mayor ed lee loved the city of fran. mayor ed lee is a very likable character! i saw him most recently at the ground breaking for the big construction project on 2nd street in san francisco! he is always smiling and always had his share of cheesy jokes. always got a chuckle out of the crowd and himself, as well. always a smile on his face! a positive character! very difficult not to like! so a lot of shock and sadness throughout the bay area today with this news coming everybody. >> certainly a trait you want as a politician, to be well liked by everyone, a tough job. >> yes. especially with the controversial issues he was dealing with in a city from old san francisco to this new tech world, ushering in that era! homelessness obviously a big problem, making a lot of inroads when it came to housing chronically homeless veterans and as well as the controversy over sanctuary city, vigorously defensing the city's policy of not cooperating with federal authorities when it comes to revealing the immigration status of immigrants. he really did have a tendency to dig in

the death of mayor ed lee. in a moment we will hear from one of the people who worked closely with the mayor. >>> welcome back to mornings on 2. >>> the polls are open in alabama for a special election in the senate race that is attracting a lot of attention. >> doug luzader is in d.c. with what's at stake and new poll numbers. >> reporter: this may be the lay of the land heading into this election day in alabama. an explosive fox new poll showing that republican roy moore is 10 points behind his democratic challenger, doug jones. if this is correct, it could be the prelude to a major upset. judge roy moore would not say much about politics or sports or anything else last night outside avon the election eve rally. inside he did question the validity of recent polls and talked about the need to challenge the political establishment. >> it's difficult to drain the swamp when you're up to your -- neck -- and alligators. >> reporter: what moore has going for him is deep red alabama, a state that generally does not e

very is it under this morning to get the call about mayor ed lee. st yesterday he was out and about doing what he does as mayor, fulfilling his duties, and then to hear about this news this morning -- >> and you talked to mayor willie brown. >> yes. >> -- early this morning. what was he able to share with you about what exactly happened? >> he did not want to really go into a lot of details. he was deferring to now acting mayor london breed, president of the board of supervisors. he just said that ed lee had been out grocery shopping at his neighborhood safeway in dimon heights and it was around 10:30 last night when he suddenly collapsed. he had a massive heart attack. he said that the first responders did everything they could, but they were unable to save him. >> and then of course pronounced dead at zuckerberg earlier this morning. >> yes. >> according to amy hollyfield when he arrived at the hospital he was still speaking at the time, was still verbalizing, surrounded by family and friends. i know you've followed this -- you've followed city hal

into the mayor's office. lee became san francisco's 43rd mayor in january of 2011, appointed, not elected. then almost immediately, tion in for him to stay in the mayor's office, despite the promise he wouldn't. there was a lot of pressure from various businesses, the san francisco giants put together a music video to push him into it. >> charactertures of him? >> too legit to quit, they would say. a wonderful moment. he won the election in 2011, then ran in 2015 to win that second or third term, depending on how you are counting. - alremember guys for many things, but one is drawing tech mays into the city and keeping sco arhere. reak ez desidents into san francisco. be knung people may not realize ahe tech offices in san francisco are relatively new. it was the twitter tax break, something ed lee created and changed san francisco forever. we went from a dot com city to this. >> it's an interesting point. come to know that's how it is. but it wasn't. silicon valley was the heart. >> san francisco was a quiet tow

they were here in place to give us a statement from the passing of mayor ed lee. here's what she has to say. >> it is with profound sadness that i confirm mayor edwin m. lee passed away early this morning, tuesday, december 12th, at 1:11 a.m. at zuckerberg san francisco general hospital. family, friends and colleagues were by his side. the 43rd mayor of san francisco, ed was 65 years old. our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, anita, his daughters, tonya and brianna, and his entire family. in accordance with the city charter, i assume the role as mayor of the city and county of san francisco effective immediately. i want to thank the incredible staff at zuckerberg general for their care and professionalism. >> that was acting mayor of san francisco london breed, speaking from zuckerberg sf general. many of the public officials you saw -- i don't know if you saw in the video -- they were behind her, they're still at the hospital. they're not talking at this time. i did speak to a spokesperson right after that news conference to ask him if they know the cause of

