Kevin Truong

After years of growth that included billions in acquisitions, major hiring initiatives and the development of major office towers around the world, San Francisco-based Salesforce is tightening its belt.

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<p>After years of growth that included billions in acquisitions, major hiring initiatives and the development of major office towers around the world, San Francisco-based Salesforce is tightening its belt.</p>

Although <a href="https://sfstandard.com/business/marc-benioff-is-sorry-about-salesforce-tower-explains-how-a-drunk-tweet-led-to-a-standoff-with-mike-pence/">defended by CEO Marc Benioff</a> as necessary to meet changing market conditions, a restructuring plan Salesforce <a href="https://sfstandard.com/business/salesforce-to-cut-10-of-workforce-close-offices/">announced earlier this year</a> includes a 10% headcount reduction of around 8,000 employees and a number of major exits and office space reductions across the company’s portfolio.&nbsp;

<p>Although <a href="https://sfstandard.com/business/marc-benioff-is-sorry-about-salesforce-tower-explains-how-a-drunk-tweet-led-to-a-standoff-with-mike-pence/">defended by CEO Marc Benioff</a> as necessary to meet changing market conditions, a restructuring plan Salesforce <a href="https://sfstandard.com/business/salesforce-to-cut-10-of-workforce-close-offices/">announced earlier this year</a> includes a 10% headcount reduction of around 8,000 employees and a number of major exits and office space reductions across the company’s portfolio.&nbsp;</p>

Further details were revealed in <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001108524/000110852423000011/crm-20230131.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a recent financial filing</a>, which showed how much real estate the tech giant still holds in San Francisco and how much it has let go.

<p>Further details were revealed in <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001108524/000110852423000011/crm-20230131.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a recent financial filing</a>, which showed how much real estate the tech giant still holds in San Francisco and how much it has let go.</p>

As of Jan. 31, the company’s San Francisco headquarters office included around 1.6 million square feet of leased and owned property. That number doesn’t include 800,000 square feet in San Francisco that is currently subleased and an additional 700,000 square feet now available for sublease.&nbsp;

<p>As of Jan. 31, the company’s San Francisco headquarters office included around 1.6 million square feet of leased and owned property. That number doesn’t include 800,000 square feet in San Francisco that is currently subleased and an additional 700,000 square feet now available for sublease.&nbsp;</p>

The company has steadily shed office space throughout the pandemic, most recently listing <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2023/03/02/saleforce-office-sublease-headquarters.html?utm_source=st&amp;utm_medium=en&amp;utm_campaign=ae&amp;utm_content=FR&amp;j=30714890&amp;senddate=2023-03-02" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">six floors for sublease at Salesforce Tower</a>, the San Francisco Business Times reported.&nbsp;

<p>The company has steadily shed office space throughout the pandemic, most recently listing <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2023/03/02/saleforce-office-sublease-headquarters.html?utm_source=st&amp;utm_medium=en&amp;utm_campaign=ae&amp;utm_content=FR&amp;j=30714890&amp;senddate=2023-03-02" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">six floors for sublease at Salesforce Tower</a>, the San Francisco Business Times reported.&nbsp;</p>

Outside of San Francisco, Salesforce has international real estate holdings across Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa and Australia. It also operates data centers in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

<p>Outside of San Francisco, Salesforce has international real estate holdings across Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa and Australia. It also operates data centers in the U.S., Europe and Asia.</p>

In the last fiscal year, Salesforce incurred $986 million in total operating lease costs. The filing states that there are additional future leases totaling $400 million, including agreements for offices yet to be constructed, which are expected to commence between fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

<p>In the last fiscal year, Salesforce incurred $986 million in total operating lease costs. The filing states that there are additional future leases totaling $400 million, including agreements for offices yet to be constructed, which are expected to commence between fiscal years 2024 and 2025.</p>

Benioff, who once said that full-time office work is largely over, has started to pull back employees in, albeit with more flexibility. He has been open that he believes newer employees especially do better when being trained and onboarded in the office.&nbsp;

<p>Benioff, who once said that full-time office work is largely over, has started to pull back employees in, albeit with more flexibility. He has been open that he believes newer employees especially do better when being trained and onboarded in the office.&nbsp;</p>

Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff speaks during the grand opening of the Salesforce Tower, the tallest building in San Francisco, Calif., Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group via Getty Images


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/SalesforceBenioffFuture091222_INLINED02-2500x1651.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-76221"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff speaks during the grand opening of the Salesforce Tower, the tallest building in San Francisco, on May 22, 2018. | Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>


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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/SalesforceBenioffFuture091222_INLINED02-2500x1651.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-76221"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff speaks during the grand opening of the Salesforce Tower, the tallest building in San Francisco, on May 22, 2018. | Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

Still, he said the number of fully remote workers is “going to increase dramatically” with in-office work largely determined by job function.&nbsp;

<p>Still, he said the number of fully remote workers is “going to increase dramatically” with in-office work largely determined by job function.&nbsp;</p>

Engineering workers, Benioff said, only come in 10 days a quarter, whereas non-remote general and administrative employees are expected to come in on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. For sales and marketing, they are “more of a four-day-a-week executive,” Benioff told tech journalist Kara Swisher in <a href="https://sfstandard.com/business/marc-benioff-is-sorry-about-salesforce-tower-explains-how-a-drunk-tweet-led-to-a-standoff-with-mike-pence/">a podcast interview</a>.&nbsp;

<p>Engineering workers, Benioff said, only come in 10 days a quarter, whereas non-remote general and administrative employees are expected to come in on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. For sales and marketing, they are “more of a four-day-a-week executive,” Benioff told tech journalist Kara Swisher in <a href="https://sfstandard.com/business/marc-benioff-is-sorry-about-salesforce-tower-explains-how-a-drunk-tweet-led-to-a-standoff-with-mike-pence/">a podcast interview</a>.&nbsp;</p>

Costs from the restructuring plan in the form of separation payments for employees and exit charges associated with office space reductions could total more than $2 billion.&nbsp;

<p>Costs from the restructuring plan in the form of separation payments for employees and exit charges associated with office space reductions could total more than $2 billion.&nbsp;</p>

Salesforce has incurred around $828 million in costs related to the restructuring, split up between $683 million in employee transition costs and $145 million for exit costs due to office space reductions.

