San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie's proposed ordinance to address the city's ongoing fentanyl crisis is sailing smoothly through City Hall, with unanimous approval from a Board of Supervisors committee and broad indications of support from the full board. Lurie's legislation, which marks his first significant legislative move since taking office, aims to streamline the city’s ability to tackle public drug use, homelessness, and mental health issues by cutting through the red tape of procedural formalities. According to SF Chronicle, his initiative would allow the city to enter contracts related to these critical social issues without undergoing the customary monthslong competitive bidding process.

The board's Budget and Legislative Analyst stated this could potentially affect over $1 billion in government contracts. Moreover, Lurie is keen to raise funds from affluent donors to support these initiatives. At a rally before the committee hearing, the mayor declared, per SF Chronicle, "People in San Francisco are suffering. Every day that we don’t act is another day of life lost to addiction, to overdose and to despair," continuing to underscore the urgency of the legislation. Echoing this urgency, Supervisor Matt Dorsey highlighted the city's need for robust solutions to match the scale of the problems.

In stark contrast to previous administration tactics, Mayor Lurie's approach to secure the legislation's passage hinged on negotiation and dialogue, resembling former Mayor Ed Lee's consensus-driven leadership style. Sources intimate with the deal-making told The San Francisco Standard that Lurie leveraged compromise to win broad support, showcasing his dedication to cooperation amongst city officials. Lurie's team, which included respected figures like former city controller Ben Rosenfield, engaged in nearly daily discussions with the Supervisors' Offices, fine-tuning legislative text and meeting demands for alterations like reducing the duration of certain emergency powers from originally proposed termination in 2029 to 2026.

On his social media, Mayor Lurie expressed gratitude to the diverse group of supporters, stating, "Today, I stood with the recovery community, activists, law enforcement, and elected officials as they lent their support to our Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance," underscoring the collective call to action as reported by his post. As the full Board of Supervisors prepares for an impending vote on the measure, Lurie's leadership has echoed his inaugural promise of heralding a new day of cooperation at City Hall, a narrative shift from the more contentious dynamics under Mayor London Breed.

Today, I stood with the recovery community, activists, law enforcement, and elected officials as they lent their support to our Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance. Thank you for showing up, demanding action, and ensuring our response is as urgent as the crisis we face. pic.twitter.com/f7j7HCqNCI

— Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) January 29, 2025