KTVU News

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco is the second greenest city in the country, according to Popular Science Magazine.

The magazine this month released its list of "America's 50 Greenest Cities," ranking them on such programs as renewable energy, transportation habits and air quality, green buildings and public spaces, and recycling programs. The list was compiled with data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Geographic Society for cities with more than 100,000 residents. Read more »

By Matthew S. Bajko
Bay Area Reporter

Mayor Gavin Newsom began his second term in office Tuesday, January 8 with a stinging rebuke for those who complain about "San Francisco values" during his inaugural speech. Standing on the staircase underneath City Hall's Rotunda, Newsom recalled how nearly four years ago same-sex couples exchanged marriage vows on those very steps. With his ordering city officials to wed gay and lesbian couples, Newsom said, We saw how San Francisco can be a beacon for the world when we led the fight for marriage equality." And when the city extended protections to transgender residents "it became better," said Newsom. To those who continue to attack him and the city for standing up for LGBT rights, the mayor had a response.  "They deride what they call 'San Francisco values.' But we know that those values inspire many more than they frighten," said Newsom, later adding, "when others were fearful, San Franciscans did not falter. ... We will not stop making this city an inspiration and an example for others." Read more »

By Cecilia Vega, Heather Knight, Chronicle Staff Writers
San Francisco Chronicle

Mayor Gavin Newsom was sworn in for a second term Tuesday, promising to make San Francisco a greener city and a national leader in health care reform while praising "San Francisco values" like support for same-sex marriage and protections for undocumented immigrants. Newsom's father, retired Judge William Newsom, administered the oath of office using a family Bible under City Hall's palatial dome in a ceremony that organizers billed as low-key. The mayor was sworn in alongside his sister Hillary Newsom Callan, her two young daughters and his new fiancee, Jennifer Siebel, to whom Newsom referred in his inaugural speech as "the love of my life."

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By John Upton
San Francisco Examiner

San Franciscans will be able to purchase absolution for some of their environmental sins under a new city program that will use the funds to reduce climate changing emissions from government work and from local businesses and residents. Activities powered by fossil fuels or bio-fuels, such as driving, flying or building a bridge, change the Earth’s weather by increasing the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the air — a phenomenon scientists call global warming. An array of new businesses have recently begun selling what’s known as carbon offsets, which reduce the effects of carbon dioxide emissions by paying for projects that fight global warming. Read more »

By Adam Tanner
Reuters

San Francisco will become the first U.S. city to offer a program to offset the impact of global warming by funding local green activities, the mayor said in an interview on Monday. Under the program to be announced on Tuesday, city officials would calculate the carbon cost of their travels and contribute to one of several city programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions -- or forego the travel altogether. "What we are trying to do by this is to set high standards to show carbon offset programs that work," Gavin Newsom told Reuters, adding he was wary of offsets with little accountability that promise action in distant lands. Read more »

San Francisco Examiner
Editorial Originally Published July 16, 2007

In one of the more practical visionary plans to emerge from the San Francisco municipal government during recent years, Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Task Force on Green Building has laid out a detailed blueprint for phasing in green standards that would make The City the most environmentally advanced in the nation by 2012.  Advantages to the public from adoption of such rigorous environmental standards for all new private and government-funded construction would include projected savings of 220,000 hours of electricity and 100 million gallons of drinking water, elimination of 60,000 tons of CO2 emissions and 700 million pounds of construction/demolition waste. Read more »

In the face of overwhelming support for Mayor Newsom's budget, Supervisor Chris Daly cancelled his rally and took the extraordinary step of cancelling the Budget and Finance Committee hearing.  But that didn't stop hundreds of people from descending on City Hall on Wednesday afternoon to fight for the city of San Francisco.  We won the first battle for a smart budget that addresses the needs of all San Franciscans and against the politics of self-interest. But the fight is far from over. Read more »

By Lynn St. Albus 
Vice-President, San Francisco Waldorf School Board

Construction is underway on not only a new school, but a new way of life. In September the San Francisco Waldorf High School will open its campus as the first LEED certified school in the San Francisco Bay Area.  “LEED certification is quickly becoming the gold standard for ecologically conscious design,” said Paul Salazar, board member for San Francisco Waldorf High School. “The new campus is allowing the school to further it’s commitment to sustainable teaching practices and show students first-hand how beautiful and usable green building can be.” Read more »

San Francisco Examiner
Originally Published June 4, 2007

The best aspect of Mayor Gavin Newsom’s record-breaking — but balanced — $6.1 billion budget for 2007-08 is that it focuses on improving long-neglected infrastructure and life-quality issues that directly affect the daily existence of ordinary San Franciscans. It avoids pandering to the demands of loud special interests.  The budget Newsom proposed Friday adds substantial new funding for the basic needs of a civilized urban life. Public Works gets a $5.4 million boost to $36.4 million, the highest total ever allocated for fixing our potholed streets. Another $8.5 million goes to rebuild playgrounds and renovate sports fields. Read more »