My name is robby silver and im the executive director of the downtown Sf Partnership. Wore the Community Benefit district that serves the financial district and Jackson Square doing everything we can to create a more vibrant downtown to support economic recovery and the growth of San Francisco. Were thrilled to experience todays moment with all of you and if officially welcome to sf newest social destination and the start of a reimagine downtown. Just over a year ago, we set out to reimagine the downtown San Franciscos potential in tandem with studio, we released our action plan. It is 143page document that leans into urban design and as a means of economic recovery. The plan was suppose to start actionable change which has lead us here today. A moment a year in the making and countless partners and critical voice sxz times in community effort, wore opening landing at lat us store. The First Program is part of our action plan to usher in a new era of change for downtown. The fact that we are standing here on very old barbari coast is a testament of how far weve come as a city by the bay and the further that well go. But we must do it together. Reimagine downtown experience for san franciscans and visitors alike. We opened this historically at commercial and light street and plan to host weekly programs to support our Small Businesses, bring more teem down and encourage more engagement outside of the duration al work hours. There will be music, seating, art as as you behind me. And just more light here overall. We believe downtowns most economic drivers means expanding its use and just bond commercial. And going beyond tradition and em bracing the areas history were creating a new experience and a new feeling. While this is just one of Many Solutions for downtown future, landing will help transform downtown San Francisco by rethinking how we can use under utilized spaces and redesign. Most importantly as San Francisco moves into new beginning, it is critical that we bring together different part nrz and continue to think creatively how we can activate public Spaces Together. To ensure the survival of traditional corridors like downtown San Francisco, there must be a multi use approach and encouraging engagement just beyond 9 to 5. Initiative inlanding store, not only create momentum but also create a glimpse into the downtown that enticed people to spend time here, both after work, on weekends for dining shopping and leisure. I want to thank our partners, sigh light studio and some of the prime Creative Vision air hes behind our action plan and were excite today bring even more Spaces Together for all of you. I also want to thank our partners at aids, for their exam police car support in bringing culture to our district. To mayor breed, president peskin, sunny, sarah dennis fill imz, maim cohen and the entire office of economic and Workforce Development team, i want to thank you for believing in your vision, your generosity and bringing the landing to life. Lets all continue to work towards a stronger more resilient downtown and now its my honor to introduce the mayor of our downtown San Francisco and our champion, mayor london breed. [applause] thank you. Thank you robby and thank you so much for the work that you cannot to do to activate downtown in so many extraordinary ways. Lets glo sf was an incredible art installation on several of our buildings. It attracted more than 50,000 people to the downtown area over a 10day period spending an average of 121 per person. So we know when we make investments, we fuel our economy. No longer can we be comfortable with the financial district of the downtown corridor. After a global pandemic, we had to make changes and adopt to what our new normal is and what were seeing is, people want a more activated downtown. So earlier this year, when i proposed my downtown recovery plan, it was not just about financial incentive, it was about activation, it was about finding way to see bring people to downtown and more importantly, to keep them here. To ensure that we have a thriving economic center. And we see so many new create aif ideas happening including the one that we are talking about today. Landing at latis store is a really a testament to the Community Coming together to so many folks who work in this business area to activate a space that centers around many of our restaurants and a number of activities that can continue to get people excited about downtown. I mean who doesnt want to go meet with their coworkers and have a drink and let the traffic downtown. Who does not want to walk down to the night market where over 1,000 people where they spend an average of 100 per person, spending the night, hanging out in San Francisco and enjoying the various activities but getting to know other people that they have never met before . And ive got to tell you, i cannot wait until what happens at the peer midbuilding right next door, this beautiful iconic building of San Francisco. Typically when you show up in San Francisco, and you go, okay its a great building but what else . They have a billion dollars investment in working in that area to really activate that space to its real downtown experience. And hon on top of everything that