i got a call thursday from mayor breed saying "i want to come down." and it literally brought a tear to my eye. before i introduce his honor, willy brown, who i want to tell you a quick story. there was a rumor he was going to run for mayor and i ran into him in north beach and i just put my hand out and i said would you make your first campaign promise and he said "yeah, whatever it is. what do you want?" i said, "i'd like to see water running through lotus fountain." he said, "you got it." and it wasn't an easy project. if they put water in it it was going to actually blow up.

so i'd like to bring a long-time lotus flower supporter. earthquake celebration. and celebrated those brave souls who rebuilt the city from the ashes. so it's my honor to introduce his honor. and wish him an 87th birthday. >> i am, of course, delighted to again be here with all of you for the occasion of memorializing and remembering how difficult it must have been in 1906 for lots of people in san francisco who at the time the clock struck, the city began to fall apart and before it was over within a few hours, the city had fallen apart.

but, as usual, if you read yesterday, you know in the chronicle that, in fact, the city came rolling back. and it always coming rolling back and when lee housekeeper approached me in the middle '90s asking about this fountain there was a time period where absolutely i said, "i don't understand why that fountain isn't already working." i had no idea that fountain hadn't worked in hundreds of years and no one bothered to do anything about it. fortunately, there was a fellow named ed lee. he stepped up. i gave him directions on what i needed to have done and ultimately, it did get done. it got done because many of you were participating in one way

or another providing the inspiration. and, since the time that this fountain began to emit water again, every mayor thereafter has made it his or her responsibility to see that that fountain continues to spray water, that you continue to come here on april 18th, early morning for the express if you were of making sure that san francisco continues to remember what we are all about. and, believe me, it was a very special breed of people who in 1906 actually started the process of the resurrection of san francisco. so it shouldn't surprise you that some many, many years later, more than 100 years later, the word "breed" is still the foundation of our

city. the new mayor is "breed." i don't know if that's her real name. i have no idea, but i do know that it represents everything this city is all about for so many years and i am just delighted, believe me and i was told by lee housekeeper that again we would be celebrating. i actually thought i might be here alone. i remember one time i came here and they said "you've got to speak." and it was like one minute before the phone would ring and low and behold i said not enough time. on this occasion. ladies and gentlemen, the mayor of san francisco and the lady who keeps the fountain going, mayor london breed. >> thank you, mayor willy

brown. we appreciate you being here early this morning. and let me just start by saying i appreciate the city so much and everything you all have done to keep us safe when we had to shut this city down a year ago. today, we commemorate the 1906 earthquake and we also recognize our first responders. we have our fire chief janine nick olson today as well as our police chief bill scott and the person who has been leading during this pandemic, the emergency operation center thank you all so much. dr. colfax didn't get up this early in the morning. when i think about san francisco in the 1906 earthquake and how far we've come, just think about it. 250,000 people were homeless because of the earthquake and the fire.

when i think about san francisco and our resilience, that's what we've been talking about this entire pandemic. we've come so far and we have made magic happen out of tragedy. the 1989 earthquake. many of us were around during that earthquake. maybe not the 1986, the embarcadero was shadowed by a freeway and now it's open and bright and available for all to enjoy and to see. the same with this pandemic with san franciscans. we go through earthquakes. we go through pandemics. we go through things. when the time comes and we need to rise up like the phoenix we are, we stand strong, proud, and together and that's what the people of san francisco did

in 1906 when we rebuilt this city and that's why we come here today to show appreciation to the guardians of the city, to show respect for the people who risk their lives to remember the 250,000 people who were homeless and the thousands of people who lost their lives. at this time, we commemorate the 1906 earthquake and we recognize how amazing and strong we are as a city and so i'm given the signal from martha cohen that we are almost at a minute. are we there, martha? all right. and our sheriff paul miamoto is here. thank you so much, sheriff, for joining us. and, at this time, in recognition for those first responders, for the people we lost during the 1906

earthquake, for the people we lost during this pandemic. let's take a moment of silence.

