fabulous salsa dancer himself so bringing this program to our students at bryant elementary, hillcrest, at marshall and guadelupe schools, are fine dancers and a wonderful, wonderful afternoon, have to say it really made my day. president mendoza: great. do you want to say something, commissioner yee? vice president yee: it was such a fabulous performance. i was expecting the kids to do real well, but not as well as they did. it's for nine weeks that they had to practice with their teachers and two days a week, they had to learn five different dances during that time and they were able to accomplish that. it's amazing what kids can do. and there were a lot of assumptions like, oh, geez at that age the boys and girls don't want to touch each other and so forth. they were so cute. i mean, they had no hesitation

about what they needed to do. so serious, too. and the way they walked into the room, escorting their partners and so forth. it was just a wonderful event where everything was so positive. the kids were positive. kids really supported each other. i mean, from the different schools. there wasn't none of this booing stuff going on and parents behaved. they didn't run around the stage area taking pictures. they pretty much sat in their seats and took it from there. so i was pretty proud of that and thank you, deputy superintendent bridgette caronsa in being one of our artistic panelist and guadelupe was one of our artistic panelists that came and other people from the district were there to support and to be entertained by the effort. what's amazing is that during that day, after the performance,

so many other schools that happened to be there came up to me and said we want to be part of this for next year so i'm going to have to find a way to manage how to do this. and i want to thank the -- helped support and gave us resources to make this program happen. >> commissioner yee, didn't we say next year there will be a special board cha-cha-cha. president mendoza: i can cha-cha now, that's all i can do. commissioner snras. commissioner murase: i wanted to congratulate the 20th anniversary of the san francisco children's fund earlier today. coleman advocates had an event at city hall and most of my colleagues were there to help celebrate. secondly, i did attend the sfusd

community budget meeting on may 5 and i want to thank staff members nancy wo mack, rita notavan and nancy anderson for being there. it was a small but committed group and i wanted to remind our families and stakeholders that additional community budget meetings will be held on may 12, 6:00 to 7:30 at james lake middle school and may 25th, 6:30 to 8:00 at jefferson elementary school where you can sort of begin to understand the full weight of the budget crisis that we're in. just two other announcements. the northern japan earthquake relief fund administered by the japanese culture and community center has reached $2.5 million in donations. so we want to thank the community for supporting that grass roots effort. and then finally, on this past

weekend, the san francisco dental society announced the winners of the children's dental poster contest and this year there was quite a strong representation from our public schools. it also reaches out to our private schools, but of the over 50 prizes, there was quite a large number of our kids from stephenson, johnny ho-chin, spring valley. i especially want to thank sfusd nurses paula balm and cathy fuller for helping judge the poster contest and they will be on display at our san francisco public library and also at the airport terminal 1, i believe. so want to thank the dental society for supporting and putting together this program. president mendoza: thank you. >> i wanted to remind everyone who had been watching our

renaming of the burnett childcare development site that we have the dedication this thursday from 3:30. >> next thursday. >> thank you. thursday, the 19th, from 3:30 to 5:30 and the address is 1520 oakdale avenue and the major cross street is third street. and this has allowed ms. havert, all of her family to come from the east coast and from all of california to be there with her during the dedication ceremony at the school site. so i wanted to mention that, as well, again, may 19, thursday, from 3:30 to 5:30. speaking of poster contests, i wanted to announce that our own former board of education commissioner's daughter jade mar won the citywide environmental poster contest and jade mar is a fourth grader at mccoppin

elementary school. president mendoza: she's a fifth grader? >> and so congratulations to ms. mar. president mendoza: thank you. i have a couple of announcements. youth speaks is having their annual grand slam. if you have not been to a youth speaks event, you must go to this youth speaks event. it's happening on saturday, may 20, and it's going to be davy's symphony hall, starting at 7:00. uasf is having their retirement dinner on the 12th, this thursday, and we're also honoring all of the retirees from the school district as we do at an annual event in the green room at the war memorial and that's on monday, may 16th. thank you. and then i also had the privilege of sitting on a panel

with youth works who they provide -- they work with our students to provide internship programs and the focus was interns that have come into government positions and it was fascinating and wonderful and congratulations to our youth that participate in youth works. student delegates? >> i want to say thank you for making frisco day happen because it was really helpful and it made us realize that we're not alone in being nervous and going to college and they gave us tips that would help us survive freshman year of college specifically. thank you. president mendoza: can i add to that, so that we have over 3,000 of our high school seniors go to ucsf, san francisco city and state college and sit in on classes that will prepare them once they're on the campus whether it was financial aid or filling out application. any of our students who did not

have plans to go on to college or weren't sure what they were doing, we had them apply to city college so city college has been a really great partner for us and we congratulate all of you guys for coming out and we hope to do it again next year. any other announcements? ms. wilson? >> started doing something unusual. last year, a friend of mine who graduated before me was invited to take part in the graduation ceremonies wearing cap and gown and the whole deal. and this year, my class -- i don't know how many of them are left -- but my class, and i will be participating in the little graduation on may 25th. [applause] i graduated -- i was in the

class of december 1936, but that year they changed the class so that actually we graduated in january of 1937. president mendoza: that's fantastic. congratulations. vice president yee: i don't know if this is appropriate. but i'm so proud of my daughter that i have to say it, my daughter's going to ucla, she's in the master's program for public policy and she told me offhand like oh, by the way, i'm going to be the commencement speaker. i'm so proud of her. >> since we're doing this, i would like to say congratulations to ms. wilson and my mother will be after the end of this month attending her 75th college graduation from

barnard college and she actually is going to be a -- she thinks there may be three members of her class there and five years ago at she will be in the procession and represent the 75th anniversary class. >> our like to congratulate our own superintendent garcia on receiving an honorary doctorate from claremont college. congratulations. >> and dr. >> dr. >> since everyone is making personal announcements, my fifth grader was chosen to give her commencement speech. >> my granddaughter spoke to me the other day.

>> my son just got a 4.0. >> my daughter got a scholarship to uc-berkeley. >> item t is a report on closed session action. the stipulated expulsion the agreement was agreed upon. one principle, at two directors, three program and administrators. the board of education approved the contract for one manager, 13 principles kamal and three assistant principals, one general counsel, one assistant general counsel, two senior deputy senior councils, one

general counsels, said an assistant superintendents, one senior executive directors, two directors, three program administrators. the board of education approved the contract of one assistant -- 1 assistant superintendent. i will adjourn at this to -- to says that we would be done at 9:30. this meeting is adjourned.

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. [laughter]

because i do think we need positive dialogue in this city. the fractious times are over with. we need a unified dialogue. i have every faith that this unity will bring about the success that wean are known for -- that we are known for. and by the way -- though, giants. let's have another win in this city. we can handle it. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you, mayor lee.