[music] mayor's press >> what's going on, everyone? good morning, good morning! my name is sealey, nba champion of the warriors and also ambassador

to the bay area. we are all excited about this. i'm honored to welcome everyone into the downtown alley here in san francisco. before i get started, i would like to thank everyone from the warriors, everyone from the nba and everyone from the press who is here today. i would also like to recognize our leaders who are present. california state controller, malia cohen, california assembly member matt haney. you can clap. former san francisco mayor, willie brown. san francisco assessor, joaquin torres. there you go. you really like him. san francisco treasurer, jose

cisneros. san francisco sheriff paul miamoto. san francisco supervisor steve, san francisco supervisor tim walter. we are going to have store fronts. the fans will get to experience what we experience every all-star weekend. we are going to have the powell street cable cars, the all-star 2025 branding on them all weekend long as well. golden state storefront right now, this is an example of how nba all-star alley will come to life. starting today. fans can catch the appearance of warriors talent like yours truly. and we are really excited about them.

you can take pictures of trophies and dancing. i hope you brought your dancing shoes. it is in collaboration with golden state entertainment. and will be painting an all live mural with the mural project. then a few blocks up union square, there is going to be a basketball court. it's not going to be a fancy basketball court. we are going to have the golden state warrior academy players there and bring your jumper. now, i want to get us started. i'm going to walk him up here, warriors president and ceo brandon schneider to the podium. [ applause ] >> the best thing i need is the microphone to be the right

height to be perfect. maybe not. the warriors are excited to be here this weekend. this is 25 years from 2000. san francisco is fired up. for those that don't know, this is a sports town. i want to thank you all for being here to celebrate the opening of the nba all-star alley. i would like to thank everybody who had a hand in making this a reality which has taken a village. i certainly want to thank my team that led the warriors, daniels and straus for the work. i like the applause. i would like to than the universal alliance, my team. [cheers and applause] you can thank lamar too, c'mon.

of course i want to thank my good friend, mayor daniel larry for making sure this is going well for the nba. this was a huge priority for us as we began planning a couple years ago. we know this is going to be the epic center of the weekend. we can't wait to experience chase center to be at the all-star saturday night and sunday. the 11 acres surrounding chase center. we just opened the sports bar this week. senor and if you are hungry before or after events on throughout the weekend, we have you covered at thrive city. it was also important to host

across the bay area. to having our teams in our own home in this arena and this classic was really important to us. of course, we are so proud to be here on powell street in union square and making this another central point for the weekend. this event is just the beginning of what's to come. as mentioned, there are numerous celebrations throughout the weekend and the entertainment that opened may 16. we are very excited about that. beyond this, we are hosting dozens of events throughout the bay area in the next 50 days. this is for fans around the world celebrating with us and the strong connection we have in san francisco and the bay area. we wanted to be sure that everyone had an opportunity to

be part of the all-star weekend. we are so grateful for our partners for bringing nba all-star back since 2000. it was mark coming full circle here 25 years later. [ applause ] so in addition to bringing 150,000 fans to the bay area, we are so excited because this marquis event is expected to deliver over $350 million of economic impact to this san francisco region. we are so excited to get started. thank you all for being here and have an incredible all-star weekend. [ applause ] >> adjustment of the mic.

25 years later, mark tatum. that was a great conference and we are going to appear in the dunk contest this year. [ laughter ] $350 million in revenue, we are expecting coming into the bay area. i would be remiss if i didn't say that the bay area has some of the best food in the world. i would say it rivals new york all right. i only emphasize that because i want to be sure that a lot of the dollars are going to small businesses that are carrying the bay area on their back. make sure you support the local food vendors as well. next up, i would like to welcome the alliance ceo. marissa. >> hello, everyone. are we alive? i want to hear you? i want to hear you. i have had this smile on my face

since yesterday. i'm here boots on the ground in union square. look at powell street. are we feeling this energy? this is so incredible. i want to thank the warriors, i want to thank the nba, i want to thank our mayor, daniel leury for putting union square back in the game, right? right? come up here and talk with me because this is incredible. this is what we are trying to do. sports, the nba, the warriors, they are telling the world that the heart of san francisco beats strong. that powell, our iconic gateway to union square is alive and well and look at what it could look like and feel like with just a little investment. imagine just a bigger one that is completely transformed and we are back. our community here is ready.

arms opened. the hospitality community is receive to received everyone on our all-star weekend. we are ready, we are pumped. we have the food. we have the hotels, we have the experiences and powell street is filled with pop ups for all of you to enjoy, to experience. why san francisco is a world-class city and the perfect backdrop for all of this, all of this. we are a stage for all and all roads lead to union square. you can get here or bart, you can get here on a bus or drive here. i thought it was $300 million impact, no, $350 million impact, that's what we are talking about. >> absolutely, $350 baby. >> $350. i want to say a huge shout out

to gap for dressing me in this blue smurfy thing. i'm excited to represent the warriors dub nation. we are so excited. thank you so much. we are coming off an incredible season holiday. our lights went off, we are rolling and not missing a beat. we are protecting this district. we want to say thank you to law enforcement, thank you to our police officers. you see them, they are everywhere. say hi to them. thank them because we couldn't do this without them. morgan is great. it's valentine's day. don't forget valentine's day is tomorrow. we have a lot for that too. thank you so much, union square. we have so much to share with all of you. tell your friends that we are back and we are in the game. thank you. >> thank you, energy. [ applause ] i love that.

don't forget, iou, if you don't celebrate valentine's day, leave an iou for the all-star. we have the all-star weekend with the dunk contest, the all-star game sunday, we have so many amazing things for fans to experience. one thing i will say, if you want events like this to come to the bay, we want all fans from san francisco, oakland, alameda, south bay, please come to celebrate these events. it's going to take more to celebrate and come back so we have lots to celebrate. next up, thank you, marissa for all of do with union square alliance. i'm excited to see the fans enjoy all the weekend and what comes with the nba all-star weekend. next, i would like to introduce the mayor of the great city of

san francisco, daniel leury. [ applause ] >> let's be crystal clear. i am not participating in the dunk contest. [ laughter ] there is no breaking news. we want people to watch that contest. it's an honor to be here with you to open up all-star alley here on powell street. thank you to the nba, our incredible partners. thank you to brandon and the warriors for just creating energy and life every day through the team, but also through what you have at thrive. it is majestic over there from but we are in union square, and there is a lot of talk out there. the national media, international media, who has not been to san francisco, they don't know what they are about to see.

they are about to see a city on the rise, a city with great food, great art, great entertainment. the best people in the world, the most diverse city in the world. we have so much to offer, and we are so excited to show off this weekend because san francisco is coming back. so, listen, we have our challenges, and we are going to meet those challenges head on. we are cleared eyed about it, but we can do many things all at once. we can hit those chance and we can celebrate. i want everybody this weekend to be safe and i want them to have fun. sheriff, you and your team are out there every single day. thank you very much to the sheriff's department. i want to thank our police officers, our 911 dispatch office. we have some of the greatest employees in the world here in san francisco, and i am so

excited for the world to see that. now, it's a sports weekend. so i just need you to know that i had a little, i had a few moments. my glory days ended when i was 10 years old when i struck out and then people starting getting taller and i had to find another career. i'm so glad and honored to have the honor to be the mayor of the city and county of san francisco. the greatest city in the world. welcome, everybody. 214 countries are going to be tuning in, $350 million worth of economic impact. san francisco is coming back and it's just the beginning. we have super bowl 60 next year

and we have a lot coming up. thank you all and let's have some fun, thank you. [ applause ] >> thank you, mayor leury. san francisco is coming back. if you are a stock buying person, a betting person, you ought to be the right now before it gets more expensive. we are excited for the events this weekend, but most importantly, we are excited for the whole world to get to know san francisco. i was a kid when i came here and came here out of college and got to see what the fans looked like in this area. they propelled us from a team that was young in the nba and i was drafted to the bay area with draymond green and we have these young guys with steph curry and

thompson. have you ever heard of those guys? they are the best. that's the love for the power of the bay area and the fans and they started to shout for mvp for steph curry and the rest. now the ceo mark. >> let me start by thanking brandon schneider, daniel, peter and the entire golden state

warriors because they are committed to showcase this great city of san francisco and the greater bay area. also want to thank mayor daniel leury. thank you for your support of us over the last couple of months and we truly appreciate everything that you are doing to bring everybody together and showcase this city for the entire world to see. marissa rodriguez, thank you for your support. as was noted, 25 years ago was my first start at the nba here in the bay area. it's exciting for me how much this game and this week long activity has grown. the mayor noted 214 countries and territories, 67 different languages, the entire world will be focused on the bay area over the next couple of days. i know the bay area is going to shine. what we want to do on this iconic shopping location, right? this is one of the most historic

iconic shopping locations in the world is to want to create a branded destination for the fans and the people from the country to come here to the bay area for this event and wanted to create this nation event and we wanted to do this in this community with san francisco and chamber of commerce and we will have businesses doing pop ups and other events. coming here, i saw lines of people waiting to get in stores on powell street which is a testament to the impact that we can off not only on the court but off the court as well. i'm excited and i can't wait for the entire world to wait and see that san francisco is back to see the vibrancy here in the bay area and welcome you and encourage you all to enjoy all the activities that are going to

be taking place this weekend. thank you very much for support. [ applause ] >> mr. mark, thank you to all of our speakers, thank you for all of your time. we are so excited for the world to enjoy union square and the entire bay area this weekend. if you haven't already, please take a moment to enjoy the store fronts that you see here and the others throughout the weekend. okay. all right. now we are on to the reason why we are all here, the ribbon cutting event. i'm going to welcome everyone to the all-star alley and welcome our guest to go cut the ribbon right now. >> 3, 2, 1! >> [ applause ]

>> when i in height in addiction i did not see my future. i question if this is all i was minute to be. i was inspired to quit using when i was going to be a father. >> we will have this and she will [indiscernible] need to take the help now. since i stopped using, our life is night and day. i'm able to withstand cravings, i don't are body acs. >> anyone can do it. >> we are living proof that

>> when someone gets out and the winds hits their face they are making the decision whether they will go left or right. >> the freedom raider program came about because there was two things. one, there was the need for more program inside san francisco county jails. and with san francisco pretrial we work with presentence clients who are fighting their case. the freedom program serves women in san francisco county giving them an opportunity to decompress everything they have been going through. what does freedom mean to you? how do you create it within yourself? >> having conversations with my daughter who we put out a call out to the expo page and they

started to comment and say, i'm down. >> we are handing down the torch and it starts with us. but it does in the end with us. >> tell be a movement. >> yea. you have to start with a big movement. gi think the good thing about this program is that we will be able to also connect them with the partners we work with. like the latino task source. san francisco pretrial. and provides opportunity for people to get llc's the san francisco sheriff's department. we are a one time thing but it flourished to 11 weeks in the jails. >> one of the main goals of the sheriff in the last strategic plan was to find better vocational programs specific low for women. this course is offered in both

english and spanish meeted needs. our diverse community. the benefits of vocational training they take a real skill with them. bring it back to the communities. make money for themselves reduces recidivism and e eliminates the possibility of recurring the economic crimes that are out there that is basically the nexus of why an are incarcerateed begin with. >> so i hope it will bring you more strength you have and i will see you outside. yes. >> the reaction to the program has been rewarding. the smiles, tears each monday you see a bit of growth inside of them. now, the ladies come in on monday, what is up!

what is up! now they understand that you have sisters here. it takes a community to help a young person. i feel community needs to be in the county jails. we need that they need that. >> so on our first week there is a few that needed help perfecting and a good amount of people this did in the know how to brave what so ever. today is our final week and all the women know how to braid. they are confident and excited to get out and start their braiding business or braid on fellow inmates. the freedom program spoke to me i was incarcerated and when you treat people like human incarcerated they come home and be human.

when you treat them like animal its diminished the human aspect they come home and they are back they did in the learn skills temperature is important to have those kind of bonds. >> [inaudible]. feels good. tastes good. the community response has been overwhelming. in order for us to really expand and to the scombrars these communities and other facilities, we need the funds to sustin a program like this. and when we tie it to breaking cycles to economically driven crime its rings a bell that's what happen in the our community. we have been getting a lot of response from our city officials like walton who gave a proclamation to the women instructors. >> we are grateful for the dedication and commitment to teach art of braiding to the incarcerated women at the san

francisco county jail. >> not only has the freedom braiding class kind of paved the way of the training we want to have moving forward; we have already taken steps for more programs such as this. i think we are on the right electronic. >> my hope for this program is -- i want the women it get out and go home to their families to love on their babies, nieces and nephews and mothers. and giving them the skill set for them to love themselves again. although the lives stay on 24/7. their place is dark. i hope this program is shining a bit of light in their histories and minds to wanting to stay alive and free. i grew up with

cuisine mixed with american cuisine, and grew up cooking with my grandmother. as i grew older, i really found a lot of joy and fulfillment in cooking and coming up with my own recipes. once i got into the