thank you all so much for joining us in prayer. we're glad you've seen us survive 150 years. thank you again to the fire department and our chief and the police department and the department of public health, our sheriff's department, our first responders, the people who will continue to be the guardians of san francisco, we are coming out of this pandemic and we are coming out stronger than ever. thank you so much. ♪ san francisco open your gate here is your wondering one saying no more

♪♪ >> he is a real leader that listens and knows how to bring people together. brought this department together like never before. i am so excited to be swearing in the next chief of the san francisco fire department, ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome, jeanine nicholson. (applause). >> i grew up total tomboy, athlete. i loved a good crisis, a good challenge. i grew up across the street from the fire station. my dad used to take me there to

vote. i never saw any female firefighters because there weren't any in the 1970s. i didn't know i could be a fire fighter. when i moved to san francisco in 1990, some things opened up. i saw women doing things they hadn't been doing when i was growing up. one thing was firefighting. a woman recruited me at the gay-pride parade in 1991. it was a perfect fit. i liked using my brain, body, working as a team, figuring things out, troubleshooting and coming up with different ways to solve a problem. in terms of coming in after another female chief, i don't think anybody says that about men. you are coming in after another man, chief, what is that like. i understand why it is asked. it is unusual to have a woman in

this position. i think san francisco is a trailblazer in that way in terms of showing the world what can happen and what other people who may not look like what you think the fire chief should look like how they can be successful. be asked me about being the first lbgq i have an understands because there are little queer kids that see me. i worked my way up. i came in january of 1994. i built relationships over the years, and i spent 24 years in the field, as we call it. working out of firehouses. the fire department is a family. we live together, eat together, sleep in the same dorm together, go to crazy calls together, dangerous calls and we have to look out for one another.

when i was burned in a fire years ago and i felt responsible, i felt awful. i didn't want to talk to any of my civilian friends. they couldn't understand what i was going through. the firefighters knew, they understood. they had been there. it is a different relationship. we have to rely on one another. in terms of me being the chief of the department, i am really trying to maintain an open relationship with all of our members in the field so myself and my deputy chiefs, one of the priorities i had was for each of us to go around to different fire stations to make sure we hit all within the first three or four months to start a conversation. that hasn't been there for a while. part of the reason that i am getting along well with the field now is because i was there. i worked there.

people know me and because i know what we need. i know what they need to be successful. >> i have known jeanine nicholson since we worked together at station 15. i have always held her in the highest regard. since she is the chief she has infused the department with optimism. she is easy to approach and is concerned with the firefighters and paramedics. i appreciate that she is concerned with the issues relevant to the fire department today. >> there is a retired captain who started the cancer prevention foundation 10 years ago because he had cancer and he noticed fellow firefighters were getting cancer. he started looking into it. in 2012 i was diagnosed with breast canner, and some of my

fellow firefighters noticed there are a lot of women in the san francisco fire department, premenopausal in their 40s getting breast cancer. it was a higher rate than the general population. we were working with workers comp to make it flow more easily for our members so they didn't have to worry about the paper work when they go through chemo. the turnout gear was covered with suit. it was a badge to have that all over your coat and face and helmet. the dirtier you were the harder you worked. that is a cancer causeser. it -- casser. it is not -- cancer causer. there islassic everywhere. we had to reduce our exposure.

we washed our gear more often, we didn't take gear where we were eating or sleeping. we started decontaminating ourselves at the fire scene after the fire was out. going back to the fire station and then taking a shower. i have taught, worked on the decontamination policy to be sure that gets through. it is not if or when. it is who is the next person. it is like a cancer sniper out there. who is going to get it next. one of the things i love about the fire department. it is always a team effort. you are my family. i love the city and department and i love being of service. i vow to work hard -- to work

hard to carry out the vision of the san francisco fire department and to move us forward in a positive way. if i were to give a little advice to women and queer kids, find people to support you. keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep trying. you never know what door is going to open next. you really don't. [cheers and