State of Downtown SF and Achievement Awards
"The Power of Partnerships"
Are you up to date on everything downtown? The Downtown SF Partnership hosted our annual State of Downtown SF and Achievement Awards on Tuesday, October 22nd at 4:00 PM. Attendees celebrated the resilient core of our city, heard about exciting future plans, and enjoyed a captivating keynote address on the power of building public-private partnerships and placemaking by Jeffrey C. LeFrancois, Executive Director of the Meatpacking District Management Association in New York. We were thrilled to have Mayor London Breed share her 30 x 30 Plan and Senator Scott Wiener join as speakers. Check-in started at 3:30 PM.
Each year, we recognize valuable organizations and individuals who made a significant contribution to our mission of advancing Downtown SF’s economic recovery and overall quality of life.
Congratulations to the following Downtown Achievement Awardees:
- Downtown Champion: American Institute of Architects San Francisco
- Downtown Event: Into the Streets - Bhangra & Beats Night Market
- Downtown Impact: SF New Deal - Vacant to Vibrant
- Downtown Development: Hines | 101 California - Plaza Remodel
- Downtown Creator: Twin Walls Mural Co. - Captain Leidesdorff Mural
- Ambassador of the Year: Keonte Gibson
Attendees received exclusive access to the program and reception with refreshing cocktails, delicious bites, live entertainment by Jazz Mafia's New Directions Brass, and unbeatable networking opportunities with district leaders.
Date: Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: The Conservatory at One Sansome, One Sansome St, San Francisco, CA 94104
Please fill out our State of Downtown SF & Achievement Awards survey here. Your insights are valuable in helping us enhance our programs and services. If you have any additional feedback, feel free to contact us at info@downtownsf.org.
Keynote Speaker: Jeffrey C. LeFrancois
Jeffrey C. LeFrancois is the Meatpacking District Management Association’s Executive Director. He works to ensure the Meatpacking District remains a cutting-edge, ever-evolving neighborhood in Lower Manhattan with thriving retail, commercial, and residential communities. With a significant focus on improving the public realm and expanding programming, LeFrancois has shepherded the creation and management of over 30,000 square feet of plazas and four open streets in the Meatpacking District. LeFrancois is currently a board member and Co-Secretary of the NYC BID Managers Association. He chaired the Manhattan Community Board from 2021-2023, and propelled the board’s housing advocacy to the front page of the New York Times through their Affordable Housing Plan, which calls for the creation of nearly 30,000 new apartments. With a passion for parks and housing, he serves on the board of Housing Conservation Coordinators and is a Governor’s appointee to the Hudson River Park Trust Board of Trustees. LeFrancois also serves on the Board of New York Public Radio.
Speaker: Mayor London Breed
London Nicole Breed is the 45th mayor of the City and County of San Francisco. Mayor Breed is the first African-American woman Mayor in San Francisco’s history.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Mayor Breed’s experiences growing up in Plaza East Public Housing and living in neighborhoods impacted by redevelopment, has lead to her commitment to creating opportunities for all San Franciscans to live and thrive.
During her administration, she has prioritized policies and programs to address some of the most crucial issues facing the City, including public safety, economic recovery, housing and homelessness, workforce development, transportation, and climate change.
Mayor Breed led the City through the COVID-19 pandemic, during which San Francisco had the lowest death rate of any major city in the country. Mayor Breed has dramatically expanded housing and shelter for the homeless, leading to a significant reduction in unsheltered homelessness, and expanded solutions for those struggling with addiction and mental illness. She has issued bold plans to reimagine Downtown’s future and to help build 82,000 new homes over the next eight years to strengthen San Francisco’s long-term recovery.
To read more about the Mayor's priorities, visit: https://sf.gov/mayoral-priorities
Speaker: Senator Scott Weiner
Scott Wiener has represented District 11 in the California State Senate since 2016, covering San Francisco and surrounding areas. Known for his leadership on housing, transportation, climate action, and LGBTQ rights, Wiener has authored landmark laws such as SB 35 and 423 to expedite housing permits, SB 4 to allow faith institutions to build affordable housing, and SB 10 to help cities zone for more housing. He has also championed health care access, criminal justice reform, and efforts to combat climate change, such as SB 253, which mandates corporate greenhouse gas emissions disclosure. Wiener’s legislation has had a significant impact on affordable housing, public transportation, and clean energy initiatives.
Before joining the State Senate, Wiener served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and practiced law for 15 years. He is a recognized leader in criminal justice reform, LGBTQ advocacy, and clean energy. Senator Wiener chairs the Senate Housing Committee and serves on several key committees, including Public Safety and Health. A New Jersey native, Wiener holds degrees from Duke University and Harvard Law School and has lived in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood since 1997.
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors.