Did you know that San Francisco's population is expected to reach 1,000,000 residents by 2030? The city is currently home to 838,000 people and growing.¹ Today, San Francisco is a place where prosperity and hardship exist in close quarters. Across about 49 square miles and many diverse communities, the city has the fastest growing job rate and the widest income disparity in the nation.² Rapid population growth and a thriving economy is transforming the city, and everyone living and working in San Francisco has a stake in its future. With so much change, residents must imagine and direct the path forward. As we move toward a 20% increase in population over the next 15 years, the decisions and investments we make today will greatly influence the vibrancy, accessibility and affordability of the city we love and call home.

While the healthcare and tourism industries are the largest by revenue, the tech sector is driving 30% of San Francisco's job growth. For each high-skill, high-revenue job added, approximately 4.3 other jobs are created.³ This is called the multiplier effect. Today, San Francisco’s job growth drives population growth, maintaining one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.

Leading experts in urban development recognize that with economic growth, cities face certain tradeoffs for equity, diversity and democracy. In the past, nations and cities have measured their progress based on economic growth alone (GDP). This view of progress is rapidly evolving. Renowned economist Michael Green, who developed the Social Progress Index, measures a city against "its capacity to meet the basic human needs of its citizens, establish the building blocks that allow citizens and communities to enhance and sustain the quality of their lives, and create the conditions for all individuals to reach their full potential." Urban theorist Susan Fainstein defines the ideal city as one that goes beyond the goals of efficiency and financial prosperity to provide equity, joy and fulfillment to its residents. Both experts show that when cities don't round out growth, they ultimately become out of balance and less prosperous. San Francisco is certainly experiencing these types of imbalances with one of the largest income disparities in the country.

It is a very unique moment in time for San Francisco residents to plan and shape their future. The city has the benefit of an increased tax base and the opportunity to build political will through a dynamic dialogue among residents about future possibilities.

Fortunately, San Francisco has a history of using community mobilization to spark dialogues, assert basic rights and maintain social balance among the population. For the past 50 years, social movements have been at the forefront of shaping our collective values, nurturing cultural diversity and supporting socially progressive policies. Our social movements bring forward the voices and perspectives we don’t always hear, and give representation to all members of the city.

Our Approach

For this theme, we will map historical, current and forward-looking trends unique to San Francisco to provide pathways to a vibrant future. Expanding beyond traditional assessments of economic measurements, we include the well-being of the city's residents, as measured by their access to basic needs and opportunities. This allows for a holistic and conscious rebalancing of San Francisco's resources for sustainable, responsible growth.

We will focus on three core areas: housing, local economy & livelihoods and social movements. These focus areas are the building blocks for well-being; they provide pathways to security (stable income and access to the necessities of life) and opportunity (the right to advocate for those necessities). More broadly, they are places where coordinated interventions can catalyze positive change in our city.

Art, health, education and public transportation are also key civic issues, and ones we anticipate we will take on in future Battery Powered themes. For this theme, we've prioritized housing, local economy & livelihoods and social movements.

Throughout San Francisco's history, social movements have been the framework used to inform and, if need be, re-direct resources to achieve socio-economic balance. They hold us to our core values and provide a forum for a diverse set of voices to participate fully in shaping civic life. Social movements are a necessary tool to expand our perspective for making the decisions that create a loving and inclusive city.

Approaches for change include: Building networks and movements for social change to amplify marginalized voices and activate emerging leaders and key stakeholders; and fostering youth in local civic engagement and leadership development.

Safe and affordable housing is a basic necessity for San Francisco residents. Housing that is accessible to a range of income levels leads to a more vibrant and well-balanced city, and supports the city's ability to attract and maintain a productive and diverse workforce. In order to sustain future job creation, the city's housing inventory must support a diverse mix of income levels and household types to ensure availability for all.

San Francisco's housing supply hasn't kept pace with its growing population. As a result, housing prices are high, and out of reach for many which puts tremendous pressure on the city's middle and low-income residents, small businesses and social support resources.

The availability of housing and office space could become one of the key barriers to growth. To keep pace with the projected job growth, San Francisco needs to add at least 3,000 new housing units per year, a rate that has been reached only twice over the last 50 years.⁴ Mayor Lee has stated his housing goal as 30,000 new units by 2020 (more than 5,000 units a year), with one-third, or 10,000 units, permanently set at below market rate.⁵

Approaches for change include: preserving and increasing supply of housing at all income levels; identifying innovative models for financing affordable housing developments; and local advocacy specific to the housing crisis such as: tax incentives for affordable housing development and zoning (inclusionary, commercial and recreational).

A vibrant city depends on a sustainable and diverse local economy. Providing entry points for moderate and low-income residents to gain economic mobility, have access to opportunities and participate in entrepreneurial projects increases the quality of life for a broader segment of the city's residents. Mobility for low-to-moderate wage workers not only supports our nationally shared values of the American Dream but is a critical component to sustaining a robust economy. "When upward mobility requires improved skills, the overall economy benefits because workers become more productive. In a knowledge-based economy, these increased skills and productivity are integral to maintaining and strengthening a region's competitive edge."⁷

Another aspect of San Francisco's vibrancy is its uniquely walkable and neighborhood oriented communities. These neighborhoods create the space for small businesses - new and old - to thrive and lead to economic opportunity for multi-generational families as well as new entrepreneurs.

Approaches for change include: job training and skills building strategies that create economic opportunities; innovative programs that promote financial resiliency as well as integrate financial education and advocacy efforts; and programs and networks that invest in small businesses and facilitate sustainable entrepreneurship.

The Possibilities

We have the opportunity to play an active and positive role in San Francisco's continuing transformation. Honoring the city's innovative spirit and socially progressive history, we recognize this as a moment in time to drive positive change and position San Francisco as a model for other cities around the world.

Already, local organizations are contributing to a vibrant and affordable San Francisco. Forward-thinking work is taking place to ensure that as San Francisco grows, it also strikes a balance between well-being and opportunity: from affordable housing projects that change zoning laws and open up new, sustainable development options; to job training programs that advance career opportunities and help foster new small businesses; to advocacy work that promotes diversity and inclusion. All of this work aims to ensure fairness and equal access for residents, developing vibrancy in city infrastructure, economy, and society.

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