One call couldve saved S.F. millions. Nobody picked up the phone.
The San Francisco Parks Alliance encountered a severe financial crisis after general manager Phil Ginsburg revealed that $3. 8 million in restricted funds had been misused. During a board meeting, Ginsburg urged the Alliance to secure an institutional loan to address $2. 7 million owed to the city, with specific partners prioritized for compensation. He expressed fears that the troubling financial situation would soon be public knowledge, which indeed occurred when the organization dissolved in June 2025.
The Port of San Francisco, counting on $1. 54 million from the Parks Alliance for Crane Cove Park, faced significant financial repercussions due to this mismanagement. Ginsburg had been aware of the cash flow problems since June 2024 but failed to communicate this to relevant parties, such as the Port. Former Parks Alliance CEO Drew Becher also acknowledged knowledge of the issues by May 2024, yet no preventive action was taken. This lack of communication left stakeholders vulnerable and resulted in severe financial consequences.
The situation underscores critical failures in governance and accountability within the Parks Alliance.