Mayor Edwin M. Lee today joined Police Chief Greg Suhr and Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White to announce a multi-year comprehensive staffing plan to increase the number of uniformed men and women to protect the community and serve San Francisco’s neighborhood residents.

The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) six-year hiring plan will satisfy the City Charter mandated 1,971 full duty officers. In the Mayor’s proposed two year budget, SFPD will hold six Police Academy classes and hire 300 officers (50 per class) over the next two years. SFPD will continue to hire three classes of 50 officers over the next six-year period and is anticipated to reach the City Charter mandate of 1,971 full duty officers by June 2018.

In the next six years, the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) will hold six Fire Academy classes and one Emergency Medical Technicians class to restore staffing levels in order to use less overtime. Read more.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced new commitments to neighborhood commercial districts and small businesses in his proposed two year budget. The budget will more than double grants funding to $1.5 million; add $4 million to dramatically expand loans and other grants specifically targeted at neighborhood small businesses; double the team that works full time in neighborhood commercial corridors to streamline permitting and link small businesses with City programs and resources; and launch the Jobs Squad to help neighborhood small businesses get expert City staff out of City Hall and into the neighborhoods.

Mayor Lee was joined by Board Budget Chair Supervisor Carmen Chu, District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim, area business owners, neighborhood residents and leaders, community-based groups, and City department heads to make the announcement in Little Saigon in the Uptown Tenderloin Historic District neighborhood. Read more.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced the introduction of a Housing Trust Fund Charter Amendment to the Board of Supervisors to protect family housing in San Francisco. If adopted by the Board and approved by voters, a permanent source of revenue would fund the creation of housing that is affordable to low and moderate households in San Francisco for the next 30 years. The measure is expected to go before voters in November. 

"Creating a permanent source of revenue to fund the production of housing in San Francisco will ensure that San Francisco is a viable place to live and work for everyone, at every level of the economic spectrum,"said Mayor Lee. "Creating affordable and middle class housing will also help build our economy and create jobs in San Francisco." Read more.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee and Supervisor Malia Cohen today announced new legislation to approve a long-term, 60-year master lease agreement and expansion plans for the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market located in the Bayview. The Wholesale Produce Market is a hub of San Francisco’s fresh food system, providing a steady supply of fruit and vegetables to restaurants and local grocers with nearly $500 million in gross annual revenue.

“The San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market has been supplying our City and region with fresh, healthy produce for 137 years. This new $100 million investment and expansion will ensure that small businesses, neighborhood grocers and anyone in the market for fresh produce for their business will continue to receive their goods from San Francisco,” said Mayor Lee. “The Market will continue to provide an economic benefit to the City and create jobs for our residents.” Read more.

As part of the Mayor's Fiscal Year 2012-13 budget proposal, Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced a five-point plan to support San Francisco's local manufacturing industry during SFMade Week. According to SFMade, a local nonprofit that assists and supports the vibrant manufacturing sector in San Francisco, the City is home to more than 325 manufacturing firms employing 3,000 people.

"San Francisco is becoming a national model for innovative local urban manufacturing," said Mayor Lee. "We are working with SFMade to provide a focused effort and demonstrate our commitment to manufacturers in San Francisco who continue to thrive and produce not only great products, but also great jobs for San Franciscans." Read more.