and the market and enjoy the community. see you soon. >> good morning, everyone i'm san francisco mayor london breed and so glad to be here to couch the annual safe shopper and in union square this holiday season (clapping.) and i wanted to thank is all the

folks joining us here today some you'll hear from in a moment i want to take an opportunity to acknowledge this amazing hotel more than one hundred years old 2 a hundred employees and a vibrate part of san francisco thank you for allowing us to host this press conference here today to talk about the things that that san francisco has planned for this holiday season. some of those things are fun, but, of course, some of those things are to make sure that we people are safe while shopping and having fun, i want to say based on the partnering with the union square alliance done great things closing down the streets to allow for holiday lanes where people have hot cocoa and move around a little bit more than easily and also joy the public

streets and spaces in a way that invites in the holiday season already as a tree let's and thanks to macy's and starting to look beautiful in downtown last night a great restaurant for people shopping and eating and love the most is the fact that the holidays lights bring joy and see so, so many people skating we were still skating an the ice skating ring that has negligible rewant to invite the people to shop and we know there are a lot of great stores for people to shop and great places for folks to eat in what we usually do every holiday season we increase the public safety i know you see some of the ambassadors here those are the

folks have been incredible as it relates to public safety and why in the central park of the city and county of san francisco under central station i know the chief will talk about that in a moment but has been over 4 o percent crime down because of officers and you investments and i think want to thank the downtown ambassadors and union square ambassadors they've been a welcome addition to the community. and we have retired police officers ambassadors the easy and easier on the streets not only dealing with the issues but the big city issues we have to be honest thing will happen by but we have a response as a response has been swift especially with the men and women of the police department

and how they respond we want to appreciate the work we do that the sheriff's department. and you'll hear a little bit about the additional support they will be providing. but the goal is to make sure that from the garage where you park or the bus you get off or the more than or lyft from have whatever experience adopt you don't have to worry about things because we are here to support you and protect you and make sure that the experience you have is a great one here in san francisco. this holiday season we have so many more to talk about i want to give some of the people that are joining us a chance to give you a how the of some things you want to experience the magic of the holidays in san francisco and in particular in the square is a ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the person in

charge the union square alliance a strong advocate for downtown rodriguez. >> (clapping) thank you total mayor and, of course, thank you to everything she's detain i'm rodriguez the ceo square alliance and happy to be here this is the season and great moments no union square iconic civic center center of the west we wanted to keep it safe for the northern california and san franciscans and visitors of all the way he acknowledge the hotel where we are because the weather thank you, brian for hosting this incredible events and rournlz to the hotel

(clapping.) and a warm fire place makes the holidays better i know there are people that takes care of this so come and enjoy the holiday and welcome and see the owner time trails full of ornaments and our beautiful blue carpet and want to thank the mayor's office and oewd and sarah standing behind me thank you for your support and thank bill groups and jp morgan chase and amazon and the partners and the gap for all they're doing to continue in the spirit of holidays in union square when you make your wayp to the center of the plaza where the great tree and behind me you'll hear from the exam of macy's and

their support for the holiday season is bright and sparking and, of course, the i drink is on rain or shine make your way to the winter walk but the tree and with the stages blue trucks and the market i can get your stocking stuffers and thank the partners 3 come together to really make oounlz safe frontage from the holidays but i have see union square and sf photographically ambassadors and others our hotel and tourism holiday community happy to have your support have a wonderful time i know diego rivera is here and jeff and other partners at

the central station here we are a special district and at the you lieutenant for his support and, in fact, a rounding for him as he couped this is how we keep our union square safe and chief. thank you. >> and wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season that is exactly what that b will be this year and joining the spirits we're going to a safe new year. thank you very much. >> (clapping) and please welcome assistant chief the police department david. >> all right. good morning and thank you, mayor london breed this is an exciting moment for us like we're not bringing the best of news but super

