Mayor Lurie takes credit for immigrant legal funding he had little to do with

Mayor Daniel Lurie announced that he secured $3. 4 million for immigrant legal defense, but the funding was awarded to the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office by the Crankstart Foundation months prior. The mayor's role was limited to sponsoring the legislation required to accept the grant, a task described by critics as routine and lacking in genuine support for immigrant services. "That’s not much of a lift," remarked former supervisor David Campos, highlighting that Lurie’s actions do not equate to substantial assistance. Furthermore, Lurie declined to renew a previous $878,000 funding allocation for immigrant legal services, effectively reducing available resources for these groups.

Lariza Dugan-Cuadra, executive director of Carecen, expressed the urgency of funding due to the impacts of federal enforcement actions. The mayor's office has not responded to inquiries about any additional involvement in securing the grant. Crankstart, known for its discretion, was reportedly confused by Lurie's announcement, as their approval process typically involves prior review of public statements. This situation raises questions about the mayor's commitment to supporting the immigrant community amid significant budget constraints.