Thursday, July 28, 2016
Air Quality: Mayor Announces Plan to Expand Deployment of Clean Air Technologies

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is providing San Francisco $250,000 in funding to increase the deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and hydrogen infrastructure in the Bay Area. “Hydrogen fuel cell electric and plug-in electric vehicles are pathways to achieve healthier and cleaner air for our communities,” said Mayor Lee. “San Francisco is committed to reducing the number of vehicles on the road by investing in sustainable transit options and ensuring that vehicles on the road will be zero emissions.”

Hydrogen FCEV cars emit only water vapor out of the tail pipe. The current benefits of hydrogen-powered over full plug-in electric powered vehicles is currently in their range and rate of refueling. The recently released Toyota Mirai can travel an estimated 312 miles on a tank of compressed hydrogen and can refill in less than five minutes. Some of the challenges that will be evaluated as part of San Francisco’s study are the cost and feasibility of expanding the necessary hydrogen fueling infrastructure. The State of California is also supporting the expansion of the hydrogen refueling network with the California Energy Commission providing up to $20 million per year to implement a network of 100 new hydrogen refueling stations in California by 2020

Thursday, June 30, 2016
City Infrastructure:  Mayor Announces Record Level of Capital Investment

Today Mayor Edwin M. Lee and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) joined by the Department of Public Health, San Francisco Police Department and other City agencies announced the City’s new listing of high-priority Vision Zero projects – 57 high-priority projects will be initiated this year.

“Any traffic death or injury is not acceptable, they are preventable,” said Mayor Lee. “This is a real public health issue. We are working quickly to build safer, better streets, educate the public about traffic safety and increase enforcement to make our streets safe for everyone – whether they are walking, biking, driving or taking transit.”

Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Quality of Life:  Mayor Announces Safe & Clean Neighborhoods Initiatives

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced the opening of the second Navigation Center located at the Civic Center Hotel at 20 12th Street. The Navigation Center is part of Mayor Lee’s pioneering approach to help homeless people move off the streets and into stable housing or residential programs where they have access to the services they need to stabilize their lives.

“Living on our City’s streets is not healthy or safe,” said Mayor Lee. “Although we have housed and provided services for thousands of people already, we still have work to do. The Navigation Centers are an important piece in solving homelessness for those individuals who face multiple challenges to returning to housing.”

Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Public Health: Mayor Announces New HIV/AIDS Initiative

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced two bold steps in the City’s quest to get to zero new infections in the battle against HIV/AIDS: creation of the new HIV Community Planning Council and launch of a new campaign to increase the use of PrEP to prevent HIV.

San Francisco is aiming to become the first city with zero new HIV infections, zero deaths from HIV and zero stigma. New infections continue to decline, with record-lows set for the past two years. In 2015, there were 255 new cases, down from the 309 reported in 2014. That is a significant drop from 2,332 at the peak of the AIDS crisis in 1992.

“We are on the right track to get to zero,” said Mayor Lee. “We are continuing to see a decline in new HIV infections here in San Francisco, and we are redoubling our planning and prevention efforts to drive that trend all the way to zero.”

Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Urban Revitalization: Mayor Announces New Living Innovation Zone

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today unveiled Sound Commons in United Nations Plaza, a new Living Innovation Zone (LIZ) partnership with the Exploratorium and San Francisco Planning Department.

Sound Commons is a sound-based installation composed of interactive musical elements designed to encourage social interaction and play, also serves as a symbol to unite the Civic Center District. This LIZ project is part of an initiative designed to activate and restore Civic Center as a destination for all.

“The revitalization of Central Market has been remarkable, and we will continue to build on this momentum,” said Mayor Lee. “We will leverage the Sound Commons along with investments from the new Fix-It Teams to continue to create a destination that increases social interaction, improves public spaces and enhances the quality of life for everyone to enjoy.”