that they simply joy that and meet the community and friends and about be about the lighter side of city people are more engaged not just the customers. >> with the help of community pavement to parks is reimagining the potential of our student streets if you want more information visit them as the pavement to parks or contact pavement to parks at sfgovtv.or >> >> good afternoon, everyone. >> thank you. you are right. this is a quiet group.

i'm going to need these voices to be raised in all of these issues that we have in san francisco. we need you to be a lot louder and a lot more enthusiastic than that. good afternoon. >> good afternoon. >> yes, there we are. this is a really really big deal. and you know that because when i did my youth commission swearing in, we got sworn in. mayor, you know how to do a swearing in. >> and i would like to thank mr. -- supervisor ronen, and i am particularly excited because this is where i got my start in public service. to be a san francisco native, and to be appointed as a youth

commission is a really big deal. give yourselves a round of applause. let's give a round of applause. >> when i look out at you all and i can say this now because i'm a father of three and i have got some gray hairs. a lot has changed since i was appointed youth commissioner. i see a lot of hope, and i see inspiration because we need your perspective here in san francisco, especially now. this right here today is an indication of what this city and county looks like. you should be proud as you raise your hand in a few minutes and take this office. >> i'm a san francisco native. i went to the high school here. any alum? today i work as a

public affair executive for a national public affairs firm. i have the honor and privilege to serve as commissioner for three consecutive mayors. my last appointment, mayor breed appointed me to the human rights commission and we worked with every department to be sure it has a mandate for equity issues. i was appointed by the late ed lee and was on the mission structure, with the bay, with the terminal and these are what fell under the office of investment and community infrastructure. >> my first commission appointment was the san francisco youth commission. i was sworn in by mayor gavin newsom where we worked on a

myriad of issues to be sure that parents had transparent information and we worked on the muni and the lifeline package. that came from the san francisco youth commission. i bring up those issues to say that the world, the city hall, san francisco is your oyster. there is no issue too small or call too big that you cannot handle. i walk the halls today and in my full-time job i'm a consultant for a consulting firm and i act as a bridge inside city hall and outside city hall. i remind myself that we have important persons here. we have mayor breed, other commissioners and these are all people that you have access to in this building. >> i'm going to end with this

before i call mayor breed up. my challenge for you all is to become masters of all of the tangible. there is enough smart people, there is a lot of smart people in san francisco, but the most successful public servants show up, they are present, they are unafraid to speak. they are, i get emotional here because this city, i love this city. i'm born and raised in this city particularly during a time right now. one of the most important things that has allowed me to be successful are the relationships. making sure that the people you see sit next to you as youth commissioners, keep these relationships strong because ten years from now, when you are walking the halls, when you are the next mayor of san francisco, the next supervisor of the department ahead, it's going to

be the person that sits next to you that you call on for that legislation, or draft policy or make sure our streets are clean. so i want to say thank you. i want to say thank you to mayor breed for inviting me here today. i would like to call you up to do the official oath of office. >> mayor london breed: thank you, theo and supervisors for showing up for our young people today. in the past, i know gavin newsom was in the basement and i think ed lee was in the focus at the time. when i became mayor, i wanted to be sure that young people like you were a priority. i think this city has spent a lot of time doing a lot of things that often has not led to the kinds of results that you as

the next generation of young folks growing up in san francisco deserve. so one of the first programs that i started when i became mayor was opportunities for all. and let me tell you, for any of you that participate in opportunities for all, well, thank you, at least one or two, but the rest of you are going to need to participate in this program. why was that important? it was important because when i was growing up in san francisco, i lived in poverty. so i needed to make money somehow. my grandmother received welfare for us and food stamps and we didn't have the ability to do some of the things i wanted to participate in. i pretended i didn't want to be a cheerleader but i really wanted to be a cheerleader but i couldn't afford the uniform and the travel associated with being a cheerleader. there is an important program

like that where we provide internships so that money is not a barrier to your desire to do anything you want in life. and the fact that you all are committing your time to the youth commission, where you are stepping up to be leaders in this arena, i wanted you to know how important it is not only to me, but to our supervisors who are here, to people like theo who went through this program as a youth commissioner and continues to serve in various capacities in the city of san francisco. these are opportunities. not just opportunities for you to add something to your college applications, but as theo has said, opportunities, for you to develop very important relationships that could be a part of your lives for the rest of your lives. people that you are going to be