<p>Salesforce has incurred around $828 million in costs related to the restructuring, split up between $683 million in employee transition costs and $145 million for exit costs due to office space reductions.</p>

The company’s layoffs are expected to be largely complete by the end of the fiscal year 2024, whereas its real estate reductions are expected to wrap up sometime in fiscal year 2026.

<p>The company’s layoffs are expected to be largely complete by the end of the fiscal year 2024, whereas its real estate reductions are expected to wrap up sometime in fiscal year 2026.</p>

The company has around $10.6 billion in senior unsecured debt, around $1 billion of which is due in the next 12 months. Among its liabilities is $182 million in outstanding debt related to the mortgage used to purchase 50 Fremont St. in San Francisco.

<p>The company has around $10.6 billion in senior unsecured debt, around $1 billion of which is due in the next 12 months. Among its liabilities is $182 million in outstanding debt related to the mortgage used to purchase 50 Fremont St. in San Francisco.</p>

Salesforce paid $640 million to purchase the 43-story building in 2015. Last year, the company <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2022/07/12/salesforce-sublease-san-francsico.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">listed more than half</a> of the building as available for sublease.&nbsp;

<p>Salesforce paid $640 million to purchase the 43-story building in 2015. Last year, the company <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2022/07/12/salesforce-sublease-san-francsico.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">listed more than half</a> of the building as available for sublease.&nbsp;</p>

Filing reveals how much office space Salesforce dumped last year

Lauren Saria

<em>The city is expensive, but your next meal doesn’t have to be. In our weekly column, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/tag/25-dollar-diner/">The $25 Diner</a>, we hunt down the best restaurants where you can eat like royalty for a song.</em>

<p><em>The city is expensive, but your next meal doesn’t have to be. In our weekly column, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/tag/25-dollar-diner/">The $25 Diner</a>, we hunt down the best restaurants where you can eat like royalty for a song.</em></p>

Although <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aurora_centro/">Aurora Centro</a> owner Dario Barbone hails from Italy, he’s not averse to sliding distinctly un-Italian ingredients into his panini. The four-sandwich selection at his counter-service cafe, hidden on the fifth floor of Salesforce Tower, includes the DDD, a stack of mortadella, cheddar and arugula, plus pickled red onions, jalapenos and shaved fennel, and the Savi, which stars curried chickpeas, Cambodian chile crisp and salsa verde. These are clearly not your nonna’s panini.&nbsp;

<p>Although <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aurora_centro/">Aurora Centro</a> owner Dario Barbone hails from Italy, he’s not averse to sliding distinctly un-Italian ingredients into his panini. The four-sandwich selection at his counter-service cafe, hidden on the fifth floor of Salesforce Tower, includes the DDD, a stack of mortadella, cheddar and arugula, plus pickled red onions, jalapenos and shaved fennel, and the Savi, which stars curried chickpeas, Cambodian chile crisp and salsa verde. These are clearly not your nonna’s panini.&nbsp;</p>

Or take the seasonal zucchini panino, which combines sliced summer squash and tender squash blossoms with German Grandamer cheese and Spanish piquillo peppers. Barbone also recently added a California-ized version of smørrebrød, the Danish open-faced sandwich, that layers the fancy French egg salad called gribiche with oily tinned mackerel, Calabrian chile and Sichuan peppercorns.<br><br>A lot is riding on these panini, and not just because they’re subverting most sandwich lovers’ expectations. In a cosmic sense, the very future of a better downtown San Francisco depends on their success.&nbsp;

<p>Or take the seasonal zucchini panino, which combines sliced summer squash and tender squash blossoms with German Grandamer cheese and Spanish piquillo peppers. Barbone also recently added a California-ized version of smørrebrød, the Danish open-faced sandwich, that layers the fancy French egg salad called gribiche with oily tinned mackerel, Calabrian chile and Sichuan peppercorns.<br><br>A lot is riding on these panini, and not just because they’re subverting most sandwich lovers’ expectations. In a cosmic sense, the very future of a better downtown San Francisco depends on their success.&nbsp;</p>

Patrons dining in the seating area outside of the restaurant at Aurora Centro on August 6, 2024 in San Francisco. Aurora Centro is a Vacant to Vibrant pop-up at Salesforce Park, bringing
much-needed energy to otherwise lifeless corners of the city.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240802-25auroracentro-030.jpg?w=2000" alt="The image shows a street-level view of &quot;Aurora Centro,&quot; a cafe with a modern glass facade. Two people sit at an outdoor table, with a pink sidewalk sign nearby." class="wp-image-299368"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Aurora Centro moved into a space formerly occupied by a Salesforce-branded Starbucks store.</figcaption></figure>


Selection of pantry goods at Aurora Centro on August 6, 2024 in San Francisco. Aurora Centro is a Vacant to Vibrant pop-up at Salesforce Park, bringing much-needed energy to otherwise lifeless corners of the city.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240802-25auroracentro-033.jpg?w=1600" alt="The image shows boxed sardines and mackerel fillets arranged neatly on wooden shelves, alongside jars of preserved goods, with clear price labels beneath." class="wp-image-299371"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Taking a cue from sister location Aurora Alimentari, Aurora Centro stocks a small selection of pantry items, including tinned fish, pasta and chile crisp.</figcaption></figure>


That’s because <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aurora_centro/">Aurora Centro</a> is located just off Salesforce’s namesake park, part of the city’s <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/06/18/new-vacant-to-vibrant-popup-businesses-downtown-sf/">Vacant to Vibrant</a> program to support small businesses downtown. The initiative places coffee shops, bookstores, delis and more inside empty retail spaces for periods of three to six months, during which the business owners pay no rent.&nbsp;

‘Forget the Doom Loop’: 11 new downtown SF pop-ups are opening up to defy the odds

<p>That’s because <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aurora_centro/">Aurora Centro</a> is located just off Salesforce’s namesake park, part of the city’s <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/06/18/new-vacant-to-vibrant-popup-businesses-downtown-sf/">Vacant to Vibrant</a> program to support small businesses downtown. The initiative places coffee shops, bookstores, delis and more inside empty retail spaces for periods of three to six months, during which the business owners pay no rent.&nbsp;</p>

Simon Bertrang, executive director of SF New Deal, the nonprofit that runs Vacant to Vibrant for the city, says the goal is to remove the friction points that might have prevented an owner like Barbone from getting into such a high-profile space. “We’ve always thought of Vacant to Vibrant as creating a window of what downtown could be,” he said.&nbsp;

<p>Simon Bertrang, executive director of SF New Deal, the nonprofit that runs Vacant to Vibrant for the city, says the goal is to remove the friction points that might have prevented an owner like Barbone from getting into such a high-profile space. “We’ve always thought of Vacant to Vibrant as creating a window of what downtown could be,” he said.&nbsp;</p>

In that regard, Aurora Centro succeeds.&nbsp;

<p>In that regard, Aurora Centro succeeds.&nbsp;</p>

Outside the restaurant on a recent weekday, sun-starved San Franciscans pulled up colorful chairs to bistro tables for lunch. An instructor cued a small yoga class to move into a revolved high lunge. Local brewery Barebottle poured pints from a shipping-container-turned-bar across the plaza, while a Gio Gelato cart, parked in the shade, offered the tempting possibility of an afternoon scoop.&nbsp;

<p>Outside the restaurant on a recent weekday, sun-starved San Franciscans pulled up colorful chairs to bistro tables for lunch. An instructor cued a small yoga class to move into a revolved high lunge. Local brewery Barebottle poured pints from a shipping-container-turned-bar across the plaza, while a Gio Gelato cart, parked in the shade, offered the tempting possibility of an afternoon scoop.&nbsp;</p>

Inside the tower, music played so loudly that customers raised their voices as they chatted while waiting in line to order. Two office workers sat at a communal table, eating quickly during a brief lunch break. A solo customer, wearing over-ear headphones to tune it all out, sipped a black coffee while staring into a Macbook.&nbsp;

<p>Inside the tower, music played so loudly that customers raised their voices as they chatted while waiting in line to order. Two office workers sat at a communal table, eating quickly during a brief lunch break. A solo customer, wearing over-ear headphones to tune it all out, sipped a black coffee while staring into a Macbook.&nbsp;</p>

It’s typical downtown lunchtime stuff — exactly the kind of scene that stands in contrast to the rest of the park: still more vacant than vibrant, with the empty shell of a future (maybe) <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/03/27/whatever-happened-to-that-bougie-salesforce-park-restaurant-offering-300k-nft-memberships/">NFT-funded club-staurant</a>, a deserted playground and an amphitheater occupied by a lone couple hugging a sliver of shade cast by a small tree.&nbsp;

Whatever happened to that bougie Salesforce Park restaurant offering $300K NFT memberships?

<p>It’s typical downtown lunchtime stuff — exactly the kind of scene that stands in contrast to the rest of the park: still more vacant than vibrant, with the empty shell of a future (maybe) <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/03/27/whatever-happened-to-that-bougie-salesforce-park-restaurant-offering-300k-nft-memberships/">NFT-funded club-staurant</a>, a deserted playground and an amphitheater occupied by a lone couple hugging a sliver of shade cast by a small tree.&nbsp;</p>

Owner Dario Barbone surrounded by his figurines which decorate the restaurant at Aurora Centro on August 6, 2024 in San Francisco. Aurora Centro is a Vacant to Vibrant pop-up at Salesforce Park, bringing
much-needed energy to otherwise lifeless corners of the city.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240802-25auroracentro-024.jpg?w=2000" alt="A smiling man with glasses and colorful arm tattoos sits casually on a stool. Behind him are orange plush toys and a cartoon figure, against a vibrant, abstract mural." class="wp-image-299364"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Owner Dario Barbone hopes to keep Aurora Centro open beyond the six months allotted by the Vacant to Vibrant program.</figcaption></figure>


If the city is hoping for transformation, Barbone is a good person to bet on. His first location, Aurora Alimentari in Potrero Hill, is so small you can almost touch two opposing walls at the same time. There, Barbone packs the shelves with 30 kinds of tinned fish and dozens of varieties of chile crisp, selling a handful of varieties of sandwiches for three hours a day. Aurora Centro, in contrast, offers a limited selection of pastas, tinned tuna and artisanal chocolate. You can also drop $16 on a bottle of spicy cilantro condiment from Taiwan or $10 on a chocolate bar made in the high desert of Arizona.&nbsp;

<p>If the city is hoping for transformation, Barbone is a good person to bet on. His first location, Aurora Alimentari in Potrero Hill, is so small you can almost touch two opposing walls at the same time. There, Barbone packs the shelves with 30 kinds of tinned fish and dozens of varieties of chile crisp, selling a handful of varieties of sandwiches for three hours a day. Aurora Centro, in contrast, offers a limited selection of pastas, tinned tuna and artisanal chocolate. You can also drop $16 on a bottle of spicy cilantro condiment from Taiwan or $10 on a chocolate bar made in the high desert of Arizona.&nbsp;</p>

But the centerpiece is the panini. Barbone visits three farmers markets each week to source first-of-the-season cherry tomatoes, juicy peaches and bunches of fresh dill, and he turns a discerning eye toward sourcing the best local and not-so-local pantry items to round out the menu. He has a long-standing relationship with the Midwife and the Baker, which produces the crusty-on-the-outside, creamy-on-the-inside Khorasan baguettes that are the foundation for Aurora Centro’s sandwiches.&nbsp;

<p>But the centerpiece is the panini. Barbone visits three farmers markets each week to source first-of-the-season cherry tomatoes, juicy peaches and bunches of fresh dill, and he turns a discerning eye toward sourcing the best local and not-so-local pantry items to round out the menu. He has a long-standing relationship with the Midwife and the Baker, which produces the crusty-on-the-outside, creamy-on-the-inside Khorasan baguettes that are the foundation for Aurora Centro’s sandwiches.&nbsp;</p>

Barbone says he’s pretty sure he’ll be able to work out a deal with the property owner to stay through at least the end of the year. With Salesforce <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/17/salesforce-pressures-its-workers-back-to-the-office-as-layoffs-continue/">forcing more workers back to the office</a> in October, he expects the building to hit critical mass to sustain the restaurant soon, although “maybe when rent hits me, I may have to raise prices.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Salesforce mandates October return to office for most employees as layoffs continue

