Mayor-Elect Daniel Lurie revisits San Francisco Chinatown and calls for unity

SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor-Elect Daniel Lurie called for unity when he attended the monthly board meeting at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) on November 23 and thanked the Chinese community for the strong support in the November election.

The latest CCBA visit was Lurie's first public appearance in Chinatown since he declared victory on November 8 at the Saint Mary Square Park. It was also Lurie's 5th visit to CCBA, which is one of the oldest and most powerful family association in San Francisco Chinatown and just celebrated its 175th anniversary in October.

CCBA is made up by seven oldest and active family associations in San Francisco Chinatown. The 7-member Board of Presidents and 55-member Board of Directors at CCBA are elected annually by each of the seven family associations. A total of 62 members of two boards participate in the monthly meetings at CCBA for discussions and casting votes on resolutions.

When Lurie entered the Assembly Hall of CCBA at its November board meeting, he was greeted and congratulated by board members. Lurie walked around the Assembly Hall to shake hands with all board members and thanked them for the support. Many of them were so excited to have an opportunity to take photographs with the next mayor of San Francisco.

Lurie was one of the very few mayoral candidates to start campaigning early in the Chinese community over a year prior to the November election in 2024. Lurie announced his candidacy on September 26, 2023. He showed up for the very first time at CCBA's board meeting on December 16, 2023 to introduce himself to the leaders of the family association community in Chinatown.

Between December 2023 and November 5 election in 2024, Lurie was present at four monthly board meetings at CCBA to talk more of his agendas and priorities on city issues for running for mayor.

In his post-election remarks to the CCBA board members on November 23, Lurie called for unity within the Chinese community. "I know some of you in this room supported other candidates for mayor. It is okay. Let us unite and work together for the best future of San Francisco," said Lurie.

Prior to the November election, Police Commissioner Larry Yee was among the CCBA board members publicly supporting the re-election campaign of Mayor London Breed who lost to Lurie by a 10% margin. Yee had joined other Chinese American city commissioners, who received their appointments from Breed, to endorse Breed for re-election.

Lurie assured that his administration would fight hard against anti-Asian hate. "This community should not have to face hate here. When we talk about anti-Asian hate, it will have no place in San Francisco," said Lurie.

"I have been telling communities that there will be representation in my administration. You have my commitment," Lurie said his future appointments at City Hall would reflect the diversity of the city's population.

Lurie, who will be swearing into office on January 8, 2025, has met with newly-elected members of the Board of Supervisors. "We need to work together to make sure we turn our public schools around and whatever issues we have," Lurie added. "We will work with all Supervisors, not six or seven Supervisors."