is a resource that connects farmers and their produce with businesses in the bay area. i think it's a basic human right to have access to healthy foods, and all of this food here is available. it's a matter of creating the infrastructure, creating jobs, and the system whereby none of this goes to waste. since the beginning of our program in july 2016 to date, we've donated over 1 million pounds of produce to our community partners, and that's resulted in over 900,000 meals to people in our community, which we're very proud of. >> carolyn at the san francisco produce market texts with old produce that's available. the produce is always excellent. we get things like broccoli,

brussels sprouts, bell peppers. everything that we use is nice and fresh, so when our clients get it, they really enjoy it, and it's important to me to feel good about what i do, and working in programs such as this really provides that for me. it's helping people. that's what it's really about, and i really enjoy that. >> the work at the produce market for me representing the intersection between environment and community, and when we are working at that intersection, when we are using our resources and our passion and our energy to heal the planet and feed the people, nothing gets better than

>> are we ready? you guys ready? are you excited? all right. who is going to help us out?

>> a round of applause. (applause). >> top of the morning to you. let's hear it from you. top of the morning. good morning, everybody. it looks great to see all of our not old friends but long time friends that have been with us since the early days of san francisco and also, of course, with our sister city that is 36 years old today. [applause] now we are blessed to have so

many irish americans that have made san francisco what it is. we have one that is very special to us, and that is our in house irish american. that is shawn, the chief of staff to the mayor, and we have something that is going to help you because you need help, right? >> a shot of whiskey? >> no, no shot of whiskey yet. >> there is an old tradition of an irish stick, thush shillelag. it was something that a well-dressed man had as a walking stick. then it became sort of a weapon because we only have weapons of love and not of fighting in san francisco.

then it was a sporting vehicle to use. now you can buy them with a flask at the top with christi. -- whiskey. we thought you would need this. as you know this is march 6th. i always thought the irish day was the 17th, right? our irish americans in san francisco want to celebrate early. we thought that this irish stick, shillelagh, would be helpful to keep people in order. it is a stick of friendship. we can't shake hands. you are going to shake a stick. then you are going to walk in the parade aphave your walking stick, and then when you do the irish jig, you will have it. here is the presentation. (applause). >> look at this.

shape up. you are ready, right? just in case, you know, the mayor is always in a good mood. in case she wants to talk about something serious, what you should do is bring this out. 500 best irish jokes and walk in and tell her one of these jokes. i am sure every day you walk in you have one joke after the other, right? >> absolutely. >> you have got your stick, your jokes, now the floor is yours to present all of these wonderful things we have happening and the first of all, is going to be the best, right? >> got it.

>> good morning. welcome to my favorite day of the year at city hall. charlotte, it is great to have you here. you have been doing this many years. we are lucky to have you as our hostess. am i allowed to use this in my conversations with the board of supervisors? okay. speaking of the supervisor from the sunset district gordon mar is here today. from the marina, catherine stefani. thank you both for being here. this is always dangerous. i have been told that i will be in trouble if i don't introduce the commissioner. angus mccarthy from building inspections commission is here. somewhere in this crowd is from the immigrant rights commission.

i don't see her, but i know she is here. our sheriff could not be here. under sheriff free man is here somewhere. our fire chief is here, jeanine nicholson. golden gate bridge long time member john mow land is here. former grand marshall of the st. patrick's day parade. good to have you here, john. the first person i get to bring up is our mayor. we will tell you she is having a difficult time today because she is now no longer grand marshall. her term as grand marshall has ended. there have been moments when we had a number of long boring meetings in the office. she gets frustrated and tells us stop telling me mayor, i want to

be called grand marshall. she pulls out the sash. here she is for paps th -- perhe last time. grand marshall london breed. >> mayor breed: my merchandising is once a grand marshall always a grand marshall, right, director? that is why i pulled it out today for this special occasion. i want to take this opportunity to also acknowledge the president of the university of san francisco, paul fitzgerald. thank you so much for being with us today. also, just to say charlotte, that is an amazing outfit. thank you so much for continuing to coordinate all of these incredible events to bring so many communities together. many of you have known shawn for a long time. i work with him every day.

i never hardly see him leave his office. i am glad you convinced him to be the mc today to welcome you all here. the fact you serve whiskey has something to do with it. today we are celebrating what is just an amazing friendship that continues to exist between the irish community and san francisco. in fact, we know that the legacy of this city has everything to do with our incredible irish community, many who i am grated here to san francisco often running from discrimination in the east coast, and many settled here and started their businesses here, raised families here and created what we are so very proud of. who has the best water anywhere? san francisco. it is because the dam and the water and power system created here many, many decades ago that we enjoy what is some of the

best water anywhere in the world. we also know that many irish men served as mayors of this city. it is time for an irishwoman to step up for a change. we know that the rich history and legacy is why in 1984 then mayor dianne feinstein established the sister city relationship between san francisco and cork, ireland. thank you for continuing your leadership as one of the co-chairs for that sister city relationship. so much history and so many incredible people, and, yes, i have the privilege of serving as the grand marshall. when i committed to being the grand marshall of the parade last year, i committed to showing up to every event,

mr. lions, now that you are the grand marshall, if i as mayor can show up to all of the events and do all of the vo volunteer k required to wear the sash, i want to be sure you are filling my footsteps with pride. congratulations. we know that you immigrated here to san francisco, met your wife on geary street, raised four incredible church and have a rich history and legacy in san francisco. thank you so much for being with us today. congratulations. we are going to see you at the parade for sure. with that i just want to take this opportunity to recognize our treasurer jose who is here as well. and finally to commemorate this moment, yes, the parade is amazing and all of the dance