working with to push for policy decisions that are important to young people in san francisco. this is where you learn how to develop those relationships, how to fight for what you want and after the fight is done, the debate happens, you are still friends and show respect for one another because all of you are spending your time being public servants that deliver the kind of results that young people of this city need especially after this global pandemic. it has been very difficult. i can't even imagine what you all have gone through where two years of not being able to be in school. i couldn't wait until the first day of school when i was growing up. i couldn't imagine what it would feel like where you could not go into school and the classroom

and not look forward to recess or lunchtime and have the friends and have the quality time. i know it's so important that we start to have an honest conversation about the impact on our mental health to our young people who have experienced the things that you have gone through. you know what's best because you have lived in it and you can provide an opportunity for us as leaders to make decisions that support moving our city forward in a good direction, but more importantly making sure that we are providing the right kind of support and resources for young people all over san francisco. now, let me just give you a little bit of what the power of the youth commission is. now, the youth commission convinced me to support something i was opposed to.

the vote 16 efforts. [ applause ] there were a couple of young people. they came into my office, and then they presented. i was opposed to it. no, you are 18, still live at home, you are not grown. i was opposed to it. these youngster came into my office and they had the data that talked about specifically how young people voting in their age become more actively engaged and showing up to vote. and they said it but not only said it but they had the data in demonstrating how this was more impactful in getting more people to show up and vote. that was after a few minutes i

was engaged in this conversation and something i don't do that often but i changed my mind. but i was so proud that they were interested in something they cared about. you mention the card lifeline. the youth helped to make it free, not just the lifeline. but later on, the muni generation fought to make it free, no longer sneaking in on the bus, and to making sure that money is not a barrier and to be sure that every young person can get on our busses and not have to dealing with the consequences for not being able to pay. this is the first step for learning how to be a leader and to protect things you care

about, how to bring ideas forward and impacting young people in san francisco. we are looking forward to seeing you serve this year, and bring forth not only to myself but the board of supervisors, the legislative branch of government, we are looking forward to see what you bring forward for us to deliver on for young people. we may say what we want to do for young folks, but you all understand it from a different perspective. we are looking forward to your service, on the youth commission. enjoy every single moment. don't tell your parents i have to go to the youth commission and i can't make-up my bed. make sure you take care of things at home, that you take care of things at school, but you really take this opportunity to be not only part of this meeting where you have discussions but you take the time to get to know one another throughout this process. this is going to be so important

to you in life and also this experience is something for you to look back on and when you look back, make sure what you do today makes you proud. with that, i'm ready to swear you in. [ applause ] >> so here is how we are going to do it since all of your family and friends are here and they want to take pictures. everyone who is being sworn in to the youth commission will stand up here facing this way, and i will give you instructions from there. >> now, if anyone wants to be in the middle, you can. c'mon. there we go. this is a great looking group of

young people! [cheers and applause] >> okay, i'm going to ask you to raise your right hand and repeat after me, and then i'm going to point to you when i ask you to state your name. you will state your full name. okay? are we ready? >> are we ready? let's pretend we are at homecoming in high school. are we ready? >> okay. all right. let's go. please raise your right hand, everyone, and repeat after me. i, state your name, >> do solemnly swear that i will

support and defend the constitution of the united states, and the constitution of the state of california. against all enemies. foreign and domestic. that i bear true faith, and allegiance to the same that i take this obligation freely. without any mental reservation. or purpose of evasion. and that i will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which i'm about to enter. and during such time, as i serve

as commissioner for the youth commission of the city and county of san francisco. >> congratulations, everybody. >> congratulations, everybody. [cheers and applause] >> >> >>

[cheers and applause] >> >> >> any one of our brave leaders want to say a few words? >> there we go. >> i will take the chance when i have one. i just wanted to say thank you to everyone for joining us here today. my name is plumber, i serve as a commissioner in the san francisco youth commission. i serve citywide but i'm a proud resident of district 4. i want to thank you all for being here today. this is my third term on the san francisco youth commission. it's been really exciting and we have been able to work on incredible things. i'm looking forward to come back this year and talk about things for youth and every issue that impacts young people in san francisco. we'll have our first meeting on monday. we are getting right to it.

