Audit: Mayor Newsom's Care Not Cash Achieving Its Goals

After the release of today’s controller’s audit, "Care Not Cash Is Achieving Its Goals," Mayor Gavin Newsom highlighted the accomplishments of the program since its passage by San Francisco voters in 2002.

"I initiated Care Not Cash in an effort to address one of San Francisco’s most vexing challenges and one of my highest priorities – the challenge of homelessness," said Mayor Newsom. "Our combined efforts under the Care Not Cash, Housing First and Homeward Bound programs have already moved over 7,000 homeless individuals off of the streets, producing a remarkable 38.9% decline in the homeless street population." Read more...

Mayor Newsom Announces 70% City Recycling Rate and New Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance

Today, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced a highest-in-the-nation 70% recycling rate while celebrating the 100th school participating in the Food to Flowers! composting program. Diversion, which includes recycling, composting, and re-use, has increased from 35% in 1996, to 70% today. Diversion accounts for 1,415,159 tons of waste, or 70% of the total waste stream.

"San Francisco is making it easier than ever to participate in recycling collection programs, and our new 70% diversion rate is proof of our commitment a zero-waste future," said Mayor Newsom. "I want to build upon this commitment to waste reduction with legislation that will get us to a 75% recycling rate and ultimately support our 2010 Climate Action Plan goal." Read more...

Mayor Newsom Trying to Make S.F. Recycle

Newsom said Tuesday that his administration is drafting an ordinance that would require residents and businesses to recycle paper, plastics and other basic salvageable materials, as well as to compost food scraps and yard waste. It's the only way, he said, San Francisco will be able to reach it's self-imposed goal of having a 75 percent recycling rate by 2010.

2006 study found that 70 percent of what San Francisco tosses out in the trash could instead be recycled or composted. Still, the city has a 70 percent recycling rate - the highest in the country, city officials said Tuesday. Read more...

Mayor Newsom Breaks Ground on First 100% "Off-Grid" Building in San Francisco

Mayor Gavin Newsom was joined today by city and state officials, community leaders, residents and youth to celebrate the groundbreaking for the EcoCenter at Heron’s Head Park, a landmark youth education facility and environmental initiative in Bayview Hunters Point. The EcoCenter is the first building in San Francisco entirely "off the grid", boasting cutting-edge features that set a new standard for green building.

"The EcoCenter at Heron’s Head Park places San Francisco on the cutting-edge of green building," said Mayor Newsom. "It embodies my vision for San Francisco—a global ‘eco-city’ at the forefront of urban environmental commitment. By bringing off-grid designs to an urban environment like the Bayview, we are working to redefine what a 21st century city can be." Read more...

Mayor Newsom Announces SFO Green Rental Car Program

Today, Mayor Gavin Newsom was joined by members of the Airport Commission after they approved a new lease structure that provides financial incentives to those car rental agencies that ensure a baseline of rentals of environmentally efficient vehicles. Approval of this new lease policy positions San Francisco International Airport (SFO) as the national leader in green rental cars available to air travelers coming to the region. Emissions avoided by implementation of this program are estimated at 51 tons of CO2 per year. Read more...

Mayor Newsom Named Greenest Politician

In honor of Earth Day and the first anniversary TheDailyGreen.com today announced The Heart of Green Awards. Mayor Newsom was selected as the greenest politician. Read more...