1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Mark Farrell is a former mayor, at least on an 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: interim basis in twenty eighteen, turned venture capitalists, now running 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: for mayor again slightly later to the game or the 4 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 1: race for SF's mayoral candidacy, but he's also trying to 5 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: court many of the same backers in the world of 6 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:22,799 Speaker 1: technology and address a lot of the problems that we 7 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: know about in this city, from homelessness to a perception 8 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: to the outside world of lawlessness. And I'm delaighted to 9 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: say that Mark Farrell joins me now at our studio 10 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: in San Francisco. A good starting point is to ask 11 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: for you to summarize the state of this city to 12 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: your mind, where you think San Francisco is today. 13 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,200 Speaker 2: And unfortunately, what I would tell you is that over 14 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 2: the last five years since I left office as mayor 15 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 2: in twenty eighteen, I've watched our city of San Francisco crumble. 16 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: Public safety has never been a bigger concern, that can 17 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 2: of our streets have never been worse, and our local 18 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 2: economy is in complete tatters. Not to mention, we become 19 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 2: the butt of jokes across the country and abroad. And 20 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: I'm running from mayor because I believe we can't afford 21 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 2: another four more years of this administration, and I believe 22 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 2: I offer the best background. Seven and a half years 23 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 2: of effective leadership inside of city Hall where I grew 24 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 2: our police force, took out all of our large ten encampments, 25 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 2: invest in our local economy, combined with over twenty years 26 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 2: in the private sector, first as a lawyer in Silicon Valley, 27 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 2: second as an investment banker, and then as a venture 28 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,479 Speaker 2: capitalist and a firm I started in two thousand and nine. 29 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 2: Believe it or not, I am still the only one 30 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:45,839 Speaker 2: in this campaign and in this race that has ever 31 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: held a single job in the private sector. 32 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: And why do you think that's important? 33 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: Though? 34 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: Why is having a private sector row give you more 35 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: of a tool set to fix the problems of this city? 36 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 2: First of all, to me, it's the combination of having 37 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: been inside of city Hall and an effective leader on 38 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 2: public safety, on street conditions, on our local economy, combined 39 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 2: with private sector experience, and then also a detailed set 40 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 2: of policies on how I want to take the city 41 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 2: forward that allows me, as a candidate and as a 42 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 2: mayor to come forward on day one and hit the 43 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 2: ground running. 44 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 1: Starting with policing. It seems that seems to be the 45 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: main stay of your platform, and that includes changes at 46 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 1: the top of the police force and changes to the rules. 47 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 1: Why are you so focused. 48 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 2: There, because public safety and protecting our residents is the 49 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 2: number one job of government and San Francisco has failed 50 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 2: at that over the past six years. When I was 51 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 2: budget share inside of city Hall and was the longest 52 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 2: serving budget share in our city's history. And then when 53 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 2: I became mayor, we grew our police department to record levels. 54 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 2: We had over twenty three hundred and fifty officers on 55 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 2: our police department staff right now. Over the last six years, 56 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 2: that has declined by over twenty five percent. We need 57 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 2: to make public safety or core focused once again. 58 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: San Francisco's most public problems, I think we'd agree are 59 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: homelessness in part and most recently drug use. Public drug use. 60 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: And one of the policies you're putting forward is to 61 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: take what you're calling troubled parks but public areas of 62 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: the city and enforcing daylight hours, in other words, a curfew. 63 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: The parks will close after a certain point. I'm finally 64 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 1: hard to understand. How does that address the underlying issues 65 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: attributed to or behind homelessness and public drug use. 66 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 2: We have detailed plans and I'm happy to chat with 67 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 2: you about those around homelessness, around drug abuse, and the 68 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 2: drug racis on our streets. This is a separate area 69 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 2: of focus around public safety and making sure families in 70 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 2: our neighborhoods feel safe in their parks, both during daylight 71 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 2: hours and after dark as well. You know, I am 72 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 2: lucky enough to be born and raised here in San Francisco, 73 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 2: and I'm lucky enough to be raising our three children 74 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 2: here in the city with my wife. But the city 75 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 2: of today is not the San Francisco I grew up in, 76 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 2: and my primary reason for running for office is for 77 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 2: my family and for families across San Francisco. They just 78 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 2: want a safe, clean environment to raise our children. Making 79 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 2: sure that parks that have been troubled, riddled with calls 80 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 2: for service, where families don't feel comfortable, whether using the 81 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 2: park or going through the park after sunset hours, that 82 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: to me, has to be a core focus of our 83 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 2: city government. Make sure people feel safe in their own neighborhoods. 