>> and finally someone who has kept you safe on the campus, ron hodges, security, 41 years. thank you all for your dedication and your commitment to the youth at lowell high school and to our great city and now, good evening, for lowell high school graduates class of 2013, go red and white. [ applause ] [ cheers ] >> i got my red on today. and with 613 students graduating today, i would like to say congratulations to all of you, you truly represent the incredible promise that our great city of san francisco is. thank you david, for your very kind introduction, as one of lowell's student leaders you must be very proud to be standing here in front of your class who will be graduating with you, thank you for being a

great example to your fellow classmates and to our city's youth and i hope that kayla your senior class president and david your student body president as well as the entire lowell graduating class of 2013 become the great community and civic leaders of san francisco future. because of being your mayor, i think that the people of the city every day for the opportunity to serve san francisco. it is a privilege to wake up each morning and to work for you, a people the our city and to do everything that i can to help all of us be successful. and as your graduation day is a day when you set off on a path to success you will use what you learned at lowell to tackle the great challenges next in your life, to make the differences in your world and the impact in the lives of your peers, family, your friends,

and your community. looking back at my graduation day in high school, i remember feeling excited, scared, nervous, and inspired to make a difference in the world and just like you my journey started on this very important day, graduation day. and you know, each of our lives brings different challenges and each of you will have your own individual challenges. for me, i lost my father, when i was a sophomore in high school, so i knew that my days ahead were not going to be very easy. in fact, i made up my mind as a graduate of public high school, that i was pretty much going to go it alone even though my dad was a cook and my mom was a

seamstress and she had five other kids to take care of and i did not want to be a burden. so, i was going to do what i think all of you are trained to do at lowell high school i was going to work my rear off to make sure that i could prove myself. and if i did it on my own, more pride to be taken. as a graduating senior, i had a vision to make this world better, a better place for my family as well as my community. after graduate froming public high school in seattle i went to a small liberal arts college in the state of maine, i went from seattle to maine. i had to sees the opportunity even if it meant moving away from friends and family and moving away from what i was familiar with to take on new

challenges looking back at those years i made the right move because the learned the east coast, i learned now where my daughters are at so i could tell them what they were about to face, and i know that this country is tied much more than just land. going from east coast you get a lot of experiences, after four and a half years i had enough of the east coast and i moved back to the west coast here to get a law degree at uc berkeley and i knew that san francisco would be become my new home. as some of you may know my background is as a civil rights lawyer working right here in san francisco. back then, a generation set out to make sure that we all recognized our greatest asset as a nation, our diversity. and together, in those years,

we locked arms and stood in a doorway of the international hotel. to prevent the wrongful eviction of senior chinese and filipino immigrants who had no money and no place to go. [ applause ] and today san francisco has some of the best tenant protections. we sued the san francisco fire department, to get women and people of color a chance to be a firefighter, to serve, the public of san francisco. and to dedicate their lives to public safety, today we have a city's first female fire chief and our public safety agencies are more diverse than ever, and just as proud and good as any other generation that this city has ever seen. i joined with others there that were just as dedicated and committed as i was to make a difference for the residents of

san francisco. together, we helped to make san francisco a different place, one that embraces and celebrates diversity. and today, san francisco is one of the most diverse cities and one of the most diverse regions. in fact, in the world's most diverse democracy. i never thought that i would ever in my lifetime see an african american as president of the united states and i never imagined that san francisco would have an asian american mayor. [ applause ] so as mayor, one of my many goals during my term in office is to empower all of the residents and make our city even more responsive, efficient and accountable to the voice of all the diverse communities.

i gather the importance of the ties in the need of our community and every day i am trying to make san francisco a place where everyone succeeds, a city for the 100 percent. i am honored to be working for the community, and fighting for the community, and trying to help the community and our city be a better place for everyone to live, work, visit, and do business. today, san francisco's economy is recovering. our unemployment rate has dropped from 9.6 percent when i first came into office in 2011, to an astonishing 5.4 percent today. [ applause ] we put san franciscans back to work and gave them back the dignity of a paycheck so that they could support their families. but it is still not good enough. and i will remain focused on making sure that no one is left behind. that is why we created programs

like tech sf to insure that our long term unploid and youth have access to education, training, and job placement assistance. we have already trained and packed scores of people in technology jobs and the first graduation is this june. last summer, i proudly joined mayor pelosi to take up president obama's challenge of taking up summer jobs for activities for at risk youth and we surpassed our own goal, we got 5,201 summer jobs for kids last summer. the summer jobs plus program and now thanks to another great partnership with the united way this summer. we are working even harder to make sure that we find the paid job opportunities for 6,000 youth in our city. yes, we want to insure that all

