models. we have had the team work with our students in the past when they have come here for other events, and our students were very motivated and afterwards, this showed them something to strive to be. i will just be brief -- our organization works mostly with people back do not pay for our services. we work with the glide organization. had over 200 students come, and we are just hoping that we can bring this event to san francisco because if they come, it would increase the sailing in general, and through that, we are hoping to increase the participation of people from disadvantaged communities. thank you. commissioner fong: thank you. >> good morning.

i am a resident of san francisco. as a journalist, i have a lot of background with the america's cup. in the 1980's, i watched the shabby port town lasting the transformed by hosting one of america's cup. in the 1990's, it was a stretch of waterfront in auckland, new zealand. then, valencia, spain, leverage and an america's cup to reposition itself on the world stage. now, it is our turn, but i would like to leave you with a different perspective that is just as important to me. when the yankees gunter, that upstart yankee schooner -- a sailing vessel represented the epitome of technology and national pride, there were newspapers in new york city running editorial saying, "do not go. you are going to embarrass the whole country." but they beat the best of britain.

the bearded the english lion in his own den. it was a big deal. all across this young public, church bells rang. headlines screamed, and what became known as the america's cup is a national treasure because they had the gall to call that boat america. ever since the win in february, cynics have been telling me that san francisco will never get its act together to host an america's cup. let's prove the cynics wrong this time and finally, ultimately, put an end to our season of torture. [laughter] commissioner fong: thank you very much. >> before we begin, we created and rehearse our combined three minutes to fit into six minutes, so i'm probably going to speak

really fast to where we can fit it into the four minutes now allowed. my sidekick is norman appears, and we are here to talk about youth sailing in san francisco. our first slide shows south beach yacht club, and we hear people ask how we got there. used sailing programs in san from cisco is the answer to that question, but first, let's review some history of sailing. sanford's is the benefited from sailing vessels from our beginning from vessels in first came here included familiar names, but it also included names such as mariano vallejo. this is what mission bay used to look like, filled with boats arriving and leaving with product and bounty. the next slide shows a picture from clay st. of ships arriving. people excited about getting to

the gold rush. as time progressed, ships became a representation of what commercial sailing look like. also dock at hyde street is the alma, a working hate scowl, and you can see how different it looks. recent discoveries from the opening of chinese archives are reports from 1401 of eight chinese armada that arrived in san francisco, sailed up the sacramento river and then returned to china with news of their exciting discovery. this next map reflect key sailing clubs and recreation areas in san francisco, many of which offer you sailing programs. these include, as we just heard, the treasure island sailing center, south beach yacht club,

mission creep, and also lake merced -- mission creek. the eastern waterfront is home to our youth sailing -- commissioner fong: i would like to extend for just a couple more minutes. thank you. >> i had better speak more quickly. the central waterfront is the area where a lot of the youth sailing glasses take place. the no. waterfront is more geared toward senior and up and coming sailors. in 2000, don riley hosted america to vote in the america's cup, and her home base was san francisco. she created the true you sailing program, which continues to exist today through a legacy of hers. in india basin hunters point about 10 years ago, annual program was established to offer kids of all ages the opportunity to spend the day on the water,

and this has been widely attended, and kids you can see learning how to tie knots, using the grinder, which helps raise the sail, enjoying a male actor, and food always taste better after a day on the water. i'm a little ahead of the slides, but that is okay. i'm going to keep going. back to south beach, another youth program was established 18 years ago, giving kids the opportunities and sailboats, kayaks, and the opportunity to get your children out on the water, and you can see how happy their little faces are. in addition, there is a large bad association, and that is the bay area association of disabled sailors. you have people who are quadraplegic, who are blind, who

all sail and love being out on the water, and they sail with their senses, with the wind on their faces and their ears. so in conclusion, there are many programs in san francisco to not only encourage our used to sail, but to give them the opportunity to do so. many go on to become full-time sailors. thank you very much, commissioners. commissioner fong: thank you. [applause] >> i'm president of the sailors' union of the pacific. we support the concept of the

america's cup in san francisco bay. we have a problem with exhibit bd, referred to by the mayor's office. this would allow the transportation of spectators. this has got to come out of this. the mayor's office has assured me, and i hope they assure you, that this will come out because we have people who are dependent on their livelihood, you know, who are american citizens, residents of san francisco, who would be affected. so that is all i have to say. commissioner fong: thank you. >> thank you very much. i work with latitude 38