[cheers and applause] all right. so first we are going to take a few pictures, and then we are going to host a reception for everyone in my conference room in 201. so that everyone can have a good time after the ceremony. thank you all so much for being here, supervisor mandelman. the principal is going to send you to detention. [ laughter ] but thank you, supervisor mandelman for joining us as well. we are proud to have all family and community members here to support the young folks who are going to take over san francisco. so we have to make sure that they are prepared and ready to go. that we are building more senior citizen homes so i have a place to live when i become a senior citizen as i watch you lead san

francisco. i'm looking forward to it. thank you very much for being [ applause ] >> >> >> i think a lot of times we get in adult lives we are afraid to follow our passions and think life can't be that easy. but i truly do believe i followed my heart this time in my journal in city government i did not know that is where my passion lied. i kept following it and ltd. to great opportunity to serve the city. [music]

>> i'm katy tang the executive director of the office of small business. >> small business contributes to san francisco's economy. they provide the bulk of employment in the city and employing a million people in san francisco. and roughly 90% of the businesses are defined as small businesses. so, they contribute to the economy but also just the quality of life. small businesses are more then and there a place of transaction it is a community center. a play where people gather. know each other and form memories about the city. >> at the office of mall business i run a team this helps report all mall businesses in san francisco whether they are looking to stfrt a new business

or expand or perhaps they are feeling with issues. our office is here as a point of information for anyone with a business that has 100 or nower employees. >> i was growing up i had many ideas of when i wanted to do. i wanted to being an olympic swimmer. and i wanted to men be an architect, you name it i had many ideas for what i wanted do when i grew up. and i never anticipated entering in politics. this opportunity came along wh started working for former supervisor carmen chu and she became the district 4 sunset district supervisor. that was my firstent row in politics and government in a different level. and so when i was finishing up my time working for legislative

aid i thought, i will go off and do something else. may be explore opportunity outside of city government what was then approached by this opportunity to also serve as a district 4 supervisor. if not the traditional route that many people think of when you enter in politics. a lot know that is manage than i want to do and run for office. that was not part of my culture and upbringing with manage my parents were wondering why i wanted to go in that role this legislation and important because so many women when have it return to work after having a child feel embarrassed or don't feel comfortable asking their supervisor for will any lactation accommodations. i saw it as an opportunity you could use the position where you have tools creating legislation and pass laws and where people

listen to to you help the community and pass cause catharsis important to the city and individuals. my family immigrated to the united states from taiwan. and they came here in pronl probably late 20's almost 30. and so, they came also in the knowing english limp barely read or write but had to quickly understand english to i can't haveigate services and find a job in america. i grew up in the san francisco sunset district i spent most of my childed hoo up until i went off to college. so when i started working in city government, i think i had mixed reactions about my involvement working government because for some of our parents generation, there is i bit of distrust in government. i think there are questions about why i was entering in this field of work. i think you know when i went in

city government i thought about my parents like so many other who is have to navigate city services and resources english first language and help the individuals both navigate, intercept that is on an application approximate signage. it is fulfilling to mow to help people like my parent and feel like government is there to support them and not to harm them. my parents are happy that i retired early from politics and being a district 4 supervisor i could have continued on for a couple more years approximate decided to leave early. i think that over all they were able to see some of my work appear in the chinese newspaper. through that they were able to see i was able to help communities in a tangible way. >> the member of the board of supervisors. >> transportation authority. for the city and county of san

francisco. congratulations. >> i think about one importance when i was worn in as district 4 supervisor. years ago, and someone actually came up to me during the swear nothing ceremony and said, wow, i'm traveling here from canada, and i just i could not believe i saw an asian female worn in in this role a leadership role this meant so much that someone would say that and felt they were inspired by the scene. so -- i hope that as more people see people that look like them and more women coming in positions of leadership than i feel they can doing the same. person this inpyred me is carmen chu who is our city add administrator but also was district 4 supervisor when i worked with her as a legislative aid. at this point, i too, was

skeptical of going in politics. i saw someone who had herself never seen herself in politics. got thrown into it and put her heart and soul and dedication to serve people. and it gave me the confidence to pursue that same job and i honestly would not have either chosen or accepted or considered serving on the board of supervisors were not for carmen. >> if you want to make your business accessible. >> in my role in city government where i have seen the most challenge is people who don't know you and you are here to serve and help them that they classify you as our city government and here to hurt you. so, people will talk to you and -- and just you know treat you disrespectfully. and sometimes i noticed that they might do more to me as a female compared to my male colleagues.

