San Francisco, CA – Mayor Daniel Lurie's past association with concert promoter Another Planet Entertainment (APE) through his non-profit, Tipping Point Community, has been highlighted in recent public discourse, with observers noting his lack of prior elected office before being sworn in as mayor in January 2025. While the relationship is acknowledged as extensive, it is not considered legally problematic.
"Lurie was not an elected official prior to his swearing in, so he didn’t break any laws. Is it a good look? No. As I pointed out during the campaign he has a long prior relationship with APE doing concerts for Tipping Point. But this isn’t a gotcha legally," stated The Marina Times on social media.
Daniel Lurie, founder of the anti-poverty non-profit Tipping Point Community in 2005, engaged with APE on numerous occasions for charitable events. Notably, Tipping Point collaborated with APE and other Bay Area entities to produce "Band Together Bay Area," a major benefit concert in 2017 for Northern California fire relief, which featured prominent musical acts.
This partnership continued with a second "Band Together" event, further solidifying the working relationship between Lurie's non-profit and the concert promoter.
After stepping down as CEO of Tipping Point in 2019, Lurie remained as the board chair, maintaining his connection to the organization's activities.
Since becoming mayor, Lurie has continued to collaborate with Another Planet Entertainment, albeit in a different capacity. In June, Mayor Lurie announced the return of a free downtown concert series in partnership with APE and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. This initiative aims to revitalize downtown San Francisco and bring live music to public spaces.
The ongoing discussion underscores the transition of a prominent non-profit leader into a major civic role. While his history with APE is a point of public interest, particularly given his background outside of traditional elected politics, the nature of these collaborations—initially for charity and now for city-sponsored public events—appears to align with legal standards.