and homelessness.

Click here to read about our work and plans to address the housing crisis — head on.