but you know i try to be empathetic. one of the most significant barriers to female empowerment we feel like we have to be 100% meeting all of the qualifications before we think that we are qualified to do a job. if we look at a job description or an opportunity to come your way well is self doubt about whether you can fulfill the obligations of that role. i think that the confidence is huge and sometimes i think we make up for it by trying to gain more experience. more and more and more in whatever we can put under our belts we'll feel better. that may not be the case. we might be qualified with when we have already accomplished. i started rock climbing indoors a couple years ago as an

activity to try to spends time with my husband and also to try something new and i finds that rock climbing there are so many parallels to life. you know when i'm on the wall i'm concentrating and trying to make it to the next piece without falling. there are daying you think i'm not making progress. you come back and wow, i hit another level. and so i feel like in our daily lives and w we think we are not making enough of i change in the city. and sometimes we have to take out time to reflect every day as long as you try and give it your all and you look back you will have made a significant contribution there is no limit to where you go in terms of rock climbing. i want to reminds myself of that in terms of daily life. >> follow what it is you are

interested in, what makes you feel excited about wake up every day. you never know and be open to all the possibilities and opportunity. [music] >> as a woman of color who grew up in san francisco i understand how institutions can have an impact on communities of color. i think having my voice was important. that is where my passion lies when the opportunity to lead an office in such a new space came up. i couldn't turn it down.

i was with the district attorney's office for a little over nine years, if you include the time as an intern as well as volunteer da, all most 13 years. during the time with the da's office i had an opportunity to serve the community not only as the assistant district attorney but as director of community relations. that afforded the opportunity to have impact on the community in an immediate way. it is one thing to work to serve the rights of those without rights, victims. it is really rewarding to work to to further the goals of our office and the commitment we have as city employees and advocates for people who don't have a voice. i don't know of anyone surprised to see me in this role. maybe people have an impression what the director of the office of cannabis should be like, what

their beliefs should be. i smash all of that. you grew up in the inner city of san francisco. my career path is not traditional. i don't think a person should limit themselves to reach full potential. i say that to young women and girls. that is important. you want to see leadership that looks diverse because your path is not predetermined. i didn't wake up thinking i was going to be a prosecutor in my life. the city administrator reached out and wanted to have a conversation and gave me interest in the new role. i thought you must not know what i do for a living. it was the opposite. she had foresight in realizing it would be helpful for somebody not only a former prosecutor but interested in shaping criminal justice reform for the city would be the right person for the space. i appreciate the foresight of the mayor to be open how we can be leaders in san francisco.

i was able to transition to the policy space. here i was able to work on legislation, community relations, communication and start to shape the ways our office was going to reform the criminal justice system. it is fulfilling for me. i could create programs and see those impact people's lives. i am the change. it took truants youth to meet with civil rights movement leaders who fought to have access to education. being a young person to understand that helped the young people realize this was an important thing to give up. what we find is that young people who are truanted have a really high homicide rate in our city, which is a sad statistic. we want to change that. >> coming from a community we are black and brown.

i don't reach out to other people. i don't think they feel the same way. >> i had the great opportunity to work on prison reform issues and criminal justice reform issues. we created a program at san quentin where we brought district opportunities to lifers and talk about how we are all impacted by the criminal justice system. we brought over 40 elected das to san quentin for the situation. now we are inviting the police department. our formerly incarcerated group born out of this programming asked for the opportunity to work on a project where we could bring the men in blue on the outside to come speak to the men on blue inside to start the healing dialogue around how the criminal justice system specifically in san francisco impacts the community. i was attracted to the role. there was a component of equity

