with all of the changing term limits, and who do we talk with? he says to be bold, talk to people you ordinarily won't talk to. and to build allegiances as mayor. for this great city, i can pick up the phone and call people and loss angeles, all of the mayor's. that was his first device. yet the 10 biggest mares together and start forming allegiance. when you put that together, you have a powerful voice of there. they listened across aisles. we have most of the populations of the states. that was one good advice.

don't form a wall even if you disagree. just because we are kind of more blue in san francisco. >> a lot more blue. >> a lot of our investors, they are republican. i was laughing about it because it was kind of this irony where the only investors that are trusted us are putting their omaha, we are trying to convince a democratic brotherhood.

we are not trying to be green. we are trying to create the economy better. you have to move towards green a lot more. >> a couple more quick questions here as we are running short on time. we have got to talk about shark fin souop. -- soup. it is a chinese delicacy, the sharks are tossed back into the water to die. you took a simi controversial stand by admitting that you

have been an -- eaten shark fin soup. explain a bit about this. >> i told the truth. you may are may not get that out of a politician. i don't eat it at all very rarely, but it is a delicacy that is used for weddings and special banquets. having said that, i am a very strong supporter of the fishing standards that the u.s. has about how you properly fish. there are reasons for those standards being created. that is where the education is,

the fishing practices. that is why i wasn't ready to support a ban. i wasn't sure if a ban was going to get there or not. i want to the science to tell us the proper thing to do. i am very open. the that is where i have been on the environment. if there are species of sharks, if there are continuing things that we need to do to protect the oceans and the environment, the banning of eating this will add to that, i am open to it. the focus has been, i think a lot of san francisco and a lot of chinese eat a lot of this. they understand that the

fishing practice is the thing that should be banned. we don't know if it will directly contribute to that at this time. >> there is time for one last question. it is an audience question. how can the local hiring policy be made compatible with the existing situation. >> there is obviously policy and reality. the policy that embraces local higher. i want her those that pay more to have a fair chance. we begin with this construction ordnance where we have special steps to be taken for contractors to show that they

are making every effort to comply with the word of its. we had people that were ready and willing to do that same work in san francisco. in my opinion, that is not fair for all of us that is paying for those projects. having said that, when you look at the city work force, i begin by saying, i remember when lily told me, if you want this job, move to san francisco. i made that sacrifice. how can everybody do that? i am not sure. i would like to champion more work force housing. it offers everyone a chance to afford to live here. that way it is a little easier. for the most part, may be for

their salaries, it has been hard to make that choice. >> things to the mayor of san francisco. a also think our audiences here on the internet and on the radio. this meeting of the commonwealth, we are adjourning. [applause]

mayor lee: good morning, everyone. good morning, san francisco. it is great to see you here this

morning. i would ask before we get started today, if you would join me in a moment of silence for the people of japan who have been so tragically impacted by the disastrous earthquake and tsunami there. if we could have a moment of silence please. thank you very much. good morning. welcome to the 2011 bay area council outlook conference. we have an outstanding agenda for you today. we have been doing this for seven years. every one of these has been very exciting. i think the program we put together is an extremely robust and eclectic program. i think we are all going to learn something. it is a place for action as well. the whole history taking place

here, and outlook that results in real action out in the environment. we are really excited about the discussions that will take place today. they will be thought-provoking. i would be remiss if i did not remind everyone to please turn off your cellphone ringers so we do not have any distractions. there is one exception to that rule, and that would be larry bair. i hear that your ringtone is "we are the champions," and that one is ok with me. speaking of larry, the giants were pleased to share with us the world series trophy. [applause]

the giants have brought so much to this city, sharing with us this incredible trophy. it is just outstanding. it will be at the giants' boost today when we have a break -- booth today when we have a break. you can take a few photos. but do not take it home with you. you'll be hearing from me from time to time today, so i will keep this short. to kick off our events and provide welcoming remarks, allow me to introduce our newest rock star -- mayor ed lee. has shown that he is a natural for the job. i have been closed to him for decades. he is the head of the human- rights commission. he went on to become the city purchaser. mayer brown appointed him to be the director of public works,

and he spent several years as city administrator. i never would have thought that ed lee would be mayor of san francisco. because he is such a can-do kind of person, such a great problem solver, but i never thought of him as someone running a political institution, and san francisco is certainly that. but he has shown tremendous prowess in the job. i think he is perfect for it. most recently, his move to keep twitter headquartered in san francisco was a big thing and showed a major commitment to keep jobs here, and i want to thank mayor lee for stepping up and doing that. obviously, as san francisco goes, and in many ways, so goes the region. i really appreciate the work that ed lee is doing. if there is some way we can often -- if there is some way we

can convince him to stay on, your suggestions are welcome. ladies and gentlemen, without further read too, welcome s.f. mayor, ed lee. [applause] mayor lee: good morning. thank you for that wonderful introduction. i just want to preface it by saying, when you get a call in your in hong kong, and that call comes from former mayor willie brown, it is hard to say no. i have taken up this challenge. i want to thank you, members of the bay area council, for your tireless work periods it is significant -- for your tireless work. it is significant this group has come together this morning around the critical issues of the bay area.

