SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today will welcome more than 8,000 visitors to San Francisco at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, kicking off his first full week in office.
The conference marks a key moment for the city’s revitalization – last year’s edition reportedly generated more than $90 million in economic impact for the city. It is also the first of these major moments in Mayor Lurie’s tenure, with NBA All-Star Weekend coming to San Francisco next month. Mayor Lurie’s work to end the three-month hotel workers’ strike was critical to enabling the conference to move forward in the city as planned.
In his remarks, Mayor Lurie will discuss his work to provide public safety and clean streets, kickstarting San Francisco’s revitalization, and urge conference attendees to be active participants. “San Francisco is open for business,” he will say. “I’m inviting you, as industry leaders, to not just witness our comeback, but to be part of it.”
Below are key excerpts from Mayor Lurie’s prepared remarks:
“It’s hard to believe there was ever a debate about this conference being here. San Francisco has long shaped the future of healthcare and technology.
“Yes, we’ve faced challenges recently. We own that. But this past November, San Franciscans made it clear that we’re ready for change.
“It’s a new day in San Francisco.
“Under my administration, we are facing our issues head-on, with urgency, and an unapologetic focus on results.
“That’s how we ended the longest hotel strike in city history and got San Franciscans back to work and the hotel industry up and running in time for you to join us here today.
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“Government can learn from successful private-sector leaders like you all. I am bringing these lessons to my administration—from structure, to metrics, to driving for clarity.
“Instead of having almost 60 department heads operating in silos, I have restructured the mayor’s office and created four new policy chiefs directly accountable to me. These policy chiefs will ensure city departments work toward the same objectives and key results in the crucial areas. Those include public safety, housing and economic development, homelessness, and infrastructure.
“You can already feel the difference.
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“San Francisco is open for business. I’m inviting you, as industry leaders, to not just witness our comeback, but to be part of it.
“My administration is building the foundation for a safe urban core that is thriving and inviting. We are engaging local artists and once again becoming a destination for world-class events and tourism, just like this conference and the NBA All-Star Game coming in February.
“We had 25,000 people in Chinatown last Wednesday night—art galleries, restaurants, and bars were full. People were literally dancing in the streets—it’s happening already.
“There are green shoots everywhere, but my standard for success is sky-high.
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“San Francisco has always solved problems others can’t or won’t. We lead in technology, medicine, and social progress. We’re the birthplace of innovation and the center of venture capital because we embrace failure, learn from it, and deliver the change the world needs.
“The last few years, we’ve risked taking that for granted. It’s my job to ensure we create the conditions for success once again.
“The greatest breakthroughs—the greatest investments—come from seeing potential where others don’t. You know this.
“At this very moment, San Francisco is at an inflection point. And in this new era, our potential has no ceiling.”