that was part of this process. the equity community here in san francisco is a community that i had already worked with. before i took steps to visit cannabis businesses i thought it was important my team have a chance to go inside and speak to men who had been impacted. that conversation needed to happen so we know how we are making an impact with the work that we are doing. the da's office as we were leading up to the legalization of marijuana in the state we started having conversations on the policy team what that could look like. the district attorney was really focused on the right side of history for this. we realized it would be quite a heavy lift for individuals who have been negatively impacted by the war on drugs to expunge the record. it was important to figure out

the framework to make it seamless and easy. they put their minds to it after some time and many conversations the data analysts and other policy walk throughs on the team came up with the idea to engage the tech community in this process. code for america helped us developed the rhythm to be used for any jurisdiction across the state that was important to create a solution to be used to assist all jurisdictions dealing with this matter. the office of cannabis is the first office to have a completely digital application process. we worked with the digital team to develop the online application. there are going to be hiccups. we are first to do it. it is one of the most rewarding parts to offer a seamless -- to offer a seamless approach. that is how they can find solutions to solve many of the

community challenges. the best way to respond to prop 64 was to retroactively expunge 9,000 cannabis related records for san francisco. it feels like justice full circle for my personal experience. in the past i was furthering the war on drugs just as my directive. really coming from a place of public safety. that was the mandate and understanding. it is nice to see that pass a society we are able to look at some of our laws and say, you know what? we got it wrong. let's get this right. i had the privilege of being in the existing framework. my predecessor nicole elliott did an incredible job bringing together the individuals super-passionate about cannabis. >> the office was created in july of 2017.

i came in early 2018. i have been able to see the office's development over time which is nice. it is exciting to be in the space, stickily in thinking about her leadership. >> looking for the office it is always we might be before my time when i was working for the forboard of supervisors. i learn new things every day it is challenging and rewarding for me. >> we get the privilege to work in an office that is innovating. we get to spearhead the robust exprogram. >> i am excited she came on board to leverage experience as a prosecutor 10 years as we contemplate enforcements but approaching it without replicating the war on drugs. >> i was hired by cam laharris.

i haven't seen a district attorney that looked kind of like me. that could be a path in my life. i might not have considered it. it is important that women and certainly women of color and spaces of leadership really do their part to bring on and mentor as many young people as they can. it is superimportant to take advantage of as many opportunities as they can when they can intern because the doors are wide open. plans change and that is okay. the way this was shaped because i took a risk to try something new and explore something and show that i was capable. you are capable, right? it was about leaning in and being at the table to say my voice matters. you find your passion, the sky

>> i try to start every day not looking at my phone by doing something that is grounding. that is usually meditation. i have a gym set up in my garage, and that is usually breathing and movement and putting my mind towards something else. surfing is my absolute favorite thing to do. it is the most cleansing thing that i'm able to do. i live near the beach, so whenever i can get out, i do. unfortunately, surfing isn't a daily practice for me, but i've been able to get out weekly, and it's something that i've been incredibly grateful for. [♪♪♪]

>> i started working for the city in 2005. at the time, my kids were pretty young but i think had started school. i was offered a temporarily position as an analyst to work on some of the programs that were funded through homeland security. i ultimately spent almost five years at the health department coordinating emergency programs. it was something that i really enjoyed and turned out i was pretty good at. thinking about glass ceiling, some of that is really related to being a mother and self-supposed in some ways that i did not feel that i could allow myself to pursue responsibility; that i accepted treading water in my career when my kids were young. and as they got older, i felt more comfortable, i suppose, moving forward. in my career, i have been asked

to step forward. i wish that i had earlier stepped forward myself, and i feel really strongly, like i am 100% the right person for this job. i cannot imagine a harder time to be in this role. i'm humbled and privileged but also very confident. so here at moscone center, this is the covid command center, or the c.c.c. here is what we calledun -- call unified command. this is where we have physically been since march, and then, in july, we developed this unified structure. so it's the department of emergency management, the department of public health, and our human services hughesing partners, so primarily the department of homelessness and supportive housing and human services agency. so it's sort of a three-headed

command in which we are coordinating and operating everything related to covid response. and now, of course, in this final phase, it's mass vaccination. the first year was before the pandemic was extremely busy. the fires, obviously, that both we were able to provide mutual support but also the impact of air quality. we had, in 2018, the worst air quality ten or 11 days here in the city. i'm sure you all remember it, and then, finally, the day the sun didn't come out in san francisco, which was in october. the orange skies, it felt apocalyptic, super scary for people. you know, all of those things, people depend on government to say what's happening.