were doing to get people excited about being a part of San Francisco, were honoring one of the first Civic Leaders of our city. William alexander light usdwarf who is alley and particular street is named for. In fact, there is a statue of his image about two blocks away. I want to thank, really the artist who invested in this. Captain loitledwarf was involved in San Francisco before it was even named San Francisco. Before San Francisco was even a part of the United States of america. He was one of the first Civic Leaders in the council, he was one of the First School Board members. He was a part of donating land for the First Public School system in the state of california and was very actively engaged civically involved and really made a mark on San Francisco. It is so important that we honor his legacy here today in light of what is happening, a transformation of San Francisco, a transformation of downtown. And we have one of his descendants who actually works for the city for ocii welcoming authorize ca lossski who is going to talk a little bit later. But the point is, we have to remember what San Francisco is. And we cant continue to allow others to define who we are. We know what San Francisco represents, we know as what was said by robby earlier, that this entire place was created overtime to develop this significant financial district as a goal rush started. When you look at the maps of San Francisco, this was a place where ships and the nyantic, i which talked in my previous state of the city, who pulled up here and instead of being a passenger and cargo, decided to be a Storage Place for trunks during the gold rush. Becoming the best hotels in San Francisco and continue to go reinvent itself that it still exist today as pokemon located at the ferry building. The point is, were not going to allow people to define who we are as a city. We will continue to adopt, we will adjust and we will be better. And spaces like this that bring people together, that provide some information about our history and remembering our past, but more importantly work withing our Arts Community to develop something new to move us in a direction towards what i think is an extraordinary future is why we are all here today. And i want to thank you all for coming out. But more importantly make sure that you enjoy this amazing activated space. I know that robby, thanked a lot of people. But i really want it thank this opportunity to recognize site lab, urban studio and ace arts, Sarah Dennis Philips and the office of Workforce Development. A lot of things that are around the activation, we are funding through that particular office. Thank you so wayfehr tabbin for the great food and great drinks that you provide to the community as they continue to enjoy this space and make sure that you all come back especially when you walk out of your office just for a little bit before you head home and enjoy this amazing new center of San Franciscos downtown. Thank you. [applause] thank you, mayor breed and next ill bring up board of supervisor erin peskin up to the podium. [applause] thank you, robby. Le when the pandemic happened, i want to acknowledge that the Downtown Partnership immediately knew that there are spots in downtown that are really cool. And that with a little bit of effort, we could take places like clawed lane and light usdafsh alley and build in place and do a little bit of place make anding make them attractive in the reimagining of downtown. This spot right here has a store hed history. It is where the shore met the waters of San Francisco bay. And then, as the area of first settlement in the city is where our barbari coast met china town, met a growing and virjing downtown with the citys first treasurer, captain dwarf. Hes the pred ecessor to jose cisneros. Its extraordinary to think that in his day, this part of town had not yet burned down three times to the ground t. Had not experienced the 1906 earthquake and fire and each time it reemerged. Thats exactly the story of San Francisco again today. And by acknowledging our history, and i was thinking this morning, that the boogie man in the old days was the expansion of the height and bulk and mass of downtown into the human scaled neighborhoods of Jackson Square and china town. And today, the imperative is to take the vitality and the night life that are happening in these communities and bring them southward again. I think we can do that. There is a lot of opportunity in the crisis. And i remember in the early days of pandemic, as we were just start to go think about shared spaces, tony marcel and waivers tavern wanted close this street. We had no rules in those days and we just closed it. And robby grabbed on to that and this is what became of it. To dan kinsly and ace, you aced this thing, thank you very much to you and all of the folks who funded it. To so lien richie and 836m, you aced it too. We greatly appreciate it. This is going to be an area that attracts folks who are going to our newly opened next block up em peroter noth or not place. Another character in the light captain, yes and burn norton is here, in fact, we can have a meetinging of the great nor on and great great nephew after this. Congratulations, i cannot wait as we activate this space. [applause] you took my joke i was going to use later. Next is laura crassmamo president and owner of lab studio. Thank you, robby. Thank you, mayor and supervisor peskin. My name is laura and im the cofounder and principal of urban studio. 