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

Mayor Daniel Lurie announced that he secured $3. 4 million in funding for immigrant legal defense services, a claim that has drawn scrutiny. The funding was awarded by the Crankstart Foundation to the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, which had applied for the grant independently. Lurie's office indicated that the grant would help meet the increasing demand for immigration defense services amid a budget deficit. However, critics such as former supervisors David Campos and Bevan Dufty characterized Lurie's involvement as a routine administrative step rather than a substantial effort to aid immigrants.

The mayor's office co-sponsored the legislation required for the grant's acceptance, but many argue that this does not equate to actively securing the funding. Furthermore, Lurie has not renewed a previous allocation of $878,000 for immigrant legal services, effectively cutting funding despite calls for support from local organizations. The Crankstart Foundation expressed confusion over the mayor's press release, indicating a disconnect between their expectations and Lurie’s announcement. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in immigrant defense funding amidst changing political landscapes.