all the comments are very true when it comes to mayor ed lee. avin new sm the lieutenant mayor say going well he lived the eulogy and not the resume. the photos this afternoon as the hearst carrying the kaskt. firefighters and every day citizens stopping to at a take time out of their day to salute the mayor as the herst drove by. as it went from the hospital to daly city to the funeral home. now many politicians do have big egos and big promises but not mayor lee. he was humble, smart and passionate, both in the public eye and behind the scenes. sadly he died in a similar way his father did. mayor lee soak about his father suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 49. lee was a sophomore in high school at that time. today the ceo of sf general spoke about the frantic moments after mayor lee was brought in last night. >> mayor lee arrived at zuckerberg san francisco general hospital by ambulance shortly after 10:00 last night, monday, december 11th. he was in critical condition. and we attempted a life saving measures for several hours. >> his

san francisco mayor ed lee has died. we just got word that he died just after 1:00 this morning at zuckburg hospital. lee was 65, surrounded by friends and family and colleagues. in a communication statement, it was said our thoughts are with his family. now more with what we are learning in the newsroom. joe? >> it is a shocking scene at zuckburg hospital. ed lee, the 43rd mayor of san francisco has died. according to some sources in the hospital speaking with the mayor's staff and supervisor, all the supervisors there now, it is a state of shock. the staff members are in tears. there is a lot of consoling and hugging as mayor lee just announced a few hours ago in the middle of the night. the former mayor willy brown tells me he was told mayor ed lee was shopping at safeway when he collapsed. an ambulance was called. could, to a source there at the hospital now now -- according to a source there at the hospital now, a top official was briefed that the mayor was speaking with paramedics on the way to the hospital, so he

he was appointed to mayor. leeaid at the time, he didn't want the job as mayor, said hoe would never run for re-election. rose pack credited him into pushing him into the mayor's office. she died in 2016 and was the key influencer in the chinese community. very powerful woman in san francisco politics. she paved the path for lee into the mayor's office. he becomes the 43rd mayor in january of 2011. appointed, not elected. almost immediately, there was pressure on him to stay in the mayor's office as well. now, one of the things we have been looking at is lee's, this is one of the music videos that ran. we were talking about this earlier. one of the things we have been looking at is mayor ed lee's influence on the san francisco tech community as well. we have seen he pushed for a numbber of tax breaks in tech. what is known as the twitter tax break, the very first one. that end of market street was so dev stated by the dot com bust. keep twitter in town and twitter stays. that, then, creates this. these dominos, sta

let's backtrack to mayor ed lee's rise in politics. basically recruited and stepped up to the plate in 2011. he was the appointed mayor in january of that year. he had been the city administrator since 2005 and before that the director of public works. he was taking over for former mayor gavin newsom that resigned to become the governor of california. at first lee said he would take the interim position but would not actually run to keep his post as mayor when the election happened in november. but then a big ground swell, a grassroots campaign themed run, ed run. he decided to run for and won and then re-election in 2015. he won easily with virtually no competition. mayor ed lee engaged in big projects and ideas until his sudden death. the information about his death we have right now, mayor ed lee went into cardiac arrest while grocery shopping then taken to fran general hospital. the family and city leaders gathered there and now the acting mayor london breed read a statement announcing his death... >> the 43rd mayor of san francisco

mayor ed lee dies unexpectedly -- shocking many people. his leadership helped changed san francisco and he served as inspiration for many. this is new video just into our newsroom of the procession for mayor ed lee. ad-lib. good morning, and thanks for joining us. i )m laura garcia. and i )m marcus washington. we been bringing you live breaking coverage of the mayor )s death all morning. even going on early at 3:30 to broadcast the announcement live. the mayor died at 1:11 am today-- tuesday, from an apparent heart attack. the mayor was just working yesterday -- even tweeting about a new public works project. board of supervisors president london breed will be taking over as acting mayor for the time being. president london breed will now take over as acting mayor for the time being. >> that's right. we heard from her just a moment ago. she was at city hall and that's where pete suratos is as well. quite emotional there this morning, but really, you know, she presented that the city will be able to move on as well, pete. >> reporter: yeah,