<p>Barbone says he’s pretty sure he’ll be able to work out a deal with the property owner to stay through at least the end of the year. With Salesforce <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/17/salesforce-pressures-its-workers-back-to-the-office-as-layoffs-continue/">forcing more workers back to the office</a> in October, he expects the building to hit critical mass to sustain the restaurant soon, although “maybe when rent hits me, I may have to raise prices.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

You can bet on this much: The sandwiches will be worth whatever he charges.&nbsp;

<p>You can bet on this much: The sandwiches will be worth whatever he charges.&nbsp;</p>

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<div class="wp-block-sf-standard-infobox"><ul><li><a href="https://maps.apple.com/?address=415+Mission+St.%2C+Suite+520%2C+SoMa">415 Mission St., Suite 520, SoMa</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/aurora_centro/">www.instagram.com/aurora_centro</a></li><li>Zucchini panino ($15) 

</li><li>Mackerel toast ($15) </li></ul></div>

Want a taste of how vibrant downtown SF could be? Try this new Italian deli

Astrid Kane

The sweatiest my palms have ever been was about a quarter of the way up the spire of the Transamerica Pyramid, looking through a set of open metal stairs to the floor 50 feet below.&nbsp;

<p>The sweatiest my palms have ever been was about a quarter of the way up the spire of the Transamerica Pyramid, looking through a set of open metal stairs to the floor 50 feet below.&nbsp;</p>

From sidewalk level, San Francisco’s most famous building seems like any other high-rise—a different shape, sure, but a vertical cubicle farm all the way up. That’s not the case staring down from the summit. The elevators only run to the 48th floor, just below the top of the pyramid’s “shoulders,” those broad, blocky fins approximately 600 feet above the street.&nbsp;

<p>From sidewalk level, San Francisco’s most famous building seems like any other high-rise—a different shape, sure, but a vertical cubicle farm all the way up. That’s not the case staring down from the summit. The elevators only run to the 48th floor, just below the top of the pyramid’s “shoulders,” those broad, blocky fins approximately 600 feet above the street.&nbsp;</p>

The east shoulder contains an elevator bank. The west shoulder functions as a ventilation shaft. It’s an enormous void, a little like a chasm on the Death Star. When a team of three from The Standard got a guided tour that went all the way to the pyramid’s beacon, the railing next to that abyss was essentially base camp.&nbsp;

<p>The east shoulder contains an elevator bank. The west shoulder functions as a ventilation shaft. It’s an enormous void, a little like a chasm on the Death Star. When a team of three from The Standard got a guided tour that went all the way to the pyramid’s beacon, the railing next to that abyss was essentially base camp.&nbsp;</p>

Michaela Neville climbs to the top of the Transamerica Pyramid building on Montgomery Street in San Francisco on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Michael Shvo's renovation of the Transamerica Pyramid is proceeding and we're going on a tour to the very top, specifically to see the light and learn what's coming.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_32.jpg?w=2500" alt="A person is leaning over a white railing at the top of an industrial staircase, looking downwards." class="wp-image-272955"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Michaela Neville climbs to the top of the Transamerica Pyramid&#8217;s spire, via a set of 10 stairways and two ladders that contain 236 steps in all.</figcaption></figure>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_32.jpg?w=2500" alt="A person is leaning over a white railing at the top of an industrial staircase, looking downwards." class="wp-image-272955"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Michaela Neville climbs to the top of the Transamerica Pyramid's spire, via a set of 10 stairways and two ladders that contain 236 steps in all.</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_32.jpg?w=2500" alt="A person is leaning over a white railing at the top of an industrial staircase, looking downwards." class="wp-image-272955"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Michaela Neville climbs to the top of the Transamerica Pyramid&#8217;s spire, via a set of 10 stairways and two ladders that contain 236 steps in all.</figcaption></figure>

Buildings can be seen from a hole in the pavement of where the light at the top of the Transamerica Pyramid building is kept, on Montgomery Street in San Francisco on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Michael Shvo's renovation of the Transamerica Pyramid is proceeding and we're going on a tour to the very top, specifically to see the light and learn what's coming.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_27.jpg?w=2500" alt="Aerial view of city buildings through a rough-edged hole in a structure." class="wp-image-272954"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Renovation work on the pyramid is very much active, as this hole through a floor hundreds of feet above downtown San Francisco reveals. </figcaption></figure>


To get to the top, we climbed 10 terrifying sets of stairs—and then a ladder that’s followed by another ladder. The spire’s “walls,” we learned, are translucent plastic cladding that’s more or less open to the elements. That means on foggy days, the steps and railings become slick with moisture.

<p>To get to the top, we climbed 10 terrifying sets of stairs—and then a ladder that’s followed by another ladder. The spire’s “walls,” we learned, are translucent plastic cladding that’s more or less open to the elements. That means on foggy days, the steps and railings become slick with moisture.</p>

“Wear comfy shoes,” our guide, a rep for pyramid owner Michael Shvo, had instructed us. “And don’t be afraid of heights.”&nbsp;

<p>“Wear comfy shoes,” our guide, a rep for pyramid owner Michael Shvo, had instructed us. “And don’t be afraid of heights.”&nbsp;</p>

I don’t think of myself as having a fear of heights, but that was before my stomach itself started sweating. Aside from the time I went hang-gliding in Brazil with a guide who didn’t speak English, I can’t remember a time when I was so acutely afraid of losing my grip on a metal bar and plummeting to my death.&nbsp;

<p>I don’t think of myself as having a fear of heights, but that was before my stomach itself started sweating. Aside from the time I went hang-gliding in Brazil with a guide who didn’t speak English, I can’t remember a time when I was so acutely afraid of losing my grip on a metal bar and plummeting to my death.&nbsp;</p>

Eventually, we made it to the space that houses the beacon. Like everything else about William Pereira’s modernist 1972 masterpiece, that dazzlingly intense, bluish light is set to undergo a major overhaul as part of a $400 million renovation. Luxury developer Michael Shvo is reimagining the building from top to bottom, installing amenities like a spa and a sky bar, as well as an all-new lighting scheme that will announce the Transamerica Pyramid’s presence by night the way its distinctive shape already does by day.

