together to set ambitious 100- day goals. most of the goals were set to deliver the vouchers while improving the targeting of those vouchers. each of the community teams left to there workshop with 100 day- goals and plans. the goals were trained around real result. based on the specific number of homeless veterans in 100 days or the timing for contact and placement and housing. hide it is proud to partner with the va and the city -- hud is proud to partner with the va and the city of san francisco. to clarify how hard the works, hud was cleared to fund an additional 200 housing vouchers. the va identifies a homeless

veteran, prefers them to the housing authority and provides them with case management services. these are all important elements of the program. hud is the federal agency that convenes the san francisco bureaus and guides the initiative. i want to make sure i acknowledge mark ruiz as the team lead for the home initiative here. also george, in the back of the broom, and toed cabrreras, whose work has been a central. we're working to find homes for chronically-homeless veterans who have a hud voucher. specifically the goal is to find housing for 50 veterans and 100 days. to accomplish this, we need owners and lamb motor -- and

landlords to join our efforts. we know we have a long way to go before we can call this effort a success. it requires sustained engagement by the community. as for the housing choice voucher program, also called section 8, rent paid to landlords is comparable to rent received on the open market. i wanted knowledge the heavy lifting in the homes for heroes program is being done by the va case workers and the staff at the san francisco housing authority. the administration has made a commitment to in veteran homelessness by 2015. we'd look forward to working with local communities to achieve that goal. i would like to thank community partners for that dedication to continue making homes for heroes of best practice to eliminate

homelessness for veterans. our veterans deserve nothing less. to 100 days has already begun. there is only 70 days to go. thank you very much. [applause] >> next, we will hear from jake martin from the veterans administration. these are not just numbers on the page. dba has been essential -- the va has been essential. >> i am take martin and the work for the va. i have been there for about 20 years. i am homeless center director. i am joined by our chief of social work. we've seen many, many homeless veterans come to my clinic down at third and harrison. in 2008, we received 35 vouchers. i had over 300 veterans

expressed interest. we interviewed every single one of those veterans to make sure that we were housing the most eligible, the most chronically homeless veteran. it was a daunting and lengthy process. i see one of my case managers in front of me who was instrumental in getting that done. every morning when i come into our clinic, what i see is men and women who served in the armed forces who, and myself as a veteran, who worked on the plane that i flew in the middle east. who helped pack my parachute. who did all the things necessary to make sure that mission i had was achieved. that is to i see every morning when i walked out there and see the homeless men and women in the clinic, or when i walk and two out reached in golden gate park -- outreach in golden gate

park or go out to eureka, which is in my area and i see men and women camping, traumatized by what they witnessed during wartime. thankfully we have a president who has really stood behind us and our secretary shinseki who has made it a lofty goal to make sure we end homelessness for veterans by 2015. i am so thankful we have a city team, who everybody has been talking about keeping our collaboration with hud has been outstanding and incredible and the pha has been remarkable about the things they have been able to do and finish. bevin dufty, thank you very much for taking this from the san francisco boot camp and making sure this happens.

to our landlords, thank you very much. it is so important to have those landlords, and we could use more. and have so many homeless veterans to come to this city. it is very important to make sure they are housed. our shelter system. i can say enough about that, joyce. they are the first line in defense in getting those veterans of the street and getting them housed. our community partners. i have been working with them for 20 years. for me coming it is so important to have that community partnership. they have been so instrumental in getting them housed. clothes, jobs, training. it has been an incredible thing to have this city team working together and collaborating to end homelessness. and we will do it. so, thank you very much. i appreciate it.

[applause] >> jake used the word remarkable to describe the san francisco housing authority. i will introducehenry alvarez from the san francisco housing authority. >> i am the son of a veteran as well. bevin told me to think about this in ways we have never thought about it before. our goal is to get better rents and housing as quickly as we possibly can and be as innovative as we possibly can. i just want to thank our staff, here with us today. [applause] mr. mayor, we will do everything in our power. we will move that line as quickly as we can. thank you it very much. >> next, the mayor spoke about