excite btsdz about couching the lidays and i first want to thank mayor london breed for her support and supporting the police department and mayor london breed three years ago to this date that said we must have police officers visible i union square. we must have safety and have promotes and we must invite everyone from all over the region to come to eucalyptus to celebrate san francisco o san francisco and shop and spending time with theiramdown over in cu down in 40 percent for the city and that didn't happen that happens because we have officer that are visible and apprehend thinkinging those responsibility we are to make sure we have police officers that are visible that are able to respond rapid

you'll see officer over the area and we've already doubled more t■rhan doubled our number of mroefrl we are here 24/7 to cover the area and encourage everyone to come to union square because it is safe and my family is time down here as well tea thank the ambassadors our partners and thank the sheriff's department and you'll hear from a moment in the county of santa clara sheriff carter and have the rec and park center to make sure we're promoting public safety. i want to thank central station lieutenant dean hall and the police officers this leadership we have safer union square i many, many years with that, i wish you all a happy holidays

and mayor london breed will be visiting the mounting union and seeing thehat is also san francisco that is what we do we have to clean up, of course, we're responsible for that but we definity to bring this back to you thank you, melissa and with that, pass it back to the mayor with that, chief lazz you're hard work and come a long ways almost one hundred people to celebrate in the police officer amendment using drones we didn't have the ability to use before i'm happy to talk about the barriers and things we're to set up for making sure we are continuing not only to protect people but protecting property we're so grateful to

the san francisco police department for all they're amazing work and also they're following up with with the commitment and this is a juvenile occasion■t this is demonstrated when something happens you'll get caught. >> arrested and only to have fun only. with that, i'm opposed to introduce our assistant sheriff othe sheriff's department carter. >> (clapping) it's beginning to a lot a lot like the holiday season i love this thank you for the warm fireplace i need a hot cocoa. the st. joseph's wanted to encourage either community members and the visitors to come to union square. for they're shopping experience you've heard from many people how amazing it

is in this area we we have several stores for■a shopping a while you're a shopping our goals and the sheriff's office to make sure that everyone is safe we're working with every partner that is behind me to make sure i all are safe when you come to to san francisco could. the ice skating rink and you'll have more fun so sheriff talked about who will have s patrols in the area as well as along with the cord and you'll see marked vehicles maybe seen them in the area search warrants and you may see some ask for a sticker letting them know they need to have stickers our

che to be safe and provide traffic enforcement thank you the police department have our ambassadors and others law enforcement agencies by our deputies are doing an amazing job to make sure we are all safe don't forget when you go out there have fun butelate out the door and■1 if, if you g by the skating ring and with that happy holidays to you. >> (clapping) and i show you sheriff carter and one of the things you, you said will be helping with the around traffic on our streets and doing had is necessary so make sure you to by all traffic light and rrnlts and all the

things not only want to make sure people are safe when they're shopping but make sure people are safe on the streets as well and with the assistance in 34 role and again, a lot of the reason we're here is because we're announcing a robust operation we're going to be increasing our presence and our enforcement in the downtown union square so with that, oh, i want to bring up something someone that is one of my favorite people i love macy's and love macy's during the holidays we we want to appreciate macy's has been a real partner and have brought so many enjoy to union square the tree is lit the waeshtsdz are autopsy up and people are smiling when necessary purchase toys shop at macy's regularly

and around the arean please wel the manager of macy's in union square joe biden macy's. >> thank you so mayor london breed i'm joe biden davis the store manager at the wonderful for in union square. macy's is committed in light community we continue to support the union square area the retail designation and have great trees and the sfmta holiday window we will unveil tomorrow come by and check us out and, of course, santa (clapping.) together with the union square alliance and mayor london breed we share a new vision to deliver the best shopping right here in the greatest city in the world

so, please stop and treat those holiday moments with us we want to help you with your holiday list this holiday. thank you. (clapping.) and i also want to mention um, the city and county of san francisco under my office of economic development is investing in a lot of the activation think union square specifically to have events and car letters and other folks but get in the spirit of holiday season i want to appreciate pacific islanders for the office of economic workforce to make the investment in downtown and providing support in some of the new businesses opening and those that are already opted i've heard great things point

