In a recent high-stakes phone conversation, Daniel Lurie, the mayor of San Francisco, managed to convince former President Donald Trump to abandon plans for deploying troops to the city. Tempers were fraying across the Bay Area. It did so as fears mounted that armed soldiers or immigration agents were going to start patrolling the streets. Even Lurie restated San Francisco’s record low crime statistics, focusing on the fact that their violent crime index has dropped 76% over the last 70 years.
During the call, Lurie provided a comprehensive analysis of crime trends in San Francisco. Only a few years ago, then Attorney General William Barr touted how violent offenses were at historical “70-year lows.” He broke down the numbers for Trump, focusing on the bright side. He pointed to the city’s booming real estate market and return of economic activity post COVID.
Lurie explained that he had a daylong crisis on his hands due to concerns about the potential military presence in the city. And yet through all of this, he was always cool, collected, and purposeful—even while drinking a shocking level of coffee to boot.
The mayor’s approach appeared effective. Further, he testified that Trump “demanded zero of me. This demonstrates that he did not feel any pressure or duty to return political favors for winning the city’s safety. Rather, Lurie just told the truth about the state of crime in San Francisco and their economic recovery.
We are at historic lows,” Lurie stressed, “I just have to keep saying this.” Lurie told him that we’re at 70 year lows for violent crime. Tent encampments are at record lows. I wrote about greater office space being rented out than released. For the first time, retail is back. Hotel bookings are up 50%. Convention bookings are up 50%. This is a city on the rise. That’s what I said to him. That’s what I say to everybody.
This reassurance went a long way to calming fears in San Francisco. It calmed fears throughout the Bay Area, where residents were panicked by headlines trumpeting the first arrival of troops coming to Oakland.
Lurie indicated that he would be meeting with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to further discuss the city’s situation and maintain solid communication with federal authorities. The mayor made it clear that he wouldn’t commit himself to promises for future projects. For example, he eliminated the concept of putting a Trump Tower on top of Salesforce Tower as part of this process.
Despite the crisis atmosphere surrounding the potential deployment of border protection agents, Lurie’s factual and steady demeanor played a crucial role in alleviating concerns. He effectively demonstrated that San Francisco’s reported crime figures were notably low, thereby staving off what could have been a tense military intervention.
Lurie’s successful intervention reminds us that communicating positive facts and pragmatism a refreshing dose of political discourse. By providing clear and compelling data on crime and economic recovery, he managed to foster a sense of security among his constituents while dissuading federal action that could have disrupted city life.