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|  Former San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell speaks during a news conference in 2018. | Getty Images | | THE BUZZ: COMING IN SWINGING — Fire the police chief on day one. Block potential budget cuts for the police department. Clear all large tent encampments within a year. Mark Farrell is jumping into the race for San Francisco mayor today, entering a field already packed with moderate-leaning Democrats. But he hopes to distinguish himself by coming out with an aggressive policy platform — a plan designed to confront voters’ top frustrations about the city’s decline. Farrell, a former interim mayor and member of the Board of Supervisors, told Playbook that he’s running, in part, because none of Mayor London Breed’s other challengers have put forward a vision with “detailed policies behind it.” “I’m sick and tired of San Francisco being the butt of jokes across the country and abroad. But the reality is there’s a reason for it,” he said. “It’s because we have a crisis in government.” Farrell’s foray into the race — and his platform of centrist and business-friendly proposals — reflects a dramatic rightward shift in San Francisco politics due to voter frustration and the influence of moderate advocacy groups funded by tech executives and other business interests. Farrell, a 49-year-old investment banker with three kids, served as interim mayor for about five months in 2018 after the death of Mayor Ed Lee, before Breed won a special election. Both Farrell and Breed have long shared a moderate ideology, though they have been political rivals since he outmaneuvered her to be acting mayor. Now, his candidacy complicates Breed’s already-tough reelection fight in November. Her two other major opponents are also moderate-leaning Democrats who share her desire for a more tough-on-crime approach: Daniel Lurie, a nonprofit executive and heir to the Levi Strauss & Co. fortune; and Ahsha Safaí, a member of the Board of Supervisors. The number of prominent moderates in the race — four, including Breed — could make it harder for any of them to break through. It could also splinter the centrist vote, creating a pathway for a progressive candidate. Because San Francisco has ranked-choice voting, there is no primary election for mayor, just the November contest. (Voters can rank up to 10 choices for mayor; votes are counted in multiple rounds, as last-place candidates are eliminated and their votes reassigned to the other candidates based on preference.) The system could create an opening for progressives if moderates split the vote and more liberal voters stay united behind a progressive. No such candidate has emerged, but the filing deadline isn’t until June. That said, Farrell is well known among voters citywide and has a rolodex of political allies, making him a formidable contender. Lurie has been Breed’s biggest threat thus far, but her camp has knocked his lack of detailed policy plans and governing experience. Farrell’s campaign upends that “experience vs. change” framing of the race. Farrell is clearly looking to tap into voters’ frustrations with his splashy platform rollout. Among his proposals:
- Fire Police Chief Bill Scott. Farrell said Scott is a “good man,” but that the depleted force needs a reset under a new leader who can inspire officers and communicate a “zero-tolerance” policy on crime.
- Shield the police department from a potential 10 percent budget cut for all city departments. Farrell said he would slash recent budget increases for the city’s community health and welfare programs and divert the money into public safety and officer hiring. He said those programs “have nothing to show” for the money spent.
- Clear all large tent encampments in the city within one year. Farrell said he would do that by changing the city’s focus from a “housing-first” to a “shelter-first” approach where the city focuses on providing more temporary shelter beds than permanent supportive housing units. He said the city “will never have enough money to permanently house everybody.” He also wants to create a 24/7 central intake center to direct people to shelters.
- Require that anyone who’s revived by city workers using Narcan, the opioid-overdose reversal medication, be detained and referred to an addiction-treatment program. He said the city has moved “way too far toward harm reduction” and enabled people to repeatedly overdose.
- Exempt small businesses with less than $5 million in gross revenues from local taxes. He also wants more incentives for businesses that require remote workers to return to the downtown core.
- Reopen the downtown portion of Market Street, the city’s central drag since the Gold Rush era, to vehicle traffic (the street has been closed to regular cars since early 2020). Farrell said the city has gone too far in closing streets to cars, making it difficult for drivers to get around and find parking.
Farrell’s platform is strikingly conservative for San Francisco — the liberal bastion that has shaped the direction of the national Democratic Party for decades.
Breed has also moved rightward in recent months, and her camp has touted some modest drops in the rate of auto burglaries and other crimes. Maggie Muir, Breed’s consultant, responded to chatter about Farrell’s campaign, saying, “It’s easy to run, but it’s hard to lead.” Relations between Farrell and Lurie are also testy out of the gate. Tyler Law, Lurie’s consultant, called Farrell a “political insider” — part of a broken system at City Hall. Farrell, meanwhile, said the city should pass on a mayor who would need to “learn on the job.” GOOD MORNING. Happy Tuesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. Now you can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte. WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. | | | | CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So, we have something cool for you: our California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Cut through the jargon and get the latest developments in California as lawmakers and industry leaders adapt to the changing climate. Subscribe now. | | | | | |  | CAMPAIGN YEAR | | | | 
Candidates, from left, Reps. Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff and Katie Porter and former baseball star Steve Garvey. | AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes | SENATE SHOWDOWN, SORTA — Compared with their first jabfest, last night’s Senate debate was a relatively civil affair. The top four candidates running for the open seat — Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee and Republican former baseball player Steve Garvey — faced off in San Francisco, fielding questions about Biden's age, growing homelessness and the prospect of a second Trump presidency. Some highlights from the 60-minute TV studio debate, which was hosted by KRON 4/Nexstar Media and moderated by Inside California Politics hosts Frank Buckley and Nikki Laurenzo:
- PORTER GOES THERE: Porter endorsed exploring age caps for elected officials, even as she praised President Joe Biden’s record. She said the 81-year-old president, who has faced growing questions about his memory, has delivered results. Then, Porter opened the door to broader age limits on public officers. “I do think generally that age limits are a conversation for all elected officials that we ought to be having.” Our colleagues Melanie Mason and Christopher Cadelago have more here on Porter’s remark.
