January 8, 2008
Dear Friend,
Today, I had the honor to be sworn in to a second term as Mayor of this
great city.
In my inaugural speech (link: http://zewola.com/fs/d:l/distribution_jellknv3zagfvr/wtf2wq2czg0rll/0),
I laid out a clear path forward that builds on our successes,
acknowledges our challenges and seeks, always, to keep San Francisco
moving forward.
Over the next four years, San Francisco will continue to lead the nation
in addressing the most pressing issues of our day:
We will continue to expand universal healthcare and in the coming year
expand the blessing of healthcare to 40,000 San Franciscans.
We will make San Francisco carbon neutral by 2020.
We will work to finally rebuild General Hospital.
We will create Baby Savings bonds to deposit $500 dollars for every new
resident born in our city.
We will realize San Francisco Promise that will guarantee a place at San
Francisco State University to every qualified high school student.
We will make public service a common expectation by creating a community
service requirement in all of our public high schools.
We will continue our efforts to end chronic homelessness by expanding
our sobering centers and medical access.
We will fulfill HOPE SF and start rebuilding 2,500 of our most
distressed and antiquated public housing units.
We will help rebuild Bayview Hunters Point by supporting the June ballot
initiative to bring 10,000 new units of housing and much more this
community.
We will fully implement the Community Justice Center to make sure that
offenders are held accountable and offered a path forward to change
their lives.
We will work to pass campaign finance reform to prevent those seeking an
action from City Hall from giving even a single dollar to politicians or
political campaigns while they seek that action.
We will renew our effort to create citywide free WiFi by cultivating
free wireless networks and linking these networks to a growing city WiFi
infrastructure.
We will make sure that MUNI finally works the way it should by
implementing Transit Effectiveness Project recommendations.
We will implement a sensible congestion pricing plan that works for San
Franciscans, to better manage traffic and help draw residents out of
their cars.
We will not shirk from our responsibility to make the tough choices to
protect our fiscal health today - so we are sound tomorrow.
We will work to reform the job-inhibiting payroll tax, to raise the
payroll tax exemption for the first time in 25 years.
We will create a China Desk to coordinate all of our economic outreach
to the nation that will very soon become America's most important trade
partner.
And that's really just the beginning. I am privileged to have this
opportunity to make this all possible and I cherish this opportunity to
lead. The challenges ahead are certainly great. But I know that we will
not fail.
Sincerely,
Mayor Gavin Newsom
|