<p>Eventually, we made it to the space that houses the beacon. Like everything else about William Pereira’s modernist 1972 masterpiece, that dazzlingly intense, bluish light is set to undergo a major overhaul as part of a $400 million renovation. Luxury developer Michael Shvo is reimagining the building from top to bottom, installing amenities like a spa and a sky bar, as well as an all-new lighting scheme that will announce the Transamerica Pyramid’s presence by night the way its distinctive shape already does by day.</p>

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-office-as-resort">Office as resort</h2>


core/heading

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-office-as-resort">Office as resort</h2>

Even though the Transamerica Corporation vacated the building in 1999, Shvo has no plans to rename it. Pretty much everything else about it is going to change, though. The guiding principle, of “office as resort,” will bring a vibe associated with luxe tech campuses into downtown San Francisco.&nbsp;

<p>Even though the Transamerica Corporation vacated the building in 1999, Shvo has no plans to rename it. Pretty much everything else about it is going to change, though. The guiding principle, of “office as resort,” will bring a vibe associated with luxe tech campuses into downtown San Francisco.&nbsp;</p>

An aerial drone night view of TransAmerica Pyramid and buildings in San Francisco on March 15, 2024.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/transamerica-pyramid-2.jpg?w=1938" alt="An aerial night view of a brightly lit, pyramid-topped skyscraper amid a grid of city streets." class="wp-image-272948"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An aerial drone night view of TransAmerica Pyramid and buildings in San Francisco on March 15, 2024.</figcaption></figure>


San Francisco Standard Social Media Editor Michaela Neville, Photography intern Estefany Gonzalez and Senior Editor Astrid Kane pose for a selfie in the space at the very top of the Transamerica Pyramid’s spire in San Francisco on April 18, 2024.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/img_7007.jpg?w=2500" alt="Three smiling people are taking a selfie, with metal beams and netting in the background, suggesting an outdoor setting." class="wp-image-273396"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">San Francisco Standard Social Media Editor Michaela Neville, left, Photography intern Estefany Gonzalez, center, and Senior Editor Astrid Kane pose for a selfie at the very top of the Transamerica Pyramid’s spire.</figcaption></figure>


The ground level has already been redesigned to feel more welcoming. Having bought the pyramid for $650 million in 2020, Shvo enlisted Norman Foster, the British architect best known in the Bay Area for Apple’s spaceship-like headquarters in Cupertino. Foster + Partners raised the Transamerica lobby ceiling by about 4 feet, revealing K-braces and other geometric details that opened it up to the sunlight. Quartz, sourced from the same Mexican quarry as the building’s facade, was mixed with mortar to give the space some extra sparkle that concrete can’t provide. Overall, in the words of one Shvo representative, it was like ripping up tired shag carpet to reveal a parquet wood floor beneath.

<p>The ground level has already been redesigned to feel more welcoming. Having bought the pyramid for $650 million in 2020, Shvo enlisted Norman Foster, the British architect best known in the Bay Area for Apple’s spaceship-like headquarters in Cupertino. Foster + Partners raised the Transamerica lobby ceiling by about 4 feet, revealing K-braces and other geometric details that opened it up to the sunlight. Quartz, sourced from the same Mexican quarry as the building’s facade, was mixed with mortar to give the space some extra sparkle that concrete can’t provide. Overall, in the words of one Shvo representative, it was like ripping up tired shag carpet to reveal a parquet wood floor beneath.</p>

The renovation extends outside the building, too. The redwood plaza behind the pyramid—one of the city’s many <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/25/downtown-san-francisco-popos-privately-owned-public-open-spaces/">privately owned public open spaces, or POPOS</a>—is set to reopen to the public later this year. With less concrete hardscape and a more organic feel, it’s intended to make the building, still San Francisco’s second-tallest after Salesforce Tower, feel like less of a monolith.&nbsp;

Downtown San Francisco is full of secret spaces. Here are the best, worst and weirdest

<p>The renovation extends outside the building, too. The redwood plaza behind the pyramid—one of the city’s many <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/25/downtown-san-francisco-popos-privately-owned-public-open-spaces/">privately owned public open spaces, or POPOS</a>—is set to reopen to the public later this year. With less concrete hardscape and a more organic feel, it’s intended to make the building, still San Francisco’s second-tallest after Salesforce Tower, feel like less of a monolith.&nbsp;</p>

A vestibule at the rear will become a space called the Court Club, and in September, it will house an exhibition of Foster’s work plus a history of the Montgomery Block, the hub for writers and bohemians like Jack London and Mark Twain that once occupied the site. An alley that runs for half a block immediately behind the pyramid, Mark Twain Street, has also been planted with western redbuds, transforming it from its prior incarnation as a loading dock for Recology trucks.&nbsp;

<p>A vestibule at the rear will become a space called the Court Club, and in September, it will house an exhibition of Foster’s work plus a history of the Montgomery Block, the hub for writers and bohemians like Jack London and Mark Twain that once occupied the site. An alley that runs for half a block immediately behind the pyramid, Mark Twain Street, has also been planted with western redbuds, transforming it from its prior incarnation as a loading dock for Recology trucks.&nbsp;</p>

Bullish on the return to physical offices, Shvo is among those who see artificial intelligence as the city’s path out of its prolonged, post-Covid slump—and he’s keen on leveraging the pyramid’s status to lure AI’s funders to become his tenants.

