First of Eight Public Housing Sites to be Entirely Rebuilt

Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Sophie Maxwell joined San Francisco Housing Authority commissioners and residents in celebrating the start of construction at Hunters View, the pilot project for HOPE SF. HOPE SF is San Francisco’s breakthrough initiative to transform eight distressed public housing sites into thriving, mixed income communities, while replacing all of the existing public housing.

Newsom to answer questions about how program works and what property owners need to do to qualify during Internet “GreenFinanceSF Town Hall” on April 12

Mayor Newsom announced today that the GreenFinanceSF program will open for business on April 12. The program will allow property owners to fund environmental improvements with the financing attached to the property and paid back on the property tax bill. Also, on April 12, Mayor Newsom will host an Internet town hall at 6:30PM to answer questions about participating in the program.

“San Francisco’s green financing program will help property owners overcome the large up-front costs of major environmental improvements to their buildings,” said Mayor Newsom. “These improvements will save property owners money on monthly utility bills, increase property value, and will help the city meet its aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals.” Read more

Largest Municipal Solar Installation in CA to Create 53 jobs and Reduce Carbon Emissions by 80,000 Metric Tons

Mayor Gavin Newsom today highlighted the construction that is underway on California’s largest municipal solar installation, the Sunset Reservoir Solar Project. To-date, almost 5,000 solar panels have been installed on the Sunset Reservoir’s North Basin. The project has generated approximately 24 jobs and by project completion; it will have created a total of 53. Once finished in December, 2010, the Sunset Reservoir Solar Installation will deliver clean, 100% renewable energy to the San Francisco electrical grid and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 80,000 metric tons over the 25-year lifetime of the project.

“With each solar panel, day-by-day, we’re fueling San Francisco’s transformation into a green economy,” said Mayor Newsom. “This particular project will create 53 sorely needed jobs and provide critical stimulus for our local green economy.” Read more

Qualifying Working Families Credit recipients can receive up to $5,600 cash back from the federal government

Mayor Gavin Newsom and Treasurer José Cisneros today urged San Francisco residents to apply to the Working Families Credit (WFC) program. This year’s WFC program incentivizes the use of mainstream banking behaviors by offering $125 to eligible families that select direct deposit of their Working Families Credit to a checking or savings account. Conversely, eligible applicants who request paper checks will receive $50 from the City.

In this week's YouTube update, Mayor Newsom discusses this year's budget deficit and projections for next year. He also encourages San Franciscans to fill out their 2010 Census, attend his Open Door Day next week and talks about a meeting with Senator Feinstein and the Lord Mayor of Cork, Ireland.

Watch now on YouTube