of you have opportunities and skills needed to compete in the 21st century economy and workforce. that is why with the shared goals with the superintendents of our school and boards and we continue to make it the expectation >> and with the kindergarten to college program we are able to establish a college savings account for every kindergarten student, can you believe that? as a city? yes. >> and we are working to insure that every student especially students of our middle schools have the resources and opportunities to graduate ready for college. and since day one i have been committed to our cities' family and our children and our youth and i will remain committed because i see education and training not as an expense, but

as an investment. my wife, anita and i have been parents to both of our daughters so i know first hand what it is like to be a parent here in san francisco. and i want to thank you all parents to being here. because they could not have done it without you. i know that. and what sacrifices your parents made, i know that. because they are investing in you as part of our future and helping you pursue your dreams. we all want you to succeed. because as all of you embark on the next leg of your journey, i want you to remember to come back to san francisco. i want you to come back, i want you to work here, the innovation, capitol of the world. i want you to come back and i want you to raise your families here and i want you to buy a house and maybe a couple send your own kids to public school right here in san francisco. i want you to come back and be the next generation of leaders

like the great that have help to build san francisco like the houses and the fishers and so many more that fight for the community and build the strong neighborhoods and yes these names you know because they were in your shoes, they were also graduates of lowell high school. [ applause ] >> san francisco is the greatest city in the world, i know it. i know it. and wherever you go, we will get to brag about that because we are and we know this. and they love the city, and we love the city. so when you succeed whether you become the next fortune ceo or a noble prize winner or a supreme court justice, remember to make your community and your city a better place for all. i leave you with this advice as you begin your new journey, my vision began when i was

graduating high school senior. and now, it is your turn to make your vision a reality. make an impact on the future, and make your community and this world a better place. be bold, and to quote one of my favorite movies, boldly go where no one has gone before. congratulations class of 2013, go out there and change the world. thank you. [ applause ]c transit take ston

88. we are at mount davidson and it has the highest point of elevation in san francisco hitting a whopping 928 feet. mt. davidson provides a peaceful 30-acre owe ace and great hiking trails. the spectacular views offers a perfect place to watch the sunrise or suffer sun set with someone you louvre, wear sturdy shows to conquer the stone trails and denly inventory advantage gives you hikers the sensation of being in a rain

forest it's quite a hike to the top here at mount davidson but the view ♪ of life. in the name of god the father,

amen. >> thank you. now i would like you to welcome the mayor of san francisco, mayor ed lee. [applause] >> thank you, good afternoon, everybody. it's my pleasure to be here to join former mayor willie brown, and supervisor scott wiener and david campos, and the commission of the police department, and friends and staff and friends and family here to witness the promotion of 56 officers of our police department. you know many of you have heard me say in the city that we are the world passage, and rightly so. we are doing things that no other city is doing to lead the way. not just for economic recovery

but job creation. showing the way. and our mission bay and biotech, the latest discovers and drugs, the cure of cancer with residents of san francisco working there. we host the biggest and best conventions in the world to bring people together in this great city to do things that collaborate with each other. whether it's business or medicine or research. we have some of the best research and diversity here that are anchoring the discovery. at the same time we host some of the best sports teams in the world. and you know that we are winning the world series and collaborative teamwork that we are doing. or trying to make five more yards in some super bowl. this is a world-class city. and because it is, we require a

world-class police department. and by golly, with chief suhr and the commission, we have it with you, the men and women of the police department. and i can vouch with this, having hatraveled as mayor brow and witnessing all the other cities and what they are going through. there extreme jealousy of our city. we get the best people that live here and work here and a part of this great teamwork we are building in san francisco. and not just what we are presently doing. but building for the future. and in working for the chief and the police officers association. we have already established a six-year hiring plan. many cities across the country haven't figured out how to do that. we have did so.

this january i was so proud to see 43 additional officers graduate from the police academy. how long ago have we seen that happen. we are investing in you, the police department. because we know that if we have a successful police department, one that is growing, and one that incurs faith and confidence from residents and friends and businesses. we will be that much more successful. it's my personal pleasure to join you today. i have a couple of officers i get to pin. they have sacrificed their time working with me on the security detail. they had get used to some weird things i had to do. whether it was eating chinese food and cheese cake at the same time. or trying to handle the very high levels of meetings i was required to attend. they were very forthright in their jobs and duties.

the pie in the face. you got to history for that one. anyway, i do enjoy working with the police department. the culture here is solid. the teamwork is no different than the best of the teams that work in san francisco. and someone, myself being a veteran of government in 23 years, i have always felt that our police department is not only the best but i am certainly very proud of each and everyone of you, of the whole police department. and today particularly the 56 who have earned these promotions. and have done all the things that you need to do to lead a department and continue leading in a best fashion. with that i offer my sincere pride and congratulations to each and everyone of you. and congratulations to the whole police department. continue to do the best you can.