<p>Bullish on the return to physical offices, Shvo is among those who see artificial intelligence as the city’s path out of its prolonged, post-Covid slump—and he’s keen on leveraging the pyramid’s status to lure AI’s funders to become his tenants.</p>

Caution tape covers an open gap currently under construction at the Transamerica Pyramid building on Montgomery Street in San Francisco on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Michael Shvo's renovation of the Transamerica Pyramid is proceeding and we're going on a tour to the very top, specifically to see the light and learn what's coming.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_18.jpg?w=2500" alt="A cityscape viewed through a window with &quot;CAUTION&quot; tape across the foreground." class="wp-image-272957"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Caution tape covers an open gap that&#8217;s currently under construction in the Transamerica Pyramid, with Nob Hill visible at left and Russian Hill at right.</figcaption></figure>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_18.jpg?w=2500" alt="A cityscape viewed through a window with &quot;CAUTION&quot; tape across the foreground." class="wp-image-272957"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Caution tape covers an open gap that's currently under construction in the Transamerica Pyramid, with Nob Hill visible at left and Russian Hill at right.</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_18.jpg?w=2500" alt="A cityscape viewed through a window with &quot;CAUTION&quot; tape across the foreground." class="wp-image-272957"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Caution tape covers an open gap that&#8217;s currently under construction in the Transamerica Pyramid, with Nob Hill visible at left and Russian Hill at right.</figcaption></figure>

“Now that there&#8217;s a general consensus that San Francisco is not going to get wiped off the planet,” Shvo said of the economic climate. “We’re the benefactor of that, because we&#8217;re doing deals at the VC level or at the private-equity level that cater to these AI companies.”&nbsp;

<p>“Now that there's a general consensus that San Francisco is not going to get wiped off the planet,” Shvo said of the economic climate. “We’re the benefactor of that, because we're doing deals at the VC level or at the private-equity level that cater to these AI companies.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Now that there&#8217;s a general consensus that San Francisco is not going to get wiped off the planet,” Shvo said of the economic climate. “We’re the benefactor of that, because we&#8217;re doing deals at the VC level or at the private-equity level that cater to these AI companies.”&nbsp;</p>

The bet appears to be paying off, and not just for AI. Law firm Baker Hostetler recently renewed its lease, and overall, the pyramid commands impressive sums.&nbsp;

<p>The bet appears to be paying off, and not just for AI. Law firm Baker Hostetler recently renewed its lease, and overall, the pyramid commands impressive sums.&nbsp;</p>

“We&#8217;ve signed multiple leases over $200 a square foot. That makes the pyramid the third-most expensive building in the United States,” Shvo said, adding that the other two are both in Midtown Manhattan. “It’s also the only building [of the three] that’s 50 years old.”&nbsp;

<p>“We've signed multiple leases over $200 a square foot. That makes the pyramid the third-most expensive building in the United States,” Shvo said, adding that the other two are both in Midtown Manhattan. “It’s also the only building [of the three] that’s 50 years old.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We&#8217;ve signed multiple leases over $200 a square foot. That makes the pyramid the third-most expensive building in the United States,” Shvo said, adding that the other two are both in Midtown Manhattan. “It’s also the only building [of the three] that’s 50 years old.”&nbsp;</p>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A beacon to rival the Eiffel Tower’s</h2>


The renovation will leave no element of the Transamerica Pyramid untouched, and that includes the beacon, set to become a 5,600-watt dynamic theatrical LED lighting system. Sharp-eyed observers may have noticed that it has been illuminated somewhat randomly over the last few months—that’s because design firm L’Observatoire International is running occasional tests.

<p>The renovation will leave no element of the Transamerica Pyramid untouched, and that includes the beacon, set to become a 5,600-watt dynamic theatrical LED lighting system. Sharp-eyed observers may have noticed that it has been illuminated somewhat randomly over the last few months—that’s because design firm L’Observatoire International is running occasional tests.</p>

The company’s lighting designer Hervé Descottes, who has worked on New York’s High Line and the Fondation Louis Vuitton Paris, compared the new beacon to his forthcoming knee replacement, calling it “new blood in an old body.” It’s a delicate operation, installing technology that didn’t exist in 1972 without changing the relationship of the pyramid to the city. He refers to the top of the building as a shrine, and the light as a jewel.

<p>The company’s lighting designer Hervé Descottes, who has worked on New York’s High Line and the Fondation Louis Vuitton Paris, compared the new beacon to his forthcoming knee replacement, calling it “new blood in an old body.” It’s a delicate operation, installing technology that didn’t exist in 1972 without changing the relationship of the pyramid to the city. He refers to the top of the building as a shrine, and the light as a jewel.</p>

The light at the top of the Transamerica Pyramid building on Montgomery Street in San Francisco on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Michael Shvo's renovation of the Transamerica Pyramid is proceeding and we're going on a tour to the very top, specifically to see the light and learn what's coming.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_26.jpg?w=1335" alt="Colorful vertical glass panes within a metal enclosure, with a label &quot;PHOEBUS MANUFACTURING.&quot;" class="wp-image-272960"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The beacon at the pyramid&#8217;s very top is housed in a tiny room and encased behind gem-toned plastic panels.</figcaption></figure>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_26.jpg?w=1335" alt="Colorful vertical glass panes within a metal enclosure, with a label &quot;PHOEBUS MANUFACTURING.&quot;" class="wp-image-272960"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The beacon at the pyramid's very top is housed in a tiny room and encased behind gem-toned plastic panels.</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_26.jpg?w=1335" alt="Colorful vertical glass panes within a metal enclosure, with a label &quot;PHOEBUS MANUFACTURING.&quot;" class="wp-image-272960"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The beacon at the pyramid&#8217;s very top is housed in a tiny room and encased behind gem-toned plastic panels.</figcaption></figure>

It’s “almost like the beam of light on the Eiffel Tower,” he said of his project. “A dancing jewel that can change color.”

<p>It’s “almost like the beam of light on the Eiffel Tower,” he said of his project. “A dancing jewel that can change color.”</p>

The beacon isn’t the only lighting element, either. The sides of the spire will soon be outfitted with LED technology of their own, similar to the crown of the Salesforce Tower or the upper floors of the Empire State Building.

