Mayor Edwin M. Lee today introduced legislation to support San Francisco public schools by providing an additional $1.5 million to the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) from the City’s Rainy Day Fund. The City’s FY 12-13 budget previously appropriated $6.27 million, and this infusion of additional resources will bring the total Rainy Day Funds up to $7.77 million this year.

“Making sure San Francisco’s youth receive a quality education and are ready for college and ready for the jobs of the 21st Century are among my highest priorities,” said Mayor Lee. “In San Francisco, we set aside revenue so that when times get tough we can continue to fund these vital education priorities. By releasing these rainy day reserve funds, we are living up to our commitment to San Francisco’s students.” Read more.

Today Mayor Edwin M. Lee and Supervisor Malia Cohen celebrated the completion of Phase One of the HOPE SF Hunters View public housing project, the first of five public housing sites slated to be redeveloped as part of the City's HOPE SF initiative, and welcomed 25 San Francisco families (14 former Hunters View public housing families and 11 new families) to their new homes in one of the most ambitious, nationally-recognized public housing revitalization initiatives. 

"Today, we are delivering on a promise to the residents of San Francisco's public housing," said Mayor Lee. "By rebuilding Hunters View and other sites like it, we are providing hope to families and transforming communities at the same time. Five years ago under the leadership of Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco made a bold step by launching the HOPE SF initiative that is revitalizing our City’s most distressed public housing sites." Read more. 

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today introduced a supplemental appropriation which includes the release of $7.2 million to backfill State budget reductions and to protect the City's social safety net for its most vulnerable residents, including children and seniors. 

"Even in a challenging economic environment, we have balanced our budget, made tough decisions and, most importantly, planned for the future," said Mayor Lee. "We are now in a position to protect critical City services and programs and offset cuts from the State to some of our most vulnerable residents. However, it is critical that we judiciously maintain and spend our reserves, especially with the threat of more than $40 million in Federal sequestration cuts looming." Read more.

On New Year's Eve, come and enjoy the annual San Francisco Fireworks celebration. 

Fireworks by the Bay
Dec. 31, 2012
Mission Street on The Embarcadero Pier 14

The City and County of San Francisco’s New Year’s Eve free, midnight fireworks show will be staged from barges located 1,000 feet out in the bay off of Pier 14 (foot of Mission Street on The Embarcadero). The best public viewing locations are the wide sidewalks that run on both sides of The Embarcadero between Mission and Howard Streets. The pyrotechnics can also be viewed along The Embarcadero in the vicinity of Washington Street and Justin Herman Plaza. There is zero tolerance for alcohol at this family friendly event. And remember Muni rides are free from 8 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2012 until 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2013.

For a complete list of events, please visit the San Francisco Travel website.