retailer about the sales we want to keep that going we're stepping to make sure that downtown not only is a place to spot shopping but a inviting her area and last but not least the rec and park is responsible for the union square garage please welcome kate. >> i think good morning, good morning everybody i'm kate anderson president of the commission and and the recreation department. we're here honorably in front of this beautiful fire place thank you, mayor london breed and union square area is not just a shopping, etc. on the other hand, mecca but a plaza since the 1800s a gathering place have the holiday ice ring and as well

as the macy's tree and the lenore a place where my that family and thousands of families come and enjoy the pictures and so proud to see all the people. mayor london breed commitment to the union square reflected her violation and throughout san francisco by investing in the places like shopper programs and supporting holidays to make sure the union square remains a welcoming and friendly place a place for residents and businesses can thrive we're happy and i want to shout out to all the ambassadors and especially our park ranges with deputy chief if the park ranges will be partnering with sf finding and our sheriff's department in keeping the public

safe and also ask i'm marcus to make sure we have the stickers available; right? . okay. >> so always come and talk with our leaders and talk with our who are keeping us safe is they'll tell you about the chiechlt about the holidays that is helping san francisco economic recovery. so i promise when you come here you'll have a safety experience and have the time and the space to pick out perfect gifts and memories for your families that knowing san francisco has your backs thank you and happy holiday (clapping.) >> all right. joy the holidays thank you for coming we look forward to serging maybe downtown union square or taking photos with your families but

more importantly spend some

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>> my family's starts in mexico in a small town. my parents are from a very, very small town. so small, that my dad's brother is married to one of my mom's sisters. it's that small. a lot of folks from that town are here in the city. like most immigrant families, my parents wanted a better life for us. my dad came out here first. i think i was almost two-years-old when he sent for

us. my mom and myself came out here. we moved to san francisco early on. in the mission district and moved out to daily city and bounced back to san francisco. we lived across the street from the ups building. for me, when my earliest memories were the big brown trucks driving up and down the street keeping us awake at night. when i was seven-years-old and i'm in charge of making sure we get on the bus on time to get to school. i have to make sure that we do our homework. it's a lot of responsibility for a kid. the weekends were always for family. we used to get together and whether we used to go watch a movie at the new mission theater and then afterwards going to kentucky fried chicken. that was big for us. we get kentucky fried chicken on sunday. whoa! go crazy! so for me, home is having something where you are all together. whether it's just together for dinner or whether it's together for breakfast or sharing a

special moment at the holidays. whether it's thanksgiving or christmas or birthdays. that is home. being so close to berkley and oakland and san francisco, there's a line. here you don't see a line. even though you see someone that's different from you, they're equal. you've always seen that. a rainbow of colors, a ryan bow of personalities. when you think about it you are supposed to be protecting the kids. they have dreams. they have aspirations. they have goals. and you are take that away from them. right now, the price is a hard fight. they're determined. i mean, these kids, you have to applaud them. their heart is in the right place. there's hope. i mean, out here with the things changing everyday, you just hope the next administration makes a change that makes things right.

right now there's a lot of changes on a lot of different levels. the only thing you hope for is for the future of these young kids and young folks that are getting into politics to make the right move and for the folks who can't speak. >> dy mind motion. >> even though we have a lot of fighters, there's a lot of voice less folks and their voiceless because they're scared. >> shop and dine in the 49 promotes local businesses, and challenges residents to do their shopping within the 49 square miles of san francisco. by supporting local services in our neighborhood, we help san francisco remain unique, successful, and vibrant. so where will you shop and dine in the 49? >> i am the owner of this restaurant.

we have been here in north beach over 100 years. [speaking foreign language] [♪♪♪] [speaking foreign language] [♪♪♪] [speaking foreign language]

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