San Francisco Receives $1 Million State Grant to Build City's First Grease-To-Biodiesel Facility

Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced the receipt of a $1 million California Energy Commission (CEC) grant to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to build the City’s first pilot grease-to-biodiesel production facility.

The facility will be sited at the SFPUC’s Oceanside Sewage Treatment Plant, and is considered unique because it will attempt to create three grades of biodiesel from "brown grease", which are pan scrapings and washed oil residue trapped in grease traps/interceptors under a restaurant sink. There are more than 2.5 million gallons of brown grease in the city, compared with 1.5 million gallons of "yellow grease" like fryer oil. Biodiesel from grease is easily created using the cleaner yellow grease, while brown grease is typically discarded at sewage treatment plants. Read more...

Mayor Newsom's Statement Regarding California State Supreme Court Ruling on Same Sex Marriage

The California Supreme Court took a bold and important step forward to end discrimination in California. The Court’s ruling to grant same-sex couples the right to marry affirms the very best of what California stands for – and proudly continues our state’s long-standing commitment to equality and justice.

As San Franciscans, we have taken an irrevocable step toward resolving one of the most important civil rights issues of our generation, and the state's highest court has done the right thing with their ruling. San Francisco is the first government entity in American history to challenge the constitutionality of state marriage laws that discriminate against gay and lesbian couples. I believe that the path San Francisco pursued was not merely right – it was inevitable. It is America’s path – the road to true freedom and equality. Read more...

Mayor Gavin Newsom Honored as an Afterschool Champion in Nation’s Capital

The Afterschool Alliance today honored San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom for his support for afterschool programs at the "Breakfast of Champions," a gala event in Washington, D.C. Mayor Newsom, who also spoke at the event, was one of 16 individuals and four organizations honored for their tireless work on behalf of afterschool programs. He was nominated by the California Afterschool Network.

Mayor Newsom has pledged to provide afterschool for all elementary and middle school-age youth in San Francisco by 2010. This pledge has led to formal partnerships among the San Francisco Unified School District, the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, the Recreation and Parks Department, foundations, parent groups, and private and non-profit afterschool providers to ensure all children have access to high-quality afterschool programs. Read more...

New Projects Will More than Triple Total Municipal Solar Power Generation in S.F.

Mayor Gavin Newsom today praised the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) decision to authorize new projects that will create at least five megawatts of new solar energy generation at City-owned facilities. When completed, the new projects atop the newly seismically-retrofitted Sunset Reservoir and the Pier 96/Norcal Recycling Center will increase municipal solar energy generation in San Francisco by more than 300% from two megawatts to seven megawatts. Read more...

Mayor Newsom Offers Support for Chinese Earthquake Victims

On behalf of the City and County of San Francisco, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and individuals who lost relatives and loved ones in yesterday’s massive earthquake.

I offer our full support to the Chinese people and ask the people of the Bay Area to assist in providing aid to those in need. Read more...

Mayor Newsom Commits to Rebuild San Francisco General Hospital

Today, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the introduction of a bond proposal that will ensure the continued operations of San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (SFGH). The Department of Public Health (DPH) is proposing an $887.4 million general obligation bond measure on the November ballot in order to build a new, seismically safe SFGH. The existing general acute care hospital building does not comply with the current California seismic safety requirements and must be replaced or face closure of acute care services. Read more...

Mayor Newsom Announces Hundreds of Employers Signing Up for Healthy San Francisco Program

Today, Mayor Gavin Newsom heralded preliminary data indicating 734 local employers have selected the Healthy San Francisco program as the healthcare choice for their employees. These employers have committed almost $6 million toward healthcare expenditures for their employees, benefiting 12,900 workers. There are approximately 19,000 residents currently enrolled in the Healthy San Francisco program.

"Employers have stepped up and are pitching in to make sure our workers stay healthy and on the job," said Mayor Newsom. "I want to thank them for their support of our efforts to expand universal healthcare access to uninsured residents, including access to people who work in the City." Read more...