- GARVEY STRUGGLES WITH SPECIFICS: As during his debate debut, Garvey had difficulty discussing policy areas in detail. For example, he criticized California leaders for passing too many laws that make it difficult to build housing. When pressed to name one regulation he would repeal, the GOP candidate couldn’t do it.
- BREAKING WITH BIDEN: Schiff and Biden have largely been in lockstep over their response to Israel’s war with Hamas — but there could be a crack forming. Schiff said he differs with Biden over how he has criticized Israel’s government with respect to mounting casualties in Gaza, where the death toll now exceeds 28,000. “I certainly agree with the president that we have to do everything to reduce civilian casualties,” Schiff said. “I don’t know that I would express it the way the president has.” Schiff didn’t elaborate when he spoke to reporters after the debate.
- TRUMP REVISITED: Garvey, who voted for former President Donald Trump in 2020 and 2016, once again declined to say whether he would back him in 2024, or if he would accept a Trump endorsement. “These are personal choices. I only answer to God, my wife, my family and to the people of California,” Garvey said. All three Democrats called Trump a threat to democracy and said he shouldn't be allowed to appear on the ballot — but said they would vote to certify the election result if Trump won.
- MOVIE TIME: The moderators ended on a light note, asking the candidates to name their favorite movie. Lee: “The Color Purple”; Garvey: “The Natural”; Schiff: “The Big Lebowski”; Katie Porter: “Star Wars” (she later clarified Episode IV: A New Hope, the original title).
| | ON THE AIR | | |  Rep. Adam Schiff. | AP | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: PIECE OF WORK — Schiff is adding a new television commercial to his multimillion-dollar advertising arsenal. The new spot, titled “Working,” is a pocketbook pitch that asserts that “the economy is simply not working for millions of hardworking families.” It focuses on the financial strains due to high prices in housing, medicine and food — not exactly the message that top Democrats like Biden would love. But it reflects the reality that many voters still feel down on the economy, and Schiff presents himself as the champion for union jobs and “investments in our future.” The commercial is part of his campaign’s $10 million digital and television ad buy and will air in markets throughout the state. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: ALL-IN FOR SALAS — The Democratic House Majority PAC is going big in its effort to boost Rudy Salas over state Sen. Melissa Hurtado in CA-22. The PAC will launch a new TV ad in support of Salas today, touting his efforts to protect abortion rights and keep a Kern County hospital open. Perhaps most importantly, the ad is in Spanish, which could help Salas reach the Central Valley district’s large population of Democratic-leaning Latino voters. Salas and Hurtado are battling for a spot in the November general election, and the chance to try to oust Republican Rep. David Valadao. Party leaders in Washington have made it clear that they prefer Salas, whom Valadao defeated by a mere three percentage points in 2022.
| | | | CONGRESS OVERDRIVE: Since day one, POLITICO has been laser-focused on Capitol Hill, serving up the juiciest Congress coverage. Now, we’re upping our game to ensure you’re up to speed and in the know on every tasty morsel and newsy nugget from inside the Capitol Dome, around the clock. Wake up, read Playbook AM, get up to speed at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report, and fuel your nightly conversations with Inside Congress in the evening. Plus, never miss a beat with buzzy, real-time updates throughout the day via our Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here. | | | | | | | TOP TALKERS | | — California’s Senate candidates have pledged not to take corporate PAC money. But what exactly does it mean? (CalMatters) — Kamala Harris says she’s ready to lead as President Joe Biden faces scrutiny over his age. (The Wall Street Journal). — Relatedly, Democrats may need a Plan B for Biden. Here’s what it’s looking like. (POLITICO) — Today marks the 20th anniversary of San Francisco’s “Winter of Love,” when then-Mayor Gavin Newsom started issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Now, couples married that winter are reflecting on the impact. (San Francisco Chronicle) — California’s war on plastic bags seems to have backfired. Lawmakers are trying again. (The Los Angeles Times)
| | PLAYBOOKERS | | | |  Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Gov. Gavin Newsom and Lady Gaga, with boyfriend Michael Polansky, attend Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. | Getty Images | SPOTTED: A-LIST SECTION — Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom mingled with some major celebrities at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. The couple sat behind Lady Gaga, who wore 49ers gear (unlike the governor, who apparently thought it was more of a white button-up occasion). Newsom was also photographed hanging with comedian Kevin Hart at a party hosted by sports merchandise mogul Michael Rubin. SPOTTED: PAY UP, PELOSI — Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) is waiting for Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to pay up on their Super Bowl wager, as he tweeted Monday. Because Pelosi’s hometown team, the San Francisco 49ers, lost the big game, she owes him “a variety of See’s Candies and Ghirardelli chocolates.” Cleaver tweeted that he can’t wait to receive his sweet payment, which he’s “going to enjoy at the Championship Parade this week” in Kansas City. TRANSITIONS — The University of California Office of the President has hired Mario Guerrero as a legislative director. Guerrero was previously the legislative director for the Department of Human Resources and Personnel Board. — John Watts is now senior counselor at the Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation. He previously advised the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein on water and environment issues for 21 years. BIRTHDAYS — Chip Smith … Lila Nieves-Lee … Gary Link … Meta’s Alex Burgos … Allison (Miller) Ryan … (was Monday): Gary Aminoff ... Ray Kurzweil ... Darren Aronofsky … (was Sunday): California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks … CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this subscriber-only service offers, click here. Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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