are we safe? what do i do? and that's a lot of what department of emergency management's role is. public service is truly that. it is such an incredible and effective way that we can make change for the most vulnerable. i spend a lot of my day in problem solving mode, so there's a lot of conversations with people making connections, identifying gaps in resources or whatever it might be, and trying to adjust that. the pace of the pandemic has been nonstop for 11 months. it is unrelenting, long days, more than what we're used to, most of us. honestly, i'm not sure how we're getting through it. this is beyond what any of us ever expected to experience in our lifetime. what we discover is how strong we are, and really, the depth

of our resilience, and i say that for every single city employee that has been working around the clock for the last 11 months, and i also speak about myself. every day, i have to sort of have that moment of, like, okay, i'm really tired, i'm weary, but we've got to keep going. it is, i would say, the biggest challenge that i have had personally and professionally to be the best mom that i can be but also the best public certify chant in whatever role i'm in. i just wish that i, as my younger self, could have had someone tell me you can give it and to give a little more nudge. so indirectly, people have helped me because they have

seen something in me that i did not see in myself. there's clear data that women have lost their jobs and their income because they had to take care of their safety nets. all of those things that we depend on, schools and daycare and sharing, you know, being together with other kids isn't available. i've often thought oh, if my kids were younger, i couldn't do this job, but that's unacceptable. a person that's younger than me that has three children, we want them in leadership positions, so it shouldn't be limiting. women need to assume that they're more capable than they think they are. men will go for a job whether they're qualified or not. we tend to want to be 110% qualified before we tend to step forward. i think we need to be a little more brave, a little more exploratory in stepping up for

positions. the other thing is, when given an opportunity, really think twice before you put in front of you the reasons why you should not take that leadership position. we all need to step up so that we can show the person behind us that it's doable and so that we have the power to make the changes for other women that is going to make the possibility for their paths easier than ours. other women see me in it, and i hope that they see me, and they understand, like, if i can do it, they can do it because the higher you get, the more leadership you have, and power. the more power and leadership we have that we can put out

>> you are watching san francisco rising with chris manners. today's special guest, carolyn mante. >> hi, i'm chris manners and you are watching san francisco the stow about restaffing rebuilding and reimaging the city. the guest is carolyn manteto talk about the organization is helping to preserve the city cultural heritage and architecture. welcome to the show. >> thank you for having me e. >> good to have you here. >> can we talk bat the history of your organization and the mission. >> sure, thank you. san francisco heritage started 51 years ago and the main mission is to preserve and enhance the architectural and cultural identity of san

francisco. when it started out the focus was really on the buildings, historic landmark listings and really concentrated on downtown area with all the development happening. our organization was raising a reg red flag with historic landmarks in danger and victorian mansions so a hallmark of our organization is moving these victorian mansions in the way of development to inwestern addition neighborhood and other areas to get out of the way of development and preserve them. our organization was around before there was the historic preservation commission of the city so we were at the forefront drawings attention to historic preservation, landmarking and over the last 51 years we have seen how there are more then just buildsings in safeguarding the city cultural resources, there is also small businesses and the

different neighborhood icons that make a neighborhood special, so our outreach has really-it is really come full circle in a way because it moved downtown into the neighborhoods and now with the covid epidemic it is really going back to downtown again looking at how we can play a role in the economic recovery and revitalization of downtown san francisco. >> that's great. so, now i understand your organization is also responsible for maintaining a couple properties. could you tell us a little about those? >> yes, our non profit was gifted in 1973, the historic (inaudible) house. it is now a historic house museum but this was a family since 1886 built this victorian mansion in the same family year after year and one of the last resident of the family when she passed way gifted the mansion to

san francisco heritage so since then we have been running this historic house and the home of our office. in 2018, one of the long time members nor aa lasten gifting a building on the e h-as hate polk became a commercial corridor after the earthquake, the owner at the time, he raised the house and put 6 store front underneath in order to take advantage of the commerce so we are in charge of the house on the corner and it has been a wonderful way to get new numbers, new audiences interested in the work of our organization. during the pandemic, we have been using it as a artson residents and partnering with different bay area artists as well

