San Francisco Achieves 77% Landfill Diversion Rate, the Highest of Any U.S. City

City’s Aggressive Recycling Program Also Creating Jobs & Stimulating Growth of New “Green Economy”

Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced that
San Francisco achieved 77 percent landfill diversion rates, surpassing
the goal of 75 percent landfill diversion by 2010 and setting national
recycling rate records, the highest of any city in the United States.
New statistics show that the City is up from 72 percent landfill
diversion from the year before.

The figures compiled by the City’s Environment Department for 2008
show that San Francisco diverted just over 1.6 million tons of
material—double the weight of the Golden Gate Bridge—through recycling,
composting and re-use. Of this only 560,000 tons went to landfill, the
lowest disposal on record.

“San Francisco is showing once again that doing good for our
environment also means doing right by our economy and local job
creation,” said Mayor Newsom. “For a growing number of people, recycling
provides the dignity of a paycheck in tough economic times. The
recycling industry trains and employs men and women in local
environmental work that can’t be outsourced and sent overseas, creating
ten times as many jobs as sending material to landfills.” Read more.

City Announces State Grant for Affordable Housing in Mission Bay

California Department of Housing & Community Development
Names Mission Bay a Model for Sustainable Development & Establishes
Mission Bay as a Priority for Future State and Federal Funding

Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced that the
Mission Bay redevelopment project has been designated as one of 5 Gold
Level “California Catalyst Communities” by the California Department of
Housing Community Development (HCD) and will receive a $1,350,000 state
grant. The Catalyst Community designation, part of HCD’s California
Sustainable Strategies Pilot Program, is given to communities that are
models of sustainable development and demonstrate a commitment to
increasing housing supply and affordability, improving the link between
jobs and housing, stimulating job creation and enhancing transportation
choices. The City will receive $1,350,000 to support affordable housing
in Mission Bay. This designation establishes Mission Bay as a priority
for future State and Federal funding. Read more.

Mayor Launches New Anti-Truancy Partnership

Mayor Gavin Newsom today launched a new citywide anti-truancy
education campaign in partnership with local small businesses to combat
truancy among San Francisco students. Joined by Superintendent Carlos
Garcia and Board of Education Vice President Hydra Mendoza, today’s
launch focused on the lower 24 th Street small business corridor in the
Mission District and will soon be implemented in small businesses
corridors citywide.

“Combating truancy and chronic absences through an aggressive,
focused and coordinated effort must be our shared priority this school
year,” said Mayor Newsom. “By enlisting the help of small businesses,
merchants and the entire community to keep kids in school, we can close
the ‘graduation gap’ and help our students succeed for the future.” Read more.

Mayor Newsom's Video Update

Mayor Newsom highlights three economic redevelopment projects signed
within the last few weeks: Hunters Point Redevelopment Project, Transbay
Transit Center & Treasure Island project in addition to the opening
of Blick Arts Materials and SF Arts Market in Central Market this week.

Watch now on YouTube.

Mayor Announces Sunday Streets on August 22nd

Penguins to Penguins route from the California Academy of
Sciences in Golden Gate Park to the San Francisco Zoo on Ocean Beach on
Sunday, August 22nd

Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced the
return of Sunday Streets on Great Highway on Sunday, August 22nd.
Reprising the popular Penguins to Penguins theme with a 4.5-mile route
that runs the nearly the entire length of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park,
Sunday Streets on Great Highway connects the existing Sunday car-free
area to MLK Drive to Ocean Beach along the Great Highway from Lincoln to
Sloat Boulevards.

“Since 2008, San Francisco has produced 14 successful Sunday Streets
events to activate our neighborhoods and communities in a unique and fun
way to promote healthy active lifestyles. San Francisco has produced
more car-free events than any other major city,” said Mayor Newsom.
“These events are collaborations between City agencies, non-profit
partners, sponsors, and community leaders to showcase each
neighborhood’s Sunday Streets route, and this weekend’s event highlights
many of the unique features and institutions on the Westside of our
City including our world class Golden Gate Park and zoo.” Read more.

Mayor Announces $50 Million Grant for New Public Safety Network

The U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) and Mayor Newsom today announced the
award of a $50.6 million grant to build a broadband communications
network for Bay Area public safety agencies.  This network is one the
first of its kind in the nation to be built utilizing the 700MHz
spectrum, recently vacated by television stations.


The
grant will fund the Bay Area Wireless Enhanced Broadband (BayWEB)
project, which will provide Bay Area emergency responders with a
dedicated and prioritized broadband communications system.  The system
will allow fire, police and other public safety officials to transmit
information more quickly and efficiently, during both day-to-day
operations and major emergencies.  For example, new broadband
applications can enable responders to view the layout of a burning
building before entering it or transmit video images from an accident
scene.


“When a major earthquake or disaster strikes next in the Bay Area, a
regional, secure and dedicated communications network for our first
responders will literally save lives, prevent further damage and protect
public health and safety,” said Mayor Newsom. “I am proud that, working
together with cities and our public safety and law enforcement agencies
throughout the region, the Bay Area will now be one of the nation’s
first regions to deploy this innovative emergency broadband
communications network.”

Treasure Island Transfer Agreement Signed

Transfer of Treasure Island to San Francisco will clear way for
environmentally sustainable development project, create thousands of
permanent and construction jobs.

Mayor Gavin Newsom, House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi, and U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus today signed the terms
for the conveyance of former Naval Station Treasure Island from the Navy
to the City. The terms of the agreement include a guaranteed payment
to the Navy of $55 million followed by an interim payment of another $50
million, plus an additional share of potential further profits. The
agreement also requires the inclusion of transactional protections
customary in the private sector for these types of transactions. Led by
Speaker Pelosi, the terms of the transfer were solidified in the 2010
National Defense Authorization Act. Read more.