San Francisco—home to the NBA’s greatest sharpshooter for 16 years. Stephen Curry isn’t just the heart of the Warriors; he’s the soul of the Bay. His leadership, alongside Steve Kerr and the team, ended a 40-year title drought in 2015. The dynasty rose, fell, and adapted. Yet one thing never changed—Steph’s bond with the city. But what happens when an NBA legend like Charles Barkley keeps taking shots at your home? Someone must set the record straight and do something right ahead of the NBA All-Stars weekend.

The newly appointed San Francisco Mayor, Daniel Lurie, addressed the city’s troubles and his plans for a better lifestyle. As you can guess, not everything is sunshine and mellow in the Bay. Speaking with NBC Bay Area’s Raj Mathai at San Francisco City Hall, the mayor shared plenty. Most importantly, he highlighted major problems that could impact Adam Silver’s NBA All-Star weekend plans.

Daniel Lurie throws light on San Francisco’s condition ahead of the NBA All-Star weekend

After defeating the incumbent mayor, London Breed, in 2024, Daniel Lurie took office in 2025, serving as the 46th and current mayor of San Francisco. However, his journey so far hasn’t been so easy. With crime rates, homelessness, and several other issues looming at large, he has to work on many sides. Now, as the NBA All-Star weekend is ready to set foot in the Bay Area, some concerns remain. Will the condition of the city affect Adam Silver’s ‘picture-perfect’ plans?

Meanwhile, Lurie bypassed a simple question of rating the global image of his province on a global platform. He informed veteran reporter Raj Mathai: “It’s early innings. But we are much closer to being all the way back than I would say most people realize. It’s going to take us a couple of years.”

So, the mayor has his eyes on improving life in San Francisco. But his next remark tells a different story. Lurie mentioned: “There’s no question that with our street conditions… with our short-staffed police department—which we need to get back to fully staffed. We have a lot of work to do. We have historic budget challenges. But there is nothing that we can’t overcome when we work together.”

Well, Charles Barkley’s “rat-infested place” remark might have been an exaggeration, or maybe not. But yes, the other problems that the mayor mentioned are something worth raising your eyebrows about. The Bay Area reportedly has the worst traffic congestion in the US, while the streets are infested with potholes, making the city accident-prone. Besides, for years now, the faces and names of mayors have changed, but the one thing that’s remained unchanged is their demand for police power.

Therefore, given the current conditions and said historic budget challenge, can Daniel Lurie transform the Bay Area into the finest zone in the world for the NBA All-Star weekend? This year’s event will feature a brand-new mini-tournament format with four teams instead of the traditional East vs. West matchup, adding a fresh twist to the festivities. Moreover, will Chuck‘s claims turn into reality as we move toward one of the most important events of the league? Besides, these concerning conditions could become a major problem for Adam Silver and Co., who want the ASG to be an amazing experience amidst skeptical glares.

However, the mayor is trying his best to understand the needs and wants of his people. And he’s taking some unique measures to know the city in a better way.

The mayor’s efforts for a better San Francisco

Raj Mathai asked, “What’s your strategy to make sure for these big events? But why can’t we just do it on a regular Tuesday in the middle of February?” Well, you might think that Daniel Lurie may have stuttered or concocted some answer that’s far from reality. But, no. The mayor is putting extra effort into understanding the people of San Francisco.

“That’s why I’m out walking every single day. I’m not telling anybody where I’m going and I just show up. I know our problems, but I also know that there’s a lot to show off. So I’m committed to showing that off over the next few weeks, but you’re right. Every single day, our streets should be clean. They should be safe. And that’s my commitment.” You can simply spot Daniel Lurie walking around the Bay Area, looking around and interacting with the people. This is one of the ways to connect with the public and figure out their needs.

Surely, the Bay Area is plagued with problems, concerning conditions, and more. And knowing about them ahead of the NBA All-Star weekend could be a bit heartbreaking. Nonetheless, Adam Silver & Co., with the help of Daniel Lurie, are ready to give the fans an experience of a lifetime as the All-Star circus reaches the Chase Center for some unforgettable action.