Mayor Newsom Appoints Jennifer Entine Matz as Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development

Mayor Gavin Newsom named Jennifer Entine Matz as the Director of the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) to replace Michael Cohen, who is stepping down effective September 30.

“Jennifer’s extensive experience in the economic development of our City will provide a smooth transition and continue the legacy of economic development and job creation we have seen under Michael Cohen,” said Mayor Newsom. “Jennifer is perfectly qualified for the position and under her leadership, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development will continue to do great things for San Francisco.” Read more...

Mayor Gavin Newsom and the Port of San Francisco Release RFQ for Pier 70 Waterfront Site

Mayor Gavin Newsom and the Port of San Francisco announced the issuance of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Pier 70, the first step in selecting a development partner to begin the remarkable process of converting industrial lands that have been in use since the Spanish American War into a 21st century working waterfront. Responses to the RFQ are due by November 18, 2010.

Considered the most intact 19th Century maritime industrial complex west of the Mississippi, the site is also one of the few remaining 20-acres parcels along the waterfront. As described in the RFQ, the Port is seeking the best and brightest development minds in the country to help bring thousands of new jobs to the local economy through development of 2.5 million square feet of new construction and rehabilitation of 260,000 square feet of historic structures.  Read more...

Mayor Newsom Announces San Francisco’s Waste Diversion Rate At 77 Percent, Shattering City Goal And National Recycling Records

Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that San Francisco achieved 77 percent landfill diversion rates, surpassing the goal of 75 percent landfill diversion by 2010 and setting national recycling rate records, the highest of any city in the United States. New statistics show that the City is up from 72 percent landfill diversion from the year before. Read More...

Mayor Newsom Announces Partnership With Toyota To Test New Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles, Upgraded Charging Systems

Mayor Gavin Newsomannounced a partnership between San Francisco and Toyota to pilot the company’s state-of-the-art Prius plug-in hybrid demonstration program vehicles. The plug-in hybrids, coming to market in 2012, will operate as part of the city fleet in order to demonstrate the viability of plug-in hybrid technology, educate and inform the public, evaluate performance under heavy-use conditions, and better understand the benefits of the technology for future customers. Read More...

Mayor Newsom Announces $1.35 Million State Grant For Affordable Housing in Mission Bay

Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced that the Mission Bay redevelopment project has been designated as one of 5 Gold Level “California Catalyst Communities” by the California Department of Housing Community Development (HCD) and will receive a $1,350,000 state grant. The Catalyst Community designation, part of HCD’s California Sustainable Strategies Pilot Program, is given to communities that are models of sustainable development and demonstrate a commitment to increasing housing supply and affordability, improving the link between jobs and housing, stimulating job creation and enhancing transportation choices. The City will receive $1,350,000 to support affordable housing in Mission Bay. This designation establishes Mission Bay as a priority for future State and Federal funding. Read More...

Mayor Newsom Launches New Anti-Truancy Partnership with Small Businesses to Keep Students in School

Mayor Gavin Newsom launched a new citywide anti-truancy education campaign in partnership with local small businesses to combat truancy among San Francisco students. Joined by Superintendent Carlos Garcia and Board of Education Vice President Hydra Mendoza, today’s launch focused on the lower 24 th Street small business corridor in the Mission District and will soon be implemented in small businesses corridors citywide.  Read more...

Mayor Newsom Announces Return Of Sunday Streets To Golden Gate Park And Great Highway

Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the return of Sunday Streets on Great Highway on Sunday, August 22nd. Reprising the popular Penguins to Penguins theme with a 4.5-mile route that runs the nearly the entire length of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park, Sunday Streets on Great Highway connects the existing Sunday car-free area to MLK Drive to Ocean Beach along the Great Highway from Lincoln to Sloat Boulevards. Read More...

New Lease For Charles Chocolates At Westfield Center Brings New Jobs, Surge In Artisanal Manufacturing To San Francisco

Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that Charles Chocolates, the artisan chocolate manufacturer and retailer, has signed a lease for a chocolate manufacturing operation and new retail store inside the Westfield San Francisco Centre. Charles Chocolates executed a lease for 5,000 square foot “Candy Kitchen” and retail store on the 4th floor of Westfield. The new store will showcase Charles Chocolates’ traditional artisanal manufacturing process and sell their hand-made candy confections. Read More...

Mayor Newsom Opens Blick Art Materials In Central Market Cultural Arts District And Announces New San Francisco Arts Market

Mayor Gavin Newsom cut the ribbon with executives from Blick Art Materials at its new, expanded venue at 979 Market Street. Blick, a premier source of fine art supplies, framing/print services and gifts for artists, students, teachers and creative minds, has moved from its location at 1414 Van Ness Avenue into a much larger, more centrally located space on Market Street. The new store will stock more than 30,000 fine art products and the largest selection of stretched canvas in the country. Blick will also nearly double its employees in San Francisco, from 7 to 15 in the new store. Read More...

Mayor Newsom, U.S. Department Of Commerce Announce $50.6 Million Stimulus Grant To Build Bay Area Public Safety Broadband Network

The U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and Mayor Newsom announced the award of a $50.6 million grant to build a broadband communications network for Bay Area public safety agencies. This network is one of the first of its kind in the nation to be built utilizing the 700MHz spectrum, recently vacated by television stations. Read More...