and keep us the world-class status that we are. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you, mayor lee for those very kind words. our next speaker is one of our very well respected police commission commissioners. commissioner susie loftus. >> thank you, everyone. on behalf of the san francisco police commission, president tippy tip tippy mazzucco and it's my great privilege to honor this day of your leadership. and not only the guys and women on the front row. but everyone who here. your families. if i can take a moment and thank you on behalf of the commission. for the sacrifice that we know you make every day. you lend us your loved ones.

your family to go out and keep this city safe. and it's appreciated. and on days like today when we recognize these officers and deputy chiefs. this is your day. this is your accomplishment. because no one does anything alone. thank you for what you have done to make this day possible for them. and to the ladies and gentlemen on the front rows. what i want to say to you is this. i heard a statistic that in the next five years the patrol will turn over. in five years we will have half a different set of patrol officers. i did say that correctly. half of them will be new. i want to be sure, i saw the captain look at me like it didn't make sense. they will do that on the commission. and what means is that leadership matters more than ever. to whom much is given, much is

expected. congratulations today and we look forward to watching your careers as you move forward. thank you. [applause] >> and now i would like to ask the chief of police, gregory suhr to come up and speak. >> if i could ask everyone more time, i think we short changed chanel silas on that national anthem. [applause] she actually stood in sergeant jerry darcy who laid world series fame and lore was going to sing, and has the same cold that everyone has, and channel

showed up. i want to thank the families and friends that are here, and dignitaries. and the board of supervisors who are represented. supervisor campos and weiner, great friends of the department. and commissioner loftus, needs no introduction. and willie brown, tremendous friend of the police department. i don't know if we have been blessed to have a mayor more supportive in our hiring plan, than mayor lee. i appreciate everyone working together to support us here in san francisco. now to the matter at hand. we are privileged to be here of the 56 sworn officers that are sworn to the rank of sergeant, captain and deputy of chief. in all endeavors leadership is critical to success.

as we move into the first half of 2013, solid and sound leadership as commissioner loftus spoke us is critical to the success of the san francisco police department that challenged our able to provide top-notch law enforcement due to staffing and budget challenges. this past year we were expected to do more with less, and this expected to be the new normal. not only did we persevere, we excelled. we went into the neighborhoods and heard them. we lived through one of the busiest december in san francisco, and a good january and february, we can talk about that play-calling later. we were relatively unscathed for the mission district celebrating the world series. we pulled together as a team,

with one common goal to keep the city safe. this took leadership not from the top down but from the streets up. the senior officers and lieutenants knowing what was needed. it took the captains to be sure that their teams were willing to work as one. and again keeping the city safe. we did it like the champions we are. like no other law enforcement can, san francisco's finest. as each of you move in your new role, you will have the technology of advancements that provided for us locally and regionally and around the world. and we have issued laptops, courtesy of hp, thank you very much. and making our officers more mobile and where they need to be. outside and on the streets.

as i have said often, we have four generations of cops now sifting through the department. and trying to figure out how to pull it together to keep the greatest city in the world safest. as we hire new cops over the next years, maybe more than in any time in the history, it will take leadership. i mentioned leadership, and not saying what it is. let me start what it isn't. leadership is not managing. not to take away from a good manager, but managers are not leaders. there is no leadership required when there is order and routine. management is what is required for routine order decisions but when order is distorted leadership is required. and already is distorted outside of san francisco, because it's san francisco. now the order in the department for reasons of progress are

distorted by me. because it's about time. why i am upsetting the apple horse before the cart, sometimes we need to affect for progress. it's said that progress is never achieved by contented people. i believe we can always be better. times such as these will require many leaders to lead folks to the change necessary to get to a better place. such as the leadership i will require of you. i have said more times that i want us to be the smartest police department in country. and how we are seen by the young people in the city. officers that can't how lucky we are in a position to help people. how lucky we are to put on a san francisco police officer uniform. it's for this reason that i want the kid that sees a san

francisco cop for the first time. we owe them our best. with this in mind, all the people that are selected today are tomorrow's leader. one thing i like about leadership to have talent and character and ability to think on their feet. and eagerness to demonstrate how to do it the right way. everyone on this stage has talent. and the secondary criteria. i am grateful to your family and friends for your tremendous character because they put that in the hard drive. you all have demonstrated the ability to think on your feet. and now i need you to have the eagerness and resolve as i do, that we can get there from there. and undermined by critics and obstacles. but we can move this proud department together. this no easy task as we are losing many senior folks as we speak. folks need to step