<p>The beacon isn’t the only lighting element, either. The sides of the spire will soon be outfitted with LED technology of their own, similar to the crown of the Salesforce Tower or the upper floors of the Empire State Building.</p>

“We are full-speed ahead,” Descottes said. “It could be before the end of the year.”&nbsp;

<p>“We are full-speed ahead,” Descottes said. “It could be before the end of the year.”&nbsp;</p>

The Transamerica Pyramid building on Montgomery Street in San Francisco on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Michael Shvo's renovation of the Transamerica Pyramid is proceeding and we're going on a tour to the very top, specifically to see the light and learn what's coming.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_43_85df73.jpg?w=1881" alt="An upward view between high-rises towards a clear blue sky, showcasing contrasting building architectures." class="wp-image-272963"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The building&#8217;s western fin, or &#8220;shoulder,&#8221; is a ventilation shaft. Above the 48th floor, there is no more space for offices.</figcaption></figure>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_43_85df73.jpg?w=1881" alt="An upward view between high-rises towards a clear blue sky, showcasing contrasting building architectures." class="wp-image-272963"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The building's western fin, or "shoulder," is a ventilation shaft. Above the 48th floor, there is no more space for offices.</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_43_85df73.jpg?w=1881" alt="An upward view between high-rises towards a clear blue sky, showcasing contrasting building architectures." class="wp-image-272963"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The building&#8217;s western fin, or &#8220;shoulder,&#8221; is a ventilation shaft. Above the 48th floor, there is no more space for offices.</figcaption></figure>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-climb-to-the-top-is-terrifying">The climb to the top is terrifying</h2>


To get to Descottes’ jewel from the 48th floor, we had to climb exactly 236 vertical steps, starting from what will eventually be the sky bar. It’s essentially a construction site, filled with ladders and plastic sheeting, but the panoramic views will make for a uniquely glamorous spot for a client lunch or after-work martini.

<p>To get to Descottes’ jewel from the 48th floor, we had to climb exactly 236 vertical steps, starting from what will eventually be the sky bar. It’s essentially a construction site, filled with ladders and plastic sheeting, but the panoramic views will make for a uniquely glamorous spot for a client lunch or after-work martini.</p>

Even on a sunny afternoon, climbing up isn’t for the faint of heart. Climbers have almost no choice but to disobey the first principle of heights: “Don’t look down.” For this reporter, the third and fourth set of stairs were the angstiest, as it was clear we had climbed about 50 feet with quite a ways to go. It was then that our guide saw fit to mention that seismically, a pyramid-shaped structure is the safest place to be during an earthquake, a remark that had the opposite of its intended effect.

<p>Even on a sunny afternoon, climbing up isn’t for the faint of heart. Climbers have almost no choice but to disobey the first principle of heights: “Don’t look down.” For this reporter, the third and fourth set of stairs were the angstiest, as it was clear we had climbed about 50 feet with quite a ways to go. It was then that our guide saw fit to mention that seismically, a pyramid-shaped structure is the safest place to be during an earthquake, a remark that had the opposite of its intended effect.</p>

A stairwell leading to the top of the Transamerica Pyramid building on Montgomery Street in San Francisco on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Michael Shvo's renovation of the Transamerica Pyramid is proceeding and we're going on a tour to the very top, specifically to see the light and learn what's coming.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240420_transamericapyramidapex_eg_38.jpg?w=2411" alt="Looking down a complex, geometric stairwell with metal railings and steps amidst white support beams." class="wp-image-272959"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The view from the bottom of the spire, one story above the future sky bar on the 48th floor, shows a single cavernous room with nothing but stairs and walkways.</figcaption></figure>


Even though the metal steps grew considerably narrower, the climb got easier as we neared the top, because it became harder to see down. Putting aside the terror, the ascent was also a legitimate workout, but once our pounding hearts got to the beacon—a cramped crow’s nest too small for an adult to stand—we had a uniquely magical perspective on the city far below, filthy windows be damned. The light itself has a crystal, like what might power a warp drive, surrounded by 32 gem-toned panes of glass.

<p>Even though the metal steps grew considerably narrower, the climb got easier as we neared the top, because it became harder to see down. Putting aside the terror, the ascent was also a legitimate workout, but once our pounding hearts got to the beacon—a cramped crow’s nest too small for an adult to stand—we had a uniquely magical perspective on the city far below, filthy windows be damned. The light itself has a crystal, like what might power a warp drive, surrounded by 32 gem-toned panes of glass.</p>

The expedition was a rare treat, no doubt about it, but also something most people might want to do just once. Even Shvo only makes the trip every so often. &#8220;Probably, I think five times?&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not a big lover of heights. And it gets quite steep when you get up there, right? And then the going down is a whole other experience.&#8221;&nbsp;

<p>The expedition was a rare treat, no doubt about it, but also something most people might want to do just once. Even Shvo only makes the trip every so often. "Probably, I think five times?" he said. "I'm not a big lover of heights. And it gets quite steep when you get up there, right? And then the going down is a whole other experience."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The expedition was a rare treat, no doubt about it, but also something most people might want to do just once. Even Shvo only makes the trip every so often. &#8220;Probably, I think five times?&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not a big lover of heights. And it gets quite steep when you get up there, right? And then the going down is a whole other experience.&#8221;&nbsp;</p>

The current steps are new, he added. “When I bought the building, it was much scarier.”

<p>The current steps are new, he added. “When I bought the building, it was much scarier.”</p>

Exclusive: The Transamerica Pyramid’s renovation is underway. We got a peek from the top

Mike Ege

Storm clouds are gathering at San Francisco City Hall as 2024 brings with it two momentous elections.&nbsp;

<p>Storm clouds are gathering at San Francisco City Hall as 2024 brings with it two momentous elections.&nbsp;</p>

Mayor London Breed faces uncertainty as dissatisfaction with City Hall opens the door for challengers, including Supervisor Ahsha Safaí and philanthropist Daniel Lurie. But Safaí and Lurie lack Breed’s name recognition and have yet to make much traction in their bids to take over Room 200. Political insiders are grasping for alternatives, such as <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/03/san-francisco-supervisor-aaron-peskin-says-people-want-him-to-run-for-mayor/">Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin</a> or <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/11/29/mark-farrell-san-francisco-mayor-race-london-breed-2024/">former Mayor Mark Farrell</a>.&nbsp;

San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin says people want him to run for mayor

Mark Farrell, ex-San Francisco mayor, could challenge London Breed in 2024

<p>Mayor London Breed faces uncertainty as dissatisfaction with City Hall opens the door for challengers, including Supervisor Ahsha Safaí and philanthropist Daniel Lurie. But Safaí and Lurie lack Breed’s name recognition and have yet to make much traction in their bids to take over Room 200. Political insiders are grasping for alternatives, such as <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/03/san-francisco-supervisor-aaron-peskin-says-people-want-him-to-run-for-mayor/">Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin</a> or <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/11/29/mark-farrell-san-francisco-mayor-race-london-breed-2024/">former Mayor Mark Farrell</a>.&nbsp;</p>