education. infrastructure. sports. there is no issue more important today than the bay area's ability to compete and win business in the global economy. in san francisco, creating and retaining jobs has been a top priority, because that is what helps keep families in san francisco and helps them thrive. we are leading the way in education, health care, and the environment. for the past three months, we have made significant progress in making sure our business climate is alive and welcoming. let's begin with our central market payroll tax exclusion. yes. we have got a very important final vote today that allows us really to refresh our efforts, to rebuild midmarket street. and that is for the company that is so important, the twitter

company. but not just twitter. twitter knows they are going to be an anchor for us and they are already attracting other businesses such as burning man, the cultural arts. you're going to see these cultural arts agencies, all live along midmarket. that is what we are trying to do. we're trying to make improvements to encourage business to continue coming to the area, and to create improvements for the whole area. the city is also working on improving blight. just last week when we had our first vote, not celebrating just because of twitter, we walked together -- with twitter, with the shorenstein group, and began at the noon substation on fifth street. we are going to make it safe for everybody. you are going to be able to walk that street and not feel the traditional fears you felt

before. we are going to improve the blight. i am proud to be joined by some many great reporters and advocates. market street is in inderal in the diverse makeup of san francisco. we will make sure it becomes a bustling central locale for innovation. we are also thrilled twitter is joining us in central market. that stretch is going to be opened for change. it is not just to have twitter there. but as you know, and as events unfolded throughout the world this past beginning year and last year, we saw the product of twitter changing world of dance all across -- world events all across the international stage.

after 3:00 today, we can simply announce that twitter is made and engineered in san francisco, with 400 million users across the world. thank you for your support on that. [applause] and of course, just last week, we simultaneously announced that burning man will be moving into the bay area, and already i am tickled with some invitations to go to burning man this year. i do not know if i am going to do that. but they just announced a five- year lease over 18,000 square feet to be located on midmarket street. that is a wonderful follow-up. there will be more to come. twitter has many other firms that will follow. you want to be there with the creativity they will bring to midmarket as well. these are great additions we have in the works. it is also no surprise that the

34th america's cup is coming to san francisco in 2013, and we are hard at work in preparing that event. as you know, we announced the people plan, the plan which will move some 200,000 people every single day, on march 31. two years out, we are aggressively trying to meet our commitments for this spectacular 2013 event. we are trying to set a new standard because we know that not only moving to hundred thousand people will be -- 200,000 people will be a challenge, but sustaining the events will constantly be our challenge. we are aiming to make the 34th america's cup the most transit, bicycle, and pedestrian-friendly as forcing event -- sporting event in our history.

strategic adaptability and the positive legacy. anything we build must last all long time -- a long time, beyond the america's cup event. we want to make sure all our neighborhoods -- chinatown, the mission, and north beach, the south east sector -- all come for this event. we are engaging transit advocates, and neighbors, and the public, beginning to ensure that we meet transportation needs of the races, as well as our residents and commuters. we are doing this, as i said, the san francisco y, in partnership with the public -- the san francisco way, in partnership with the public and our stakeholders. the transportation plan is up on

the website already. we will end -- we will wait until the end of may before we published the final document. between now and then, we will have a great amount of feedback. we are leveraging resources and enthusiasms to set new standards, and we will leave a positive long-term legacy. let me reenforce the america's cup is about bringing thousands of jobs to san francisco and generating revenue for our city. we are also working on one of the hardest topics not only we are facing, not only the region is facing, but the state of california is facing. that is pension reform. i am working hard with staff, labor groups, in my budget team. one of the most pressing issues we have to deal with is to make sure our city remains solvent through the hard economic times, like the ones we are still

facing, and that challenges us to make sure we are still reforming the system. i still got everybody at the table. and we are about to launch into our reconfirmation in a couple of weeks. it is my hope that we keep the city together and we produce one ballot measure in november and the changes we have in pension reform our long term. that we fix it and we fix it for everybody for generations, so they will have a dignified pension system to work with. this all ties as back to investing in our neighborhoods and our communities. we can make the positive investments to keep our families in our city. and i want to make sure you here this, because i want sentences get to be the northern terminus for high-speed rail in the

state. -- i want san francisco to be the northern terminus for high- speed rail in the state. we are committed to that. it will be the most beautiful terminal he will see in your lifetime. -- you will see in your lifetime. we are working hard to keep the city together. i find every day, people are telling us they want jobs. they want their dignity to be reflected in having a good job. i cannot do it without making sure we have unity at our board of supervisors. i am very mindful that every single day i have a private meeting with each member of the board of supervisors, a different member every other day, talking about what they need, treating them with respect, making sure the dialogue is open. and this new-found unity will help me as i enter on my first one-hour discussion with the board of supervisors. wish me luck.