11/19/09 – Today, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that the City is bringing back the Shop SF, Get More incentive program this winter for San Francisco and Bay Area residents.  Shop SF, Get More is a city-wide program that offers special discounts and promotions exclusively for residents of the nine Bay Area counties through January, 2010.

“Shop SF, Get More was a great shot in the arm for our small businesses last year,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “This year, we are bringing it back to showcase our world-class dining, museums, events, attractions, and hotels. Whether it’s shopping in Union Square or touring our diverse neighborhoods, there’s something for everyone.” Read more

Mayor Gavin Newsom today hailed San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) plans to construct a small 200 kw renewable hydroelectric project at the University Mound Reservoir, which is currently undergoing seismic retrofit. This innovative hydroelectric plant – the first of its kind in San Francisco – will generate clean, renewable energy from excess water pressure in the City’s water distribution system. This energy, which would otherwise be lost, will meet the strictest requirements for California’s renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and green energy markets. The project will be funded by $2.5 million in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS) recently awarded to the SFPUC through a low-interest loan program administered by the Federal Government to encourage renewable energy projects. Read more

Voters have re-elected Mr.Dennis Herrera as the San Francisco City Attorney.  As City Attorney, Dennis Herrera leads what American Lawyer magazine described in 2004 as "one of the most aggressive and talented city law departments in the nation." The first Latino ever to serve as San Francisco's City Attorney, Herrera was elected in 2001 on a pledge to defend the integrity of public institutions, to expand neighborhood protection efforts, and to enhance local government's accountability to its residents and taxpayers. But it has been several of his bolder, affirmative litigation efforts for which Herrera and his office have earned a national reputation.

Under Herrera's leadership the City Attorney's Office has tackled several high-profile local issue - same-sex marriage, gang injunctions, the Mirant power plant, the "sanctuary" policy for illegal immigrants, and recently deceptive health claims in marketing of food products. Herrera also filed the first ever government lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of state marriage laws that discriminate against gay and lesbian couples. Over the course of four years of litigation, his leadership would prove instrumental in eventually uniting twenty-one California cities and counties -- including 7 of the state's 8 largest cities -- to stand in support of marriage equality for same-sex partners. 

For more information please visit the City Attorney's web site.

Voters have re-elected Mr. Jose' Cisneros as the San Francisco City and County Treasurer. Mr. Cisneros was appointed in September 2004, by Mayor Gavin Newsom as Treasurer. As Treasurer, he serves as the City's banker and chief investment officer, managing all tax and revenue collection for San Francisco.  He was elected to a full term in November 2005. Key accomplishments include:

• lowest-ever property tax delinquency rate in the history of San Francisco. This means more services for the people of San Francisco, and lessens the pressure to increase taxes.
  
• high investment returns, outpacing other large California counties—while preserving the safety and liquidity of the City’s money.

• implementation of the Working Families Credit Program, an innovative public/private partnership providing a tax credit to qualified San Francisco families. More than 9,500 of the City’s lowest-income working families have received over $2 million from the program, which provides a match to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

• Bank on San Francisco. The program helps "unbanked" San Franciscans, who are disproportionately low-income, set up checking accounts. Visit the BankonSF web site for more info.

For more information please visit the Treasurer's Office web site

Results Overview:

Proposition A - Approved by 68% of Voters
Bottom line: City and County of San Francisco will be required to adopt a 2 year budget and city departments will be asked to create 5 year financial plans.

Proposition B - Approved by 52% of Voters
Bottom line: Removes the restriction that City's elected member of the Board Supervisors are limited to two aides.

Proposition C - Approved by 57% of Voters
Bottom line: Allows San Francisco to sell the naming rights to Candlestick Park reversing a previous proposition when the name Candlestick Park was mandated.

Proposition D - Rejected by 54% of Voters
Bottom line: In 2002 San Francisco banned new display advertising in the city. Voters rejected this proposition which would have amended that ban to allow new advertising on Market St. between 5th and 7th Streets.

Proposition E - Approved by 57% of Voters
Bottom line: Approval of proposition halts any additional advertising on City owned property such as MUNI's stops and buildings.

City Attorney Election (Dept web site) - Dennis Herrera re-elected by 96% of Voters

Treasurer Election (Dept web site) - Jose Cisneros re-elected by 96% of Voters

Disclaimer: At the end of election night, the Department of Elections reported results from all polling places. However, there are ballots that cannot be processed on Election Night, including absentee ballots that the Department of Elections receives on election day, provisional ballots that are cast at polling places, and ballots with write-in votes. In general, it takes the Department two weeks or more to process all absentee and provisional ballots and write-in votes. All aspects of the election process are open to public view, so candidates, members of the media and the public may observe signature verification and processing of provisional and absentee ballots and write-in votes. Each afternoon after election day the Department will release a cumulative report that includes provisional and absentee ballot cards processed that day.