exceptional listen. i want to welcome the leader of an exceptional organization in san francisco. [applause] >> thank you so much. this room is pretty amazing. we have all the players here in the room. and the interest the media has. a lot of this is reflected in the public perception that we cannot let what happened to vietnam veterans happened to the newest generation of that's, right? we cannot have the term " homeless veterans." we have a this much interest. the public is saying we have got to do something. we cannot have business as usual. there is a sense of urgency. every day, someone on the street supper's. we can have that. there are 50 -- there are more than 50 veterans. whoever calls san francisco unpatriotic doesn't know the

meaning of the word. thank you. [applause] >> and now, we will have the opportunity to hear from all landlord. i would like to welcome judy wu. judy? [applause] >> my name is judy, and i am currently housing six veterans. they are great attendance. they pay on time. nice and clean and no complaints. i think the program is great. i am really thankful. thank you. [applause] >> as we said, we have veterans that are here. we have federal and local partners here. we will allow the press to talk to us individually. thank you for being here, and we will make ourselves available. thank you so much. [applause]

it >> to route a career in

public service that stretches three decades, ed lee has demonstrated his idealism and his pragmatism. he showed his confidence early, fresh out of law school. he helped deal with san francisco at first organized rent strike to protect the rights of some of the city for almost a vulnerable residents peeping -- . -- most of vulnerable residents. he used his position for the last 20 years, effectively, winning unanimous support for a budget designed to close a $380 million deficit, negotiating pension reform that the voters approved last november, including such major employers

as twitter. he is a strong education advocates and for programs that strengthen our communities and our schools. to keep the partnership and the sf promise, which joins the city and university in the unified school district to deliver more graduates of our local high schools to san francisco state. ed lee's story is an all- american 1. like many of today's graduates, he is a first generation american 1. he became san francisco's first asian-american mayor in january 2011. [applause] he had been appointed at that time by the board of supervisors unanimously to serve

out the remainder of mayor gavin newsome's term. ed lee exemplifies our commitment to improving our shared society. he is our mayor, are kind of mayor, and he likes to say "i was a progressive before progressives were a political faction in town." i am proud to present to you, the honorable edwin m. lee. [applause] >> greetings.

greetings to the members of the board of trustees, faculty and staff of san francisco state university, family and friends. good afternoon, class of 2012. [cheering] i am certain the in a san francisco state of mind today. nearly 800 graduates from 109 countries, right here, at the university of our great city of san francisco. and thank you again for that very kind introduction. u.s. and a wonderful partner for our city, -- you have been a wonderful partner for our city, actively shaping our education policy for the 21st century new

economy. you are a true capt. of change. week as leaders need to live by the values of social justice. these reforms in higher education have impacted generations of students across the world. congratulations on your well- deserved retirement and a big welcome for dr. leslie wong, the incoming president, who will have to fill big shoes. i want to say to the alumnus today, as you go around the west of the world with your values reject -- around the rest of the world with your values as a graduate of this university, make sure people know san

francisco is and always will be a sanctuary for the rest of the nation. [applause] and to your student commencement speaker, if i may say -- [speaking foreign language] congratulations. he didn't know i could speak russian, did you? i hope to see you start a new tech company right here in the indonesian capital of the world, san francisco. -- in the innovation capital of the world, san francisco. [applause] i am thankful every single day for the opportunity to serve san francisco. is a privilege to wake up each morning and go to city hall and work for the people of this city to do everything i can to help

you succeed in your lives. class of 2012, that is what today is about. succeeding and growing your lives, for yourselves, your families, and as mayor, i will state selfishly, your city, were ever you go from here. i just turned 60 a few days ago, and i was thinking, maybe we did a few things in celebration. we blaze new trails for social justice and pushed the rest of america to embrace people rights for all people -- women, african-americans, asian- americans, latinos, gays, lesbians, people with disabilities. [cheering]

we are a leader in protecting our environment, and we were the first city to adopt universal health care. [applause] and this university and this student body have been and always will be the vanguard of excellence. when i was not much older than you, i came to the bay area to join others to make the world a better place. we locked arms and stood in the doorways of the international hotel to protest the wrongful eviction of elderly filipino and chinese immigrants who had no money and no place to go. we sued the san francisco fire department to give women and people of color an equal chance to be a firefighter for public safety. and we made a difference. today, i am proud that our state

hired a woman to lead our fire department. i could never have imagined that in my lifetime the country would elect an african-american president, or that even the people of san francisco would have collected an asian-american mayor. [applause] but we screwed a few things up along the way. the economy, the environment, social justice. we are still working at. now you are graduating, class of 2012. the challenges of the world are your challenges. so, you're next assignment, your homework for the rest of your life -- i can do that because i'm mayor -- is to run the ball a little further down the field and make this world a better place. i know some of your thinking