84 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: The nationwide, not even nationwide section global perception of San 85 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: Francisco is that is one of homelessness, okay, and the 86 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: frustration of its residents. And I count myself as a 87 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: resident of San Francisco has been throwing money as it 88 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: hasn't worked. What are you going to do differently if 89 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: you're elected mayor. 90 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 2: I'm going to do exactly what it did when I 91 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 2: was mayor in twenty eighteen. During that time, over the 92 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 2: course of my six months as mayor, we took out 93 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 2: all of our large ten encampments in San Francisco. I 94 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 2: will do it again next year. We need to treat 95 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 2: these individuals. 96 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: First to be allowed to do it. I mean one 97 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: criticism I suppose of the system, but also Mayor Breed's 98 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: time in office has been her freedom to actually do 99 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: anything based on how the city is run, the structure 100 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: of governance. 101 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 2: I think it's part of the litany of excuses that 102 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 2: the current mayor has been using as a reason why 103 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 2: she's been ineffective. We need a mayor who's going to 104 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 2: be bold and be a leader and be aggressive on 105 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 2: the policy issues that matter to San Francisco residents. I 106 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 2: will take out the ten encampments in my first year 107 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 2: in office, just like I did before. By offering shelter 108 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 2: and housing to these individuals. But if they say no, 109 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 2: I will take their tents away, because I believe the 110 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 2: sidewalks of San Francisco belong to everybody. They belong to 111 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 2: our residents, they belong to families, they belong to elderly 112 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 2: in our neighborhoods, and they belong to visitors who come 113 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 2: to the city of San Francisco and quite frankly, have 114 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 2: been the heartbeat of our local economy in terms of 115 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 2: tourism since I was born here in the city. 116 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: The final political issue I whant I talked to you 117 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: about is the issue of raising money. You have raised 118 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,599 Speaker 1: funds quickly, but you'll kind of later into the race. 119 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,799 Speaker 1: Do you think that your position is a venture capitalist 120 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: to form a bench capitalist at this point, it gives 121 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: you an advantage your relationship with business, the technology sector 122 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: that you outlined. 123 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 2: Look, I'm fortunate to already have support from diverse communities 124 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 2: across San Francisco, in every single neighborhood, every single economic 125 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 2: makeup of a family, every single business that you could imagine, 126 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 2: and career that you can imagine. So I believe my 127 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 2: private sector of background matters. And you asked that question before, 128 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 2: in particular, over the next four years when we have 129 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 2: a projected billion and a half dollar budget deficit in 130 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: the City of San Francisco. Being a mayor who has 131 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 2: actually read a p and l knows what a balance 132 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 2: sheet it looks like, and has been in that sector 133 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: for over twenty years matters to the City of San Francisco. 134 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 2: We cannot afford to have somebody come in and learn 135 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 2: on the job, or we can't afford four more years 136 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 2: of the same administration where you're simply listening to other 137 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: people tell you where to put your dollars. We need 138 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 2: a mayor who's going to lead on the budget and 139 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 2: be strong with hither or her priorities. And that's what 140 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 2: I offer San Francisco. 141 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: Okay, so let's talk about technology. Technology is a business. 142 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: As a taxpayer in this city, how are you going 143 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: to approach the biggest employers, the employees also of a 144 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: lot of people that live in this city but might 145 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: commute outwards to Silicon Valley. 146 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 2: What San Francisco will have in me next year as mayor. 