and continuing our coverage from san francisco on mayor lee's legacy. >> look at the smile. ee was always smiling. great guy. >> reporter: larry nelson remembering mayor ed lee tonight with flowers and a picture he left on city hall. they are the same age, 65 years old and he says they have something else in common. >> i relate to him because i also grew up in public housing. so i get it. and i know what it's like the tell yourself no, this is going to be different in my life. >> reporter: mayor lee lived his life promoting change. he was the first chinese american mayor in san francisco. a trail blazer in the chinese community. >> he work would those of us who are asian-american to help lead the city. >> reporter: lee was a civil servient for many years in san francisco. he became the interim mayor in 2011. elected by the board of supervisors to elect then mayor newsome. lee was a reluctant candidate, even though he ran in november 2011, he easily won reelection . >> you know, as they say in life he didn't live his resume, helived his eulogy. he loved people. he gave his lif

.> (grant) the bay area in shock tonight after san francisco mayor ed lee suddenly dies... this live look at city hall... where flags are at half staff... as the city mourns the death of its first chinese american mayor.(grant) thanks for joining us, i'm grant lodes... (vicki) and i'm vicki liviakis... mayor lee was rushed to the hospital late last night after collapsing while shopping at safeway. (grant) now top city leaders are assuring people that san francisco áwill continue to run smoothly... as mayor lee would have wanted it... kron 4's ali reid joins us live from city hall, where a memorial is growing... ali? the memorial in front of city hall continues to grow tonight. the city paying their respects to the mayor who they say lived a life of service.pkgat 1-11 tuesday morning, san francisco mayor ed lee passed away at zuckerberg san francisco general hospital. city and hospital officials are not yet releasing the cause of death.his family has asked that we share no further medical information and due to state and federal privacy laws we have to respect those wishes.th

. >> a look back at mayor lee's political life. it is a somber tuesday morning in the city by the bay. the great city of san francisco. mayor ed lee died at 1:11 this morning at zuckerberg san francisco general. the mayor, a fighter for affordable housing for civil rights for the homeless. someone who helped create the tech boom that the city is going through right now. a true innovator, bringing innovators to the city of san francisco. flags at half-staff outside of city hall. mayor lee also took a lot of pride as an international beacon. he is a true leader. this morning, san francisco mourning the loss of its first asian-american mayor. with that, we welcome you to the 9 on this tuesday morning. just woke up this morning for myself at 4:00 and we heard the word shock a lot from willie brown and now from libby schaaf. that's what it was for me. >> that was the case for so many. it is really important for us to think back to what san francisco was in 2011. we had just come out of the recession. the mayor said to me that he was the

i know that he and mayor lee were very close. >> reporter: yes. former mayor willie brown described ed lee as a close, personal friend and a unique leader for san francisco. when we spoke to brown at his home earlier this morning, he says he is still in a state of shock after hearing about ed lee's passing this morning. he said he cannot process what he was hearing on his phone when the supervisor called him at 1 am to tell him the news. before ed lee became mayor, he worked for mayor willie brown for about eight years. we also worked for former mayor gavin newsom. during the course of his decades long career, mayor lee worked under -- in five city departments on a four different mayors. he had a long history in city government. willie brown said his unconventional path to becoming mayor made him unique. >> he was not a politician at all. he didn't reach the pinnacle by being somebody's staffer are running somebody's campaign. all those things were not part of who he was. he was really a public servant, capable of holding a position as a result of

regarding the passing of mayor ed lee. it's having a big time impact here in san francisco and abroad. moments ago you talked with former san francisco mayor willie brown. he is the one that, when i spoke to him on the phone, he confirmed during that interview, information he had, mayor ed lee may have passed away as a result of a heart attack. i believe we have sound we can play for viewers talking about the legacy of mayor ed lee. >> caller: to the mayorship was almost natural. he did not come from a political world, so to speak. he had come from the world where merit determined whether or not you got the gig. that's why he was so natural, for me, and when newsome moved on to lieutenant governorship. >> reporter: as former mayor of san francisco, willie brown talking about lee's legacy, his ascension to that position. i know we talked about it this morning. he was appointed to becoming san francisco mayor in 2011 before winning election and re-election in that role. now, mayor ed lee is survived by his life anita and daug