15 years ago, i myself landed here in San Francisco not knowing how much the city would offer me and how much my work would become intertwined with other work. Wore strategic commit today putting people first in how we shape and grow our cities. So we were thrilled in 2021 when the down soun sf chose us to reimagine downtown San Francisco. And to respond to the new challenges facing cities across the country. One year ago, we released the action plan, as a Ground Breaking framework that uses urban design. Now a year after the plan is released wore launching this pilot. The reason were here celebrating. You heard a little bit about the place in the history but to be a little more specific, the ground beneath the feet was once the long wharf. A long pier landmark that extended from the original coast line. So in 180 the coast line was about cherry over there and from there to the water, was the long wharf. It served as a place of a roif al and to unload goods during the gold rush. Sxl as you heard, ships were left behind and have become buried beneath the buildings. We decide to bring old and new, new art and on going events. Youll see on the ground, extended to either side, a new mural to references the historic wash plat erin and marks the historic shoreline. In our approach to the ground mural, we wanted bring forward the hidden stories of San Francisco. And at the same time, build a platform for the Small Businesses entrepreneurs and artist to make it their own. We all have so many stories of this city, our wish is that this project brings the story of history and creative and hope forward from captain to the long wharf to the bohemian like george sterling. And beyond his history, to have this place be a place of new stories for San Francisco and san franciscans by being here together today, were speaking to the power of place making and place keeping in public spaces. And we are rethinking the role of public realms that it can play as an invitation and spark to creative. Its a very mall alley way, i think the buildings are no more 20 feet from facetoface but also a big statement to reimagine and open the street for open space. As you heard, there is much more that we can do together and that we can do. Thank you to my team, airy stella, arthur and ellis. Thank you to robby and entire Sf Partnership team for their genuine leadership and thank you to mayor breed and the office of Workforce Development for believing in this and for support financing this project. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, laura and as well as mentioned earlier, we have a descendant from captain william. I want to introduce tho, executive director of office of Community Investment and infrastructure. [applause] well this is exciting, thank you robby. This is a moving day, moving for me and my family. I want to acknowledge my beautiful wife there who came to see this. Good afternoon, everybody, stated a couple of different times im thok executive director of office of economic and workno im not head, thats my future. Office of Community Investment the former San Francisco redevelopment. I should have looked at my notes. But im also the great great nephew of captain william who is the street is named after. And im honored to celebrate this launch of landing at latis to represent my family and all the work that has named after him. We was a multi lingual and one of San Francisco foundings fathers. Born in the island of st. Croix now the virgin island. His earned him the accolade of being the first black millionaires in america and one of the first black ambassadors as consul to mexico. Laura said it best, San Francisco has such a rich history that often sits here unrecognized. Bringing city history and stories to the for front to creative outlets and art like this mural is a means of story telgz that riches tapestry of the city and instilled a greater appreciation for the past, all the while showing that it remains a vibrant part. Notable members of california civic scene. Members of the town counsel sun elected the city for treasurer. He was a black man, big deal back then especially when cybersecurity was not as big then. And education system, serving on the school board of the states First Public School and donated the land that sits right here. Hes also heavily involved in San Franciscos tourism and business industries. One of his entrepreneurs endeavors on the bay was so significant that it was commemorate. Im proud of his contribution to the stow of San Francisco and carried this commitment to the community through my work and mayor london breeds administration and support of landing. The ingenuity and innovation of the team that made this happen are indicative and that of captain. I want it thank you london breed for your Fearless Leadership in the city. And thank you Downtown Partnership site lab for creating this platform for storytelling and visitors old and new to discover historic San Francisco. Thank