as cultural institutions, cultural districts and then one of the storefronts we converted into a pop up galleries so gives a opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of the art and cultural resources in san francisco. >> that's fantastic. so, now, let's talk about legacy business. what does the designation mean? how does somebody get add today the legacy business registry and what benefits does being named a legacy business? >> i love this program. it was started by san francisco heritage and adopt ed by the city and run by the office of small business but the program looks what are the businesses really contributing to san francisco and the neighborhood. when we started the first focus was bars and restaurants but over the years it exb panded to include other businesses so these are places that contribute to the character of a

neighborhood, so sam's grill downtown, the amazingarian press in the presidio. book stores like city lights oergreen apple recently named. this year we had a lot of attention on the legacy business program. we put out a contest to the public of what you think should be the next legacy business and one of the businesses that was recommended was the club deluxe, jazz club on the corner, and 2 or 3 days after we launched the contest, the owners announced they would have to close. the rent was driven up, they couldn't afford it, coming out of the pandemic so we worked at speed to get that application submitted with them and that status convinced their landlord to negotiate with them a lower rent and this way they have been able to stay, there was a lot of social

media support around this, so when you become a legacy business, not only do you get marketing and business support from the office of small business, but you also eligible for grants and we work closely with the legacy businesses as we do our work for san francisco heritage. >> that's great. so, apart from architecture and buildings, you also work with cultural districts, and the castro theater strikes me as a place that is both. a beautiful building and cultural hub and center. what has been happening with the recent acquisition by new owners; >> it is leased to another planet entertainment and been in contact with planet entertainment by the castro theater is historic land mark building. it is recognized as a very important architectural

monument. one thing-one of the main activist organizations of the preservation of the theater we work together with supervisor mandelman on a interior landmark historic landmark designation for interior, but what happened over the is summer and people learned is there is a lot of concern not just by san franciscans but people all over the world, movie directors, stars who are very concerned about the risk to the lgbtq and film programming at the castro theater. another planet hosted community stakeholder in august, and it was so moving to see the number of people who took the microphone-everyone had two minutes to say their testimony of what

castro theater meant to them and those testimonys showed this building is contributing not just as a architectural monument but plays a role in the lgbtq community that is irrelaceuble able. >> it is beautiful theater. >> it is. my involvement in the theater raised awareness to not only the castro theater to be emblematic of the lgbtq culture and history but also there are many other sites in the city that also contribute to the identity. that is why so many people come to san francisco as a place of freedom and diversity so in my previous work i worked at the world heritage center, so when i joined san francisco heritage i was thinking why isn't san francisco a world heritage city? for the architecture alone it could be

inscribed. golden gate bridge to name a few but the city is so unique in the architecture, the mansioned and historic landmarks so hoping to start a conversation on that with city stakeholders this year. >> that is great. let's talk about your relationship with other agencies. you mentioned economic and office of work force development and planning commission. how do you unt integrate to them? >> these relationships are essential. we are working with office of small business for the legacy business program and the planning department is really one of our most crucial relationships. we meet quarterly with them and we really see how we can support not only historic land mark listings and historical cultural context statements, strategy for culture

districts and city survey among many other activities that really are of concern to both of us. for the office of workforce development, i attended a etmooing recently that the chamber of commerce organized with them on the downtown revitalization and a key goal in that meeting and in the downtown revitalization is to make sure that the city historic culture resources play a key #r0e8 in the economic recovery and revitalization especially after the pandemic. the office of workforce development has the city build program which is admirable program where youth are trained in construction techniques for rebuilding and especially with the new housing legislation, and we really want to see how can that workforce be expanded to include training in historic preservation. we have so many victorian homes, historic buildings and other places that really need a skilled

labor force to make sure that they are preserved and that they help keep the special identify of the city. we really value these relationships, we meet quarterly with the various organizations and we are really grateful for grants of the arts we receive and other supports so definitely that is a key relationship for san francisco heritage. >> the city build is great. i like that a lot. thank you so much for the time you have given today. appreciate you coming on the show. >> thank you so much raising awareness about san francisco heritage. we hope the people watching will join us in the mission to help keep san francisco special. thank you. >> that's it for this episode. we'll be back shortly. i'm chris manners, thanks