In a bizarre attempt to sprinkle some positivity onto BART’s more cynical sibling, Mayor Daniel Lurie took to social media to read ‘nice’ emails about Muni drivers in a video that screams awkwardness.

Inspired by Jimmy Kimmel’s ever-popular ‘Mean Tweets’ segment, this TikTok masterpiece doesn’t quite hit the mark. We’re talking about a public official attempting to salvage the Muni brand by showcasing, of all things, heartfelt messages that might be existing somewhere in the ether. Spoiler alert: the email volume aimed at commending our beloved transit system might rival a drought.

The star of this cringe-fest? A particularly charming Muni driver identified only by their operator ID number. So instead of calling them by name, Lurie’s team had a different idea of high praise: anonymizing kindness. One standout moment featured our mysterious Operator 5132, who performed the noble feat of helping an elderly woman carry her hefty bags up the Muni steps. Cue the imaginary applause!

Of course, the situation gets even more ‘on-brand’ for Muni when Lurie reads another email that feels a tad backhanded for the profession. I mean, let’s not forget, some Muni drivers have mastered the art of rudeness, hello, have you ever tapped your card only to meet the glare of a transit god having a bad day?

But props to Lurie for trying. The goal here is ostensibly to shift the narrative around Muni, to remind us that, yes, occasionally, someone on the transit line does something nice. As if that will get more San Franciscans to stop calling for the resignation of the entire Muni operation, right?

In the end, it’s hard to tell whether this PR move aims to heal the Muni’s battered reputation or just add another layer to the ongoing drama of ‘Will My Bus Ever Come?’ Regardless, it appears Lurie’s still finding his footing in the mayoral role. One thing’s for certain: our Muni woes sure make for entertaining commentary. Next time, we might suggest a segment titled ‘Nice Tickets,’ but we can only wish for that level of humor to go viral too.

Oh, Daniel, maybe stick to reading the room instead of reading emails. We appreciate the effort, but maybe we’ll all just go back to ignoring the Muni updates altogether!