performances, all of the volunteer activities. this is a time of pride, celebration, a time of coming together, and part of that includes the friendship that continues between san francisco and ireland, and in particular our sister city committee. i want to ask the council general of ireland to come forward. robert has been with us many years. he is incredible. on behalf of the city and county of san francisco, i would like you to accept the certificate to honor our relationship and friendship for generations to come. thank you. [applause] let's celebrate in san francisco. thank you. i would say happy st. patrick's

day. that is the 17th. happy early st. patrick's day. >> thank you, mayor breed. to continue we will begin with a performance led by the amazing principal of saint phillips, marry mckee. we have both the adults and youth choir. come on up. on your seats some of you may have the lyrics to a song that i would assume none of you need the lyrics to. you will all know this song. welcome celtic voices.

♪ ♪ ♪

♪ when irish eyes are smiling ♪ ♪ when irish eyes are smiling, they can steal your heart away ♪

♪ when irish eyes are smiling, it is like a morn in spring ♪ it is the tilt of irish laughter you can hear the angels sing ♪ ♪ when irish hearts are happy, all the world seems bright and gay ♪ ♪ when irish eyes are smiling,

they will steal your heart away ♪ (applause) >> thank you, celtic voices. i can't help myself. the beautiful young woman with the red hair is my goddaughter. go job. since they just arrived, san francisco has a great history of a number of department heads of irish american descent. i would like to recognize mickey callahan, department of human

resources, and bill scott from the san francisco police department, and his assistant chief mike redman over there. thank you for being here, gentlemen. it is now my privilege to recognize the council general of ireland robert o driscoll who has a tremendous connection to san francisco because his son was born in san francisco. no matthe matter where his cares him, san francisco will always be his son's home. >> thank you very much. i think he is here today. this is his first st. patrick's day event. i am excited. if you see a green ball, that is mine. distinguished guests, mayor

breed, and supervisors and department heads and everybody, very happy t to be here today. looking back for this event wondering what to say. it is 169 years since the first st. patrick's day parade. 170 years since the first mayor got appointed. how in the fliers year of a mayor was there not a st. patrick's day parade? the first mayor was appointed in may 1850. in january it would have been a parade that year, too. i have been reflected on my thoughts about the parade and first parade, and what were they doing? they were celebrating irish heritage. these are people who left under

huge duress, typically in famine times and reached the east coast and no overly welcome home. california offered the promise of prosperity and good life for them and their family. they were celebrating they would never go back to ireland but never forget ireland. there is a grave yard from 1854. all of those had the names of people there and names from ireland but what county in ireland is listed. i thought that was in the last days when they were thinking how to be remembered. it wasn't enough to be from ireland. they had to be from cork and dublin. that connection to home was still as strong at the end of life as it was when they left. i am proud of that. i think the other thing they were doing that day, they were

looking forward to what they would achieve because they had achieved a lot to get that far but they had a lot of work to do. the theme of this parade this year serving our communities, i think probably reflects the greatest achiev achievement of t community. that is what we do. that is the irish story in the city. the police in the city administration, politics, in the fire department, in the schools. marry mckeever is here, principal of saint phillips, or all of the people who take leading roles. our community serve. we should celebrate that for the next week over the course of the parade. particularly they are so

reflective of that. they are all some part of the story of service. as grand marshall you reflect the sense of community, that ethos. look at the story. it is not just service to the community but the irish american community through youth gaa. when we look back at your legacy, and i said this at the grand marshall's dinner in your honor. what a legacy for our culture to be passed to the next generation. it is very special. you have had a huge role in that. everyone in the community here wants to celebrate on your special day. please give him a huge round of

applause. i want to thank shawn. i am scared of shawn with asia e shillelagh. happy st. patrick's day. thank you, council general. i don't know if you saw what happened over there while he was speaking. the president of the residential builders was yelling that i hadn't introduced him. shawn over there. welcome. glad you are here, shawn. i can't help. we also vointroduce supervisor matt haney. he has a great connection he studied at the university of galway, and he is the

supervision or mar is the landlord of the center. he is the landlord of the krb. supervisor haney on the mission street. we can't have a flag raising without dancing. it is a privilege to introduce the dancers from murphy school. welcome. [applause]

♪ ♪

♪

♪ .

>> i just want to introduce one of the dancers. this is mary who just this week received her irish citizenship. congratulations. well-done, murphy dancers. thank you. all events celebrating st. patrick's day we could not do without the united irish society. they are doing all of the work. the president is not here today, but i would like to bring up

john lynch, the vice president to address everyone. come on up, john. >> i hope i am half as exciting as the last performance. good afternoon everyone. welcome to the 169th st. patrick's day season serving our communities. i am the vice president of the united irish society of san francisco and member of carpenters 22. thank you to the mayor for hosting us today for hosting us. welcome to the general of ireland and vice council. thank you for coming today. i would like to thank the san francisco irish pipers, murphies

school of dance and. >> president bernal is away this afternoon on some business, so he's asked that i chair the meeting for this evening. the health commission will please come to order and the secretary will call the roll. [ roll call ]. >> our next item, please clanchts item is the approval of the february 18, 2020, minutes. >> the minutes are before you for your approval. a motion is in order. >> i move to approve the