147 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 2: It's finally a mayor that once again addresses and actively 148 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 2: engages with our business community. Technologies have been a big 149 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 2: part of it here in San Francisco. Quite frankly, for 150 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 2: the past ten plus years, we've been over indexed to 151 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 2: the technology sector here in San Francisco, and we need 152 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 2: to make sure we actively court that industry to come 153 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 2: back to the City of San Francisco, because technology companies 154 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 2: have left and droves. But I also believe it's the 155 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 2: impetus of the next mayor to diversify our downtown economy 156 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 2: once again, focus on hospitality, once again, focus on residential 157 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 2: into that area. 158 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: Let me jump in on a policy point that I 159 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: picked up in another interview you gave. You are considering 160 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: as a platform offering tax incentives or tax breaks to 161 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: employers if they have a minimum number of in office days. 162 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: And at the same time, I understand that you outlined 163 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 1: you'd also like to see them do away with in 164 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: office cafeterias, gyms. This is classic tech company stuff, the 165 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: perks that brings the staff into the office. Have actually 166 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: any technology companies or executives contributed to you building that 167 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 1: policy platform? What do they make of that idea? 168 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 2: They love the idea. You know, what we have seen 169 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 2: over the last six years since I left office is 170 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 2: a utter lack or utter unwillingness to use the power 171 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 2: of tax and centives to recruit businesses back to San Francisco. 172 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 2: The stark reality is San Francisco ranks dead last in 173 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 2: post COVID economic recovery in the United States. We used 174 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 2: to be iconic, we used to be on the top 175 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 2: of these lists, and now we're dead last. So to me, 176 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 2: the next mayor of San Francisco has to be incredibly 177 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 2: aggressive with our business community writ large, let alone our 178 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 2: technology community, to say, first of all, we're going to 179 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 2: fix and address the public safety and street conditions that 180 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 2: have plagued our city, given us this black eye of 181 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 2: a reputation. But also then we'll use the power of 182 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 2: tax incentives to bring you back to our downtown core. 183 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 2: That to me is a winning formula. 184 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: You're putting on hold a position and career as a 185 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: bench capitalists focused on transportation technology. Therefore, I'd assume you 186 00:09:55,320 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 1: are pro robotaxi, pro autonomous technology and the activity that 187 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: was a mainstay of this city, or at least set 188 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: San Francisco apart from cities around America. 189 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 2: Look, it's the future. It's where our cities are going 190 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 2: to go. I believe it's where the world's going to go. 191 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 2: We have a discussion as a family often about our 192 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 2: now eleven year old where will he be driving during 193 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 2: the course of his lifetime or when will that really 194 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 2: cease to be in activity. But the reality is if 195 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 2: we want companies to be on our streets, if they 196 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 2: want to be on the streets of San Francisco, we 197 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 2: have to demand transparency, accountability, complete open book dialogue with 198 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 2: our city government. That has not happened here in San Francisco. 199 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 2: It's led to a number of the companies pulling their 200 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 2: cars over the past year. They're going to be back, 201 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 2: but again, San Francisco needs to demand that transparency. Once 202 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 2: we have that dialogue with these companies, then I'd welcome 203 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 2: them back. But it has to be a two way street. 204 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:56,080 Speaker 2: It can't be a one way street like when Uber 205 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,199 Speaker 2: and Lyft starts to come into the city of San Francisco. 206 00:10:58,360 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 2: It needs to be different. 207 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: The people that matter, frankly, are weighing into this race. 208 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: Elon Musk often takes X to talk about San Francisco 209 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: and how he sees it being fixed. Gary Tan is 210 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: very active in the politics of this city. Have you 211 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 1: met with either of those men or groups like grow 212 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: SF and do you think that you have their backing. 213 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 2: We've met with a number of individuals, a number of groups, 214 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 2: and we continue to meet with them in the course 215 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 2: of our campaign. Keep in mind, I launched my campaign 216 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 2: just four weeks ago and we feel incredibly excited that 217 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 2: we're already tops in the polls. But I have a 218 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: mentality of never taking anything for granted, working incredibly hard. 219 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 2: I will do so until eight o'clock on election day. 220 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 2: That includes meeting with members of our technology community that 221 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 2: have been such prominent not only investors, but quite frankly, 222 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 2: residents and citizens of San Francisco calling for change because 223 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 2: I am running because I don't believe four more years 224 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 2: of this administration is the answer. We need change in 225 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 2: city Hall, and I believe I'm the one that can 226 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 2: bring the best results to the city of San Francisco.