one shared a story of how mayor ed lee helped clean the streets of san francisco before he became mayor. just one emple of the sacrifices he made for this city. the light scent of flowers filled the mayor's oice while a heaveness covered the boars chambers tonight. >> the mayor was not only an outstanding public servant but also a husband and a father. supervisors from around the city voiced their grief. >> i believe truly that he was obably the most kind, gentle man tt happened to be a politician. >> reporter: they shared their gratitude. >> iould not be here today if it were no for him. i am so grateful for ts opportunity to be able to serve the city. and it really was becse he gave me this opportunit stories.offered personal supervisor mark farrell says his 5-year-old son thought he was going to light the christmas tree last week, not the mayor. mayor lee overhead and did something unexpected. >> he actually motioned to my litt son cain and brought cain up and they kind of he hands on top of each other and flipped thswitch together. >> many mentioned ed lee's sense of humor. >> i did

i've spoken with mayor lee on numerous occasions . just a couple of weeks ago i was at an event with the mayor where he was out and encouraging people to walk to school. i was telling him about my son walking to school. we were talking about that and shook hands. then, briefly, again at the unveiling of the new muni light rail train, he came over and banged on the hood of the truck. i was on deadline so i did not have a great deal of time to talk to them but i did put my head out and asked him how it was going. he said doing good. he had that trademark smile. if you ever met him you know he has a big smile, a very infectious smile. he had it that day. i can tell you that i was stunned when i learned the news. the city is saddened at his passing, that is not an understatement. we are looking to see if we can start talking with other people in the city and get their response. we understand that former mayor willie brown may be at the hospital. we're looking to see if we can possibly find him. and looking to find other city hall staffers

four years ago, i joined mayor lee with anita on a sister city trip to shanghai, china. now, the mayor certainly has his accolades here, but in china, he was an icon. to everyone we met and everywhere we met, mayor lee was like beyonce with the mustache. yes, ed was also ed. he carried his own luggage. he held the door for his wife, anita, and for others. he brought him little doggie bags home from the restaurants after he ate. when he passed away, the mayor's budget director, melissa whitehouse wrote a beautiful tribute to him, one of many from his staff and colleagues. mayor lee treated us with respect. he changed his mind based on information, made tough decisions that would payoff long after he was gone. he compromised, he was honest, he cared deeply. working for him was all parks and recs, no howuse of cards. now, we all know, even before mayor lee's passing, san francisco has been fighting for its values amidst some stormy national winds. when cynicism mounts, and facts no longer matters, when people serve their egos above their people, when immigrants are made to b

san francisco mayor ed lee dead at the age of 65. >> the mayor's office making the announcement early away just after 1:00 a.m. at zuckerberg san francisco general hospital. willie brown telling abc 7 news carolyn tyler that lee suffered cardiac arrest. lee leaves behind his wife anita and his two daughters. dare listen, you've been covering city hall for many years. you were talking to mayor brown early this morning about the shocking news. >> it is hard to even wrap your mind around it. it's just very stunning. 65, we saw him yesterday at a recycling event, no sign of ill health. this was a major heart attack last night as he was grocery shopping at his neighborhood safeway. >> seemed to be perfectly fine yesterday. the regular good spirits that we knew him to be. >> yes, a very affable man. >> as we've been discussing this morning, he was a man who was put in this position not really intending to be the mayor. i mean, who knows, you know, what was actually going through his head, but he was intended to be a placeholder until the city could figure out who they wanted to elect for th

the sudden death of san francisco mayor ed lee. san francisco's 43rd mayor died shortly after 1:00 a.m. this is him being taken to the funeral home. the sky ranger captured firefighters and motorists pausing to salute the mayor. he was shopping near his home in glenn park when he suddenly collapsed. mayor lee was rushed to sf general wrp doctors tried for hours to save his life. a small memorial popped up there in honor of the mayor. we have team coverage remembering the life and legacy of the mayor wells what's next for san francisco. we begin with sam brock joining us live at city hall. sam. >> reporter: jessica, good evening, in the words of lieutenant governor gavin newsome earlier shock is not the right way to characterize this. no one new of any health issues. he seemed vibrant and energetic and jovial, understanding this is the background there, they tell me they are shaken to their core over this. they described the imprint he left on san francisco. a heart broken city hall. with all the harmings of an immeasurable loss, hon

