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 Ellen Lee
San Francisco Chronicle

MySpace, the popular social-networking destination, is opening an office this week in San Francisco and plans to hire as many as 200 employees as it moves to redesign its site, introduce features and fend off rivals such as Facebook. The San Francisco office, in the SoMa neighborhood near AT&T Park, will focus on enhancing MySpace's infrastructure, creating products and forging strategic partnerships - some of which are expected to be announced this week. "We literally planned out all the products we're going to build in the next year or two. We don't have enough engineers to do what we want to do," MySpace Chief Executive Officer Chris DeWolfe said. "Clearly, San Francisco and Silicon Valley attract the top engineering talent in the world. ... It's going to allow us to develop incredibly rapidly."

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By Ryan Kim
San Francisco Chronicle

The Wikimedia foundation, the force behind the popular online encyclopedia Wikipedia, is moving its headquarters to San Francisco this winter. Founder Jimmy Wales said Wednesday the small operation is packing up its office in St. Petersburg, Fla., and moving to San Francisco in an attempt to create a larger brand, attract more talent and make better inroads in developing countries, particularly in Asia. Wikipedia, which is edited largely by volunteers, is among the 10 most visited Internet sites in the world. "San Francisco won out for all the obvious reasons - the Internet culture, the great developers and potential partners. It's really the place to be," Wales said. "We're a major Internet brand and this is where a lot of the major brands are located."

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Thousands of you have signed our petition in support of free WiFi for San Francisco and now more than ever, we need your help to make this ambitious proposal a reality.  We have just learned that the Board of Supervisors, led by Chris Daly, has called a special committee hearing for Monday (May 14th) at 2PM where they may try to kill the free WiFi plan for San Francisco, with little public notice.  We are asking you to Act Locally today.  Call or Email your supervisor.  Better yet - join us this Monday for a rally on the steps of City Hall at 1PM on the Dr. Carlton Goodlett Place side.  Then come testify at the 2PM WiFi hearing. Read more »