magazine, which is a west coast sailing publication, and i'm here primarily because of enthusiasm, and i got so caught up in it 25 years ago i have been trying to make a living in, so i'm also here to represent small businesses on the west coast, and on the west coast, lat 38 customer serving marine industries, sailing businesses, and we all know that coming to san francisco bay, the america's cup would bring lots of new business opportunities. our small customers will probably get into the sailing business because of their enthusiasm for sailing as well. i think the america's cup is going to bring lots of opportunity to not only lat 38 to our customers but also to the many residents of the bay area and the city itself because the transformation of the waterfront here will provide waterfront access that i had when i was a kid that made me a lifelong sailor and got me into the sailing business. i think san francisco has been known as a mecca for sailing for

years. it has been home to many of the best sailors in the world, and they are here because the facilities for the recreational opportunities that have been available to the people of the city and the residents of the bay area are so -- the city is so well endowed with these opportunities, but it you know the history of the america's cup, in 159 years, it has only been posted in 6 cities, so it is not an opportunity that comes along as often as the world cup, the world series, and many other events. this is really a golden opportunity that the city should not miss, not only for business opportunities, but for recreational opportunities. as an enthusiastic sailor, calls on lots of benefits, we look forward to seeing america's cup here and look forward to seeing residents on the day. -- on the bay.

>> i represent myself, and i speak in support of the agreement. i understand from some of the tenants that they are concerned about moving, but i'm sure the city can do that in an equitable manner. that this event will just be an economic boon to the city. in reading through the report, it is a great report, and it shows that it is more than economically feasible, and this report is exceedingly conservative, which they talk about. the race could be run here beyond 2012-2013. with a win, it happens again. that does not happen with the super bowl. we have seen the -- years before, but it does not happen with the world series. this could be great beyond just 2012-2013. thank you.

commissioner fong: great, thank you. >> i'm president of the marine firemen's union, located in sentences goossens 1883. our organization wants the america's cup to come here. i think it is a great event. it will be great for the city, but we cannot support a resolution which incorporates the november 9 host and the new agreement -- and then you agreement -- and venue agreement which opens the door for the passage of vessels services act, which would allow foreign ships for foreign vessels to is engaged in commerce on the bay, so we want to keep american operators, american flag vessels, and american workers working on the day.

we will work with the mayor's office to see that it happens. >> i am a native san franciscan, born and raised here. i was the general manager of san francisco's first challenge for the america's cup in 2005. i would ask that we all set aside what we know about the history of the america's cup because if san francisco gets to host the cup, we will transform it into the largest spectator sport on the earth for free. essentially, there are three reasons why this is the case -- first, the natural carina. we have the only natural our arena where we we can use our surrounding hills to allow people to watch the event with picnic lunches completely for free. secondly, reliable wins.

in newport, 40% of our races were canceled for lack of good wind. with the summer breeze all summer long, we will cancel no races, which means more reliable tv coverage, and more sponsorship value. lastly, a slalom course could be constructed in san francisco along the northern waterfront. just south of petraeus would allow us to keep all the races in a rectangle. a quiet part, and christie fields. that would cause very exciting races. boats are going to go 50 miles an hour ride on spectators, which would transform the old america's cup into an incredible -- incredibly exciting sport which will bring young spectators and high tv

interests, but essentially, for all these reasons, your support and the cities to be able to host this would enable san francisco to host what could be probably the largest spectator sport on the planet. america's cup on a beautiful when the san francisco date. commissioner fong: thank you. >> good morning. i'm a port watcher from way back. i'm very excited about getting this bid. i think even you agreement is getting better and better with each generation, whether or not we go for the open waterfront option. the terms seem to be improving in terms of making the pork whole, which is something that i think is really important. we cannot afford to lose our bonding capacity and our ability

to pay for bonds. we cannot just hand off the potential revenues to other city departments or to the public without making the portholes. we need to reactivate the embarcadero transportation planning process that we had going for several years that seems to have fallen by the wayside because we are not going to solve this transportation problem with parking and cars. we're going to have to think beyond the box on traffic and parking and transportation and shuttles and everything else, and i also want to talk a little bit, following up on what norman said -- our blue-green way is a project we have been working on for a long time with a lot of port support, and the blue part of that is getting people on the water as well as to the water. one thing we would very much

like to do is teach kids to swim because they cannot go on the water unless they learn to swim, and our kyak groups are all excited about putting together a program to bring young people on the water, and we hope we will get your support for that. >> good afternoon, everyone. i'm happy to be here to support the america's cup. this is a thrilling event. after the giants, i cannot tell you how happy that has made everybody. it is super. this has to go forward. the city is broke. that is the reality. the only way we are going to fix the piers -- i said fix the waterfront. no other mayor has done

anything, and i'm proud to say the giants are my pride, and when they won the championship, it was just the next thing to heaven. closest thing i will get. the next thing is we cannot disturb the giants development plans. that is very important. it has to be revenue positive, as other people have told you. the onlythe giants have learnedr lesson. with the 49ers they did not want to pay for it. with that the giants meet one because of this private money. this is what we have to do here. i know that we have capable people that will get that money together. if i can do anything, i will help as well. we have to be very careful about evicting tenants. i would not like to see that, if possible.