. >> mayor ed win m. lee passed away early this morning. >> now mayor made the official announcement late this morning bust those here already knew. this after he held meetings with the staff. their tributes had a common thread. common words to describe what most called a kind, gentle man. >> i'm joined to the kind of leader that's nice. and ed lee was nice. >> he was a mayor who led with compassion. he was an incredibly kind person. >> ed lee always had an open door for any of us. we can call him at any time. >> mayor lee came from humble beginnings. he grew up in public housing. his father a veteran. mother, a seamstress. he never forgot his roots. >> stood up for immigrants. never forgot who he was or where he came from. >> he was quiet. laid back. low key. knew what he needed to do to get the job done. >> his priorities, mourners said were housing, homelessness, jobs and minimum wage. lee had many political battles in his three decades of public service. >> points may have disagreed with him on policy but

she was sworn in after mayor ed lee passed away this morning. she had been the board of supervisors president. city charter dictates that the president become the acting mayor in these situations. this morning she said i know i must assume this responsibility be asked for prayers. let's carry on and mayor the's honor. the city attorney also spoke this morning talking about the path forward and the procedure for filling the vacancy. he said for now, london breed is the acting mayor of san francisco. >> she will have all of those duties at such time as the board of supervisors votes on a successor should they choose to do so although they are not required to do so. in any event, there will be a an election june 5. >> the last time a board of supervisors president was sworn in as mayor because of the death of a sitting mayor was in 1978 when dianne feinstein became the acting mayor after george moscone he was killed. the city attorney was asked if there was any indication whether the board of supervisors now would be acting to appoint someone other

remembering san francisco mayor ed lee. dignitaries and members of the public are paying tribute to the late mayor who died on tuesday morning. these are live pictures from the city hall rotunda where his body is like in state. >> alex savidge is outside where people have been lining up to pay their respects. >> reporter: good afternoon. mayor ed lee being remembered this afternoon as a dedicated public servant. a kind and gentle man who was loved by so many across the city and across the bay area. for evidence of that you just have to look at this line of people waiting to get inside the city hall rotunda to pay their respects to the late mayor. many local politicians also on hand as well and many well- known figures from across the community that want to say goodbye. a moving scene in early this morning and we will show it to you. mayor lee arrived at city hall for the last time. it was just before 7 am as pallbearers carried his flag draped casket up the steps of city hall. san francisco police officers were at a tension

mayor ed lee has died at the age of 65 early this morning. much more after this. rning, the city of san francisco is in shock after the death of mayor ed lee this morning. mayor lee died just after one this morning at zuckerberg san francisco general hospital. he was surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues. he's survived by his wife anita, and two daughters, brianna and tania. board of supervisors president london breed becomes acting mayor, effective immediately... we'll have reaction from those who knew him in just a few minutes. >> reporter: we are live at the scene of a massive fire in the oakland hills. we will have the latest, coming up. died... it's tuesday, december 12th. >>> we begin with breaking news. the san francisco mayor ed lee has died. it is tuesday, december 12th. i am michelle griego. >> and i am kenny choi. we got word he died after 1:00 this morning at the zuckerberg san francisco general hospital. >> he was surrounded by friends and family and colleagues. lee was 65. in a statement the mayor's office of communications said, quote... san

when he passed, mayor lee was surrounded by his family, by his friends, and the colleagues who loved him. ed lee lived a life of service cut far too short, but short far too soon. like me, ed grew up in public housing. the son of working class immigrant immigrants, he developed early on a profound sense of community. a commitment to helping others. his father was a veterans, and his mother a seamstress. they instilled in him a humility and self-lest work ethic that he maintained throughout his entire life. the mayor's father passed while he was just a teenager, but heart break could not derail him. ed earned a scholarship from boden college a prestigious liberal arts college in maine, and after graduating, he relocated to the bay area where, like so many of us, he fell in love with the city that he would call home for the rest of his life. he attended balt law school at the university of california-berkley and joined the asian law caucus. ed lee fought against discrimination, working on the front lines to keep tenants from being evicted. he was, from the dawn of his career, an advocat

