Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced the launch of the Emerging Business Loan Fund which will make $12 million in affordable loans available to support small business, boost the local economy and create jobs. 

"Not only do small businesses help keep our world famous neighborhood merchant corridors active and vibrant, they also help boost our local economy," said Mayor Lee. "The Emerging Business Loan Fund will allow entrepreneurs and small businesses to secure the capital they need to innovate, grow their business and succeed." Read more.

Join Mayor Ed Lee, Supervisor Mark Farrell, and Budget Director Kate Howard for a discussion about budget priorities and innovative ideas for cost-savings in San Francisco.

Questions about the City’s budget priorities and/or ideas for innovative cost-saving  can be sent via email to mayoredwinlee@sfgov.org and/or twitter via hashtag #SFBudget.

WATCH ONLINE ON:  Thursday, May 2nd, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

For more background on the Mayor’s Budget you can visit the Mayor’s Budget Website and the City’s new spending transparency portal.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced the dates for community engagement events to get the public more involved in the City’s budget process and hear from residents about their budget priorities to build a balanced two-year budget for San Francisco. Mayor Lee will co-host District-based Budget Town Halls with members of the Board of Supervisors and provide other forums to hear from San Franciscans about their budget priorities and ideas.

“We are excited to hear directly from our residents about their top priorities on issues that matter the most to them,” said Mayor Lee. “We must craft a balanced budget that keeps our City on a steady course of continued fiscal stability, stimulate the local economy, create good jobs, invest in key capital and infrastructure improvements, as well as address long term challenges identified in the proposed Five Year Financial Plan and ensure that San Franciscans can access City services they need.” Read more.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee as part of the Nation’s first Walk to Work Day launched San Francisco’s Pedestrian Strategy to increase walkability around the City and make all neighborhoods safe for pedestrians as outlined in the Mayor’s Pedestrian Safety Executive Directive. The Pedestrian Strategy focuses on actionable recommendations to reduce serious or fatal pedestrian injuries by 25 percent by 2016 and by 50 percent by 2021.

“The Pedestrian Strategy outlines specific actions to cement our commitment to safer, more walkable streets for everyone who walks around our beautiful City,” said Mayor Lee. “If we can prevent an accident from happening, we must. Everyone is a pedestrian at some point, and their safety is our highest priority.” Read more.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today cut the ribbon on the new Fire Station One, located at 935 Folsom Street in the South of Market neighborhood, which is the first new San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) fire station in more than forty years. The new Fire Station One is a result of a public-private partnership between the City and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) from 2010 and is part of the City’s plan to rebuild San Francisco’s aging public infrastructure and to protect the safety of its residents.

“Investing in our City’s public safety infrastructure is critical to providing unparalleled services to residents in need 24 hours a day and being prepared for any emergency or disaster response,” said Mayor Lee. “Our City’s partnership with SFMOMA made it possible to make this vital capital improvement to San Francisco’s infrastructure. This new Fire Station One services a growing and transforming neighborhood in our City and meets the needs of our residents.” Read more.