you, ace and celine and her team, Mural Company for honoring this legacy through this incredible mural. Thank you. [applause] thank you its an honor to have you here. And next we want to bring up our ace partners, kingly another champion downtown. Thank you for your incredible work on this incredible mural, dan. Thank you, robby. And thank you, authorize, its wonderful to have a descend enter here. Just pew blocks up here on montgomery had an event where they brought two prominent artist in San Francisco to discuss the role of public art in cities. And after words, a one of us were talking and asked if chad a very simple question, if we can find a big blank wall downtown that you can paint a mural on . What would the impact be . And their answer was very simple it could be a catalyst to help revive downtown. Knowing that the life does not offer us Single Solutions and the process of recovering of this pandemic, one tile at a time, we consider this to be one tile but an important tile. After we decide today pursue this crazy idea my first call, he said this sounds luke a great idea, i will check with the mayor. The mayor said i love it. So the next call was to planning director rich, and the subsequent call is to his chief of staff dan cider. And i got a phone call from dan who we referred to as as the other dan. And he said the Planning Department is here to help, what can we do. So mayor breed, thank you for giving us sean, rich, dan and sarah and your Brilliant Team for helping move this forward. And next call pg e and they were happy to collaborate with us and also became a donor. Thats an example of how this city pulls together and collaborates for the common good. As aaron peskin said, the city has done historically and we continue to do that today. But the next serendipity was in july of 2022 when he released their public action plan. And in it was this Pilot Project here at the intersection of lighter store and commercial and in the rendering that site lab produced was a mural up on the pg e building. So we love serendipity. But my final thank you is to joel, jade and celine richie the brilliant women who run it. [applause] most of us know that women are far more affective executives than men, correct mayor breed . I agree. Okay, and these three women knew how to organize and organize with the parpt ant thats brought us the mural today. Thank you, the three of you, for make thising happen. Thank you. [applause] thank you, dan. Very kiepd words and last but not least celine richie. Thank you, dan, it has been an honor to work with you on this meaningful project. Good afternoon, thank you for being with us on this very special day. Im the ace cochair and Arts Organization program director. I am very proud to represent ace and to have collaborated with pg e the Downtown Partnership and side lab teams for the launching of the landing at life dwarf. East stands for arts, celebrate, downtown. During the last years, ace, which is a group of Neighborhood Association sxz Arts Organization have gather today launch a Public Arts Initiative in downtown San Francisco. We care deeply about our city and want to support local artist and businesses and help attract residents and commuters around art. This mural behind me, named beyond the sea, the light and legacy of captain light dwarf and beautiful executed is the first project supported by ace and hopefully, the first mural of many more. Mural companies with allen shoe and marina, designed and painted this brilliant mural telling the story of captain light dwarf life and contribution to San Francisco. We are extremely grateful to pg e for allowing us to paint on this incredible canvass and to our sponsors and partners without their help and generous support, this mower al would not have been possible. So many thanks to a. G. And bo mont access, and downtown, the gap, a ts partners, tmg partners, advance, mooreadd, wells fargo, pg e and access arts commission. Also, a special thanks for the businesses around us, especially hart wood access and the way tavern for their support during the painting of the mural. Ace hopes to pursuit Public Art Initiative and performing arts activation in San Francisco downtown. In fact, we have a second project on saturday september 23, just two blocks from here. So from 1 00 to 6 00 p. M. , justice street will be closed from montgomery and at the art of the festivity there will be a main stage arranging musical and dance performances. The neighborhood galleries are joining the celebration by opening the doors for an art walk and businesses will be open and some of them will serve drinks as well. The end of celebration will terminate in the neighborhood rafael. So join us, again on behalf of the ace board many thanks to many of you for being with us today and for your enthusiasm and support and generosity. [applause] all right, enough talking, who is ready to party . Thank you all for coming. Speakers remain right here for a photo opt and thank you again for all of your support. Have a great one. [applause] thank you so much to everyone for joining and we are now going to call this meeting to order for the our city our home oversight committee. It is september 28th, 2023. And we will start with