"but, mayor, i have got to get a job. i have got to repay my student loans. i have to pay rent, paid for my mortgage. i have to care for my family." yes, you do. we are letting you out on to the world stage in an economy where to many people are looking for jobs. it is survival of the fittest, like something of "hunger games." but my message to you is you're in san francisco, you are not on your own. it is more like "the avengers." no, i do not have any special superpowers. what i mean is that, while it may not always be evident, and he will have challenges as you

leave this university and throughout your life, but always remember you are surrounded by a not so secret society of people who want to help you. they are people in business and government, law, the economy, sports, health care, education and the arts, in every field who have achieved a measure of success and wisdom in there lives. the greatest gift they can ever give is to pass on a little bit of that wisdom and a little bit of what they have learned to you and help you achieve to an even greater degree. don't get me wrong. it is up to you and you alone to decide what you are going to do with this opportunity and not waste it. don't be afraid to ask for help, whether it is your boss, your family, or your mayor. don't lose yourself and your

values. don't forget the world will change even amid the successes you achieve. look to your communities and ask yourself -- "how can i give back?" because if there is one thing that i see in this economy that is emerging, all these great start-ups in technology and tech and biotech -- it is that success does not come from going it alone. success comes from collaboration, interaction, bringing diverse backgrounds and skills together for a common goal. go to these new companies. any of the incubators.

due to mission the. they don't have offices. they have big open tables. they have white boards everywhere. the entire company knows the value of collaboration. the idea that success comes from sharing ideas and goals, because that is how we get innovation. that is how you, class of 2012, can be the best. it is not just innovation, but an innovative approach to health care, curing diseases, cleaning our air and water, cheering social diseases and social justice. we are the gateway to the

pacific rim, to asia, and to the west we have latin america and brazil. we are an international destination and b are known throughout the world. -- and we are known throughout the world. you are part of a brand that represents new ideas, new frontiers. i will close with an apology. as someone you may not -- as some of you may know, the chinese zodiac has 2012 as the year of the dragon. the dragon is the only mythical animal in the chinese zodiac and the most powerful of all the rest. the year of the dragon is fittingly a time for risk- taking, bold decisions, and innovation. class of 2012, the world needs your risk-taking.

seize this year of the dragon for yourselves, for your family, for the rest of your. your graduating at a time of immense opportunity and promise. there is no better city on earth in which to begin your new life with a new degree in hand. we are so proud of you. always remember, we are proud of you and we are here to help you realize your potential. thank you, congratulations, class of 2012. [applause]

>> there are kids and families ever were. it is really an extraordinary playground. it has got a little something for everyone. it is aesthetically billion. it is completely accessible. you can see how excited people are for this playground. it is very special. >> on opening day in the brand- new helen diller playground at north park, children can be seen swinging, gliding, swinging, exploring, digging, hanging, jumping, and even making drumming sounds. this major renovation was possible with the generous donation of more than $1.5 million from the mercer fund in honor of san francisco bay area philanthropist helen diller.

together with the clean and safe neighborhood parks fund and the city's general fund. >> 4. 3. 2. 1. [applause] >> the playground is broken into three general areas. one for the preschool set, another for older children, and a sand area designed for kids of all ages. unlike the old playground, the new one is accessible to people with disabilities. this brand-new playground has several unique and exciting features. two slides, including one 45- foot super slide with an elevation change of nearly 30 feet. climbing ropes and walls, including one made of granite. 88 suspension bridge. recycling, traditional swing, plus a therapeutics win for children with disabilities, and even a sand garden with chines and drums. >> it is a visionary $3.5

million world class playground in the heart of san francisco. this is just really a big, community win and a celebration for us all. >> to learn more about the helen diller playground in dolores park, go to sfrecpark.org.