But while star political players will weather the biggest political storms, they’re far from the only ones angling for the Mayor’s Office this November.&nbsp;

<p>But while star political players will weather the biggest political storms, they’re far from the only ones angling for the Mayor’s Office this November.&nbsp;</p>

Over 30 people have “pulled papers,” or declared their intent to run, for mayor this year. Declaring intent to run doesn’t guarantee you’ll be on the final ballot. In 2019, for example, 33 people pulled papers but only two candidates stuck it out to the final ballot: Breed and <a href="https://goldengatexpress.org/90182/city/former-sf-state-instructor-runs-for-mayor-with-pro-trump-agenda/">archconservative Ellen Lee Zhou</a>. Candidates have until May 15 to submit either a $7,020 filing fee or 14,040 signatures from local voters to get on the ballot.&nbsp;

<p>Over 30 people have “pulled papers,” or declared their intent to run, for mayor this year. Declaring intent to run doesn’t guarantee you’ll be on the final ballot. In 2019, for example, 33 people pulled papers but only two candidates stuck it out to the final ballot: Breed and <a href="https://goldengatexpress.org/90182/city/former-sf-state-instructor-runs-for-mayor-with-pro-trump-agenda/">archconservative Ellen Lee Zhou</a>. Candidates have until May 15 to submit either a $7,020 filing fee or 14,040 signatures from local voters to get on the ballot.&nbsp;</p>

The overwhelming majority of people who have pulled papers for the mayor’s race can best be described as outliers. They range from people like <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronikafimbres/">Veronika Fimbres</a>, a clinical assistant manager at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and trans rights activist, to Shahram Shariati, a transportation engineer at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency inspired to “bring common sense back to the city” from his experiences dealing with its bureaucracy.&nbsp;

<p>The overwhelming majority of people who have pulled papers for the mayor’s race can best be described as outliers. They range from people like <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronikafimbres/">Veronika Fimbres</a>, a clinical assistant manager at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and trans rights activist, to Shahram Shariati, a transportation engineer at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency inspired to “bring common sense back to the city” from his experiences dealing with its bureaucracy.&nbsp;</p>

San Francisco Mayor London Breed listens to a journalist during an interview inter office at City Hall in San Francisco on June 1, 2023,


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/inlined01_20240109guesswhoscomingtomayorsrace.jpg?w=2500" alt="A woman in a red outfit sits solemnly in an ornate wood-paneled room with flags and a fireplace." class="wp-image-239385"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">San Francisco Mayor London Breed listens to a question during an interview at City Hall in San Francisco in June 2023.</figcaption></figure>


On <a href="https://www.sfmayor2025.com/who-we-are">his website</a>, Shariati relates his ordeal of dealing with vandalism and other issues at his Mission Street apartment complex. He was eventually able to get local laws changed to help with his graffiti problem, but he told The Standard that “what should have been a no-brainer took so many years.” He’s in the race for the long haul, telling The Standard he already has his $7,020 filing fee saved up.&nbsp;

<p>On <a href="https://www.sfmayor2025.com/who-we-are">his website</a>, Shariati relates his ordeal of dealing with vandalism and other issues at his Mission Street apartment complex. He was eventually able to get local laws changed to help with his graffiti problem, but he told The Standard that “what should have been a no-brainer took so many years.” He’s in the race for the long haul, telling The Standard he already has his $7,020 filing fee saved up.&nbsp;</p>

If no one is able to unseat Breed in November, the lower end of the mayoral ballot could be seen as another kind of contest—for the title of Lord of the Gadflies. They may have no chance of winning, but they all have something to say. Here’s a closer look at some of the more interesting contenders.

<p>If no one is able to unseat Breed in November, the lower end of the mayoral ballot could be seen as another kind of contest—for the title of Lord of the Gadflies. They may have no chance of winning, but they all have something to say. Here’s a closer look at some of the more interesting contenders.</p>

San Francisco mayoral candidates Ellen Lee Zhou speaks to journalists in San Francisco on Sept. 10, 2019.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/inlined02_20240109guesswhoscomingtomayorsrace.jpg?w=2500" alt="A woman with short black hair, wearing a red blouse and dark blazer, gestures while speaking to someone off-camera." class="wp-image-239387"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">San Francisco mayoral candidate Ellen Lee Zhou speaks to journalists in San Francisco in 2019.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ellen-lee-zhou-jan-6-participant">Ellen Lee Zhou, Jan. 6 Participant</h2>


Zhou’s 2019 campaign became notorious for a series of billboards that were eventually found to have <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/12/28/spending-on-political-billboard-ads-violated-sf-election-laws-watchdog-says/">violated campaign finance laws</a>; they were also called <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2019/10/21/san-francisco-controversial-billboard-ellen-zhou-london-breed-pkg-vpx.kpix">hurtful and racist</a> by detractors, including Breed.&nbsp;

Spending on political billboard ads violated SF election laws, watchdog says

<p>Zhou’s 2019 campaign became notorious for a series of billboards that were eventually found to have <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2022/12/28/spending-on-political-billboard-ads-violated-sf-election-laws-watchdog-says/">violated campaign finance laws</a>; they were also called <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2019/10/21/san-francisco-controversial-billboard-ellen-zhou-london-breed-pkg-vpx.kpix">hurtful and racist</a> by detractors, including Breed.&nbsp;</p>

Filing reveals how much office space Salesforce dumped last year

Want a taste of how vibrant downtown SF could be? Try this new Italian deli

Exclusive: The Transamerica Pyramid’s renovation is underway. We got a peek from the top

Get to know the longshots running for San Francisco mayor

Salesforce East, Millennium Tower windows fail in high winds

Search Results for: salesforce tower

Filing reveals how much office space Salesforce dumped last year

Want a taste of how vibrant downtown SF could be? Try this new Italian deli

Exclusive: The Transamerica Pyramid’s renovation is underway. We got a peek from the top

Get to know the longshots running for San Francisco mayor

Salesforce East, Millennium Tower windows fail in high winds