following the death of san francisco mayor ed lee.. who >>> reaction from orthopedic the country is pouring in follow -- from around the country is pouring in following the death of mayor ed lee who died suddenly this morning. good morning, i am michelle griego. >> and i am kenny choi. a moment of silence in honor of mayor ed lee, all public transit stopped briefly in the bay area to pay tribute. this is a live look at a bart train in san leandro. an announcement of the mayor's death was also made on the trains. flags are at half staff across the city of san francisco to remember the mayor for the next 30 days. >> just a short time ago the mayor's body was transferred from the zuckerberg san francisco general hospital to the medical examiner's office where his cause of death will be officially determined. >> reporter: yes. people have been leaving flowers and candles on the steps of city hall. many staffers here with tears in their eyes. overall whether or not you believed in his politics, the mayor was well loved and fought for what he

of my friend, mayor ed lee. i'll always be grateful for his leadership and his steadfast support. it was a privilege to spend time with him earlier this month at the world aids day. former president clinton attended that event with the mayor. >>> the san francisco board of supervisors approved one of mayor ed lee's final requests declaring a citywide homeless shelter emergency yesterday and fast tracked the construction of new shelters. mayor lee said the city needed to open several new facilities to meet his goal of getting 1,000 more people off the streets. >> and the front page of the "san francisco chronicle." the headline, mayor led city in time of change. our coverage always continues online. for a look at more tributes and reaction, go to abc7news.com. >>> 6:04 now. on to developing news, alabama republican roy moore is calling for a recount, this after democrat doug jones defeated him in yesterday's special election. jones won the election by a 1.5% margin. he was bolstered by a wave of sexual misconduct

at the sudden passing of mayor ed lee. g our top story, san francisco in shock tonight at the sudden passing of mayor ed lee. he died early this morning at sf general after collapsing while grocery shopping last night. chopper 5 overhead as the body was taken from the medical examiner's office to a funeral home in daly city. the official cause of death is not released. london breed is acting mayor according to the city charter. >> mayor ed lee was san's first asian american mayor and oversaw the city in a time of great change. during his tenure he lured tech giants and more. he was just 65 years old. >>> stay with us for continuing coverage of mayor ed lee's life and the legacy he leaves behind in the city he loved. good night. you could save energy by weaving your own shoes... out of flax. or simply adjust your thermostat. do your thing, with energy upgrade california. announcer: it's time to play "family feud"! give it up for steve harvey! [captioning made possible by fremantle media] [cheering and applause] steve: thank

housing public housing, and as someone who grew up there and spent most of my life there, as did mayor lee, we bonded over that. but san francisco's new acting mayor has other priorities as wellsot amos brown/ naacp sf president 35-45she has a passion for social justice, education, community building, bringing people togethernaacp san francisco president and 3rd baptist church pastor amos brown says breed is a member of his church and learned leadership skills through the naacp youth council. brown says that combined with her bacherlors degree from uc davis and her masters from the university of san francisco gives her all of the qualities and attributes to lead san franciscosotshe's competent, qualified, she has chemistry to relate to people and she has courage.brown says breed, who as president of the board of supervisors could often be seen standing along side mayor lee is also tough which also will serve her well in her new rolesoti now must assume the responsibility and i ask for your patience and i ask for your support and i ask for your prayers. january 20-20. through january 20-20.

san francisco mayor ed lee has died. the city anno we are beginning to get more reaction as people wake up this morning to hear the news that san francisco mayor ed lee has died at the age of 65 suffering an apparent heart attack last night shopping at a grocery store. and went to the hospital where he was declared to have passed away around 1 am.good morning i am darya folsom. >>> i am james fletcher, that's her big story and as mentioned we have reaction from all quarters of the bay and beyond. joining us, senator scott weiner, before becoming a senator he served on the board of supervisors and interacted with mayor lee, i would imagine fairly regularly, thank you for joining us this morning. >> thank you for having me. >> what are your thoughts, of mayor ed lee, most people remember him as a being jovial and with a smile, what stands out to you personally and professionally?>> i am floored that he is gone. i was just with him yesterday, we did a press conference on the new city recycling program and he was his normal,