Mayor Newsom and SFMTA Announce 2010 Sunday Streets Dates, Details

Following the success of Sunday Streets in its second year, Mayor Newsom today announced the program will return as a new and permanent San Francisco tradition. Read more...

Mayor Newsom Announces Winners of This Year’s Community Challenge Grants for Neighborhood Greening Projects

Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced the winners of the Community Challenge Grant Program (CCG), formerly known as the Neighborhood Beautification Fund. The program provides matching grants to local residents, businesses, non-profits and other community groups to make physical improvements to their neighborhoods. Read more...

Mayor Newsom and Treasure José Cisneros Announce Responsible PayDay Lending Program for San Franciscans

Mayor Gavin Newsom and Treasurer José Cisneros today announced the launch of Payday Plus SF, an alternative payday loan offered by six San Francisco Credit Unions that will provide responsible small dollar loans of up to $500, with low interest rates, financial counseling, and an extended repayment term. The program is designed to help San Franciscans avoid high-interest rate payday loans that often trap borrowers in a cycle of debt. Read more...

Mayor Newsom and U.S. Secretary of Navy Announce Agreement to Transfer Treasure Island to San Francisco

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced today that they had reached a broad outline of terms for the conveyance of former Naval Station Treasure Island from the Navy to the City’s Treasure Island Development Authority. The terms of the agreement include a guaranteed payment to the Navy of $55M followed by an interim payment of another $50M, plus an additional share of potential further profits. The agreement also requires the inclusion of transactional protections customary in the private sector for these types of transactions. Specifics of the deal will be worked out as quickly as possible. Read more...

Mayor Newsom Introduces San Francisco Sustainable Financing Program with Supervisor Eric Mar

Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced that he will introduce legislation with Supervisor Eric Mar tomorrow, to help finance new residential and commercial renewable energy projects and energy and water efficiency in San Francisco. The new San Francisco Sustainable Financing Program (SF2) and San Francisco Sustainable Financing Special District allows building owners to access affordable, city-sponsored financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation improvements. The repayment obligation will be attached to the property, rather than the individual, and will be paid back through property taxes over the life of the financing. Read more...

Mayor Newsom Announces City Pilot Project to Improve Pedestrian Experience During Peak Shopping Season

Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced that San Francisco is expanding the walkway for pedestrians in the Union Square area as part of a pilot project under the Better Market Street Program. The Powell Street Pedestrian Improvement Project is allowing more walking space and access along two blocks of Powell Street, Geary to Ellis Streets, to improve and enhance the public’s experience during one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Read more...

Mayor Newsom’s Green Building Task Force Releases Recommendations as Transamerica Pyramid Earns LEED Gold Status

Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced that San Francisco’s Transamerica Pyramid has achieved the prestigious Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council in recognition of energy and environmental upgrades. Additionally, Mayor Newsom’s Green and Existing Building Task Force released recommendations for greening the city’s existing building stock. Read more...

Mayor Newsom Announces San Francisco Jobs Now Program Has Put 1200 People Back to Work

Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced that the San Francisco JOBS NOW program has used federal stimulus funds to put 1,200 San Franciscans back to work, and is seeking an additional 1,300 job participants before the funds expire in September 2010. Additionally, the Mayor outlined the JOBS NOW  marketing campaign launching this month with MUNI and other city partners, as well as his efforts to secure funding from Congress and the White House to extend the JOBS NOW program past September 2010. Read more...

Mayor Newsom Announces Nissan to Bring First All-Electric Vehicle to San Francisco

Today, Mayor Newsom announced on behalf of the Bay Area Electric Vehicle (EV) Corridor program that Nissan has decided to make its first all-electric vehicle, the LEAF, available to Bay Area consumers starting next year. The vehicle will be sold in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Read more...

Mayor Gavin Newsom Joins Elected Officials, the SFMTA and Bicycle Advocates to Announce First Steps to Implement City’s Bicycle Plan

Mayor Gavin Newsom today joined with other elected officials, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and members of the bicycle community to announce the first steps to implement the San Francisco Bicycle Plan.  On Wednesday, November 25, the Superior Court partially lifted an injunction that has since 2006 prevented almost all physical improvements to San Francisco’s bicycle network. Read more...