so, it is a feather in our cap and an amazing opportunity. this will be the most amazing decade we can imagine. thank you. >> my name is [applause] can meal, executive director and co-founder of non profit called the sea, learning about the ecology and seafaring history and present-day uses of the day. i am here to represent hoping that the america's cup comes here. it will lead a very wide break. i want to argue that it will extend to the children and teenagers in a very real way.

beyond economic development, yachting, racing, really into education and making kids care about the bay. to the tens and thousands of kids and families looking at the day when they might be looking elsewhere, this will have a great effect. it will affect how we teach ecology, seafaring history, and well beyond. we hope and urge that you make it happen. thank you. >> [reads names] julia? >> i think that she is outside.

let's all right. good morning, everybody. i am representing the bay area association of disabled sailors. people with virtually all kinds of disabilities have the opportunity to go out sailing. this amazing project brings people from all different backgrounds together. i am sure that saddam will elaborate. -- adam will elaborate. we think that we will greatly profit from all of the construction that will be going on during the america's cup. for example, the extension of

the brick waters will make our sailing grounds more safer. also, the america cup will bring a lot of people to the waterfront. it is this kind of public attention that we need to reach out and provide services to more people. it is also critical to raise the funds that we need to run the whole program. with that i would like to turn it over. >> hello, iam am ed gallagher over at the south beach yacht club. the entire idea that sailing is a rich, white man's sport, i am here to dispute that. even though i am a poor white man. [laughter] the main thing that i would like

to bring out is that we will all benefit and that there is no downside. if you look at the math, the culture, the entire idea of bringing the american cup here, it is a win win win win win situation for everyone. thank you very much. [applause] >> [reads names] >> i am lori armstrong. i am here to say that this kind of opportunity does not sail into the bay every day. hard to believe that this is november 30. the giants winning, after that having been america's cup coming here could give us that low for months and years. unlike the super bowl and world

series, this is not just about who is best in america, is about who is best in the world. like the olympics and the world cup, this is a tremendous opportunity. we know that visitors spend a lot of money. and we know that they stay in hotels. i'd like to extrapolate and say that 65% of every dollar spent is spent on restaurants, entertainment, shopping, transportation, etc. this money will move throughout the community. when you think of hotel spending, you think of hotel taxes. bringing the america's cup to san francisco is going to give us the economic impact that will not just benefit the port, it will actually benefit across seven cisco.

just an interesting fact lloyd, 30% of our visitors come from outside the united states. when they do they tend to spend twice as many nights here as domestic visitors. this will have another long term affect. it has an impact in terms of the future generation of international tourism. thank you. [applause] >> one of the disadvantages of being in a public forum like this is that almost everything great has already been said by be smart and articulate people in the front. but i would like to share some personal experiences i have had with being involved in the cup for the last 20 years. we have said a lot about the

america's cup and economic benefits. i have seen it firsthand in valencia and new zealand, where they had courts and appears much like ours, crumbling into the waterfront. with the investment capital that came with a cup, it transformed them, much like could be done here. also, i never would have dreamed of going to pause lend or spain without the america's cup. i know that many other people were like that. i spoke to them when i was there. i have been there three and four times respectively just because of the america's cup. a true case that tourists do spend money in those venues. i would also like to talk about what the america's cup really is. the organizing authority has promised to have 13 america's

cup world series events around the world. of which at least two will be here in addition to the defender series, challengers' series, and america's cup. meaning 45 days of racing here in the bay and the economic benefits that come with that. in 2011 there will probably be a regatta, but one of them might be pushed to 11 and 12. it will start now and last for several years, bringing people here. i have seen it and what it can do for cities. i have seen the civic pride that comes from having the america's cup and i urge you to vote in support. thank you. [applause] >> thank you. [reads names] >> good morning, commissioners.

michael bishop, the operations manager for many of the ports. i am also an avid sailor. so, i would love to see the america's cup here. as a lieutenant, i am concerned with keeping the port hole. minding poor tenants. especially on pier 50. on the west end is a vendor of mine managing court assets. the 66 year lease is losing control of the port property for such a long period of time. i would like you to keep that in mind as we move forward.

things that have happened in this document so far have been positive and we need to keep moving in that direction. thank you. >> good morning, karen pierce, chair of the southern waterfront advisory committee. i am not speaking on behalf of the committee, as we took no action, but i want to point out that we did have a lively discussion on the proposal that included using tear 50. i can tell you that i think it was unanimous, members supporting the idea of having the america's cup come to san francisco. one concern is that we ensure that the industrial maritime activities that go on in the southern waterfront are protected and continued. we fear that if peer 50 is taken,