James Haas

Mr. James W. Haas is a fifth generation San Franciscan. Educated at Stanford University and Columbia Law School, he is an attorney in private practice specializing in real estate and land use issues. He has played a key role in many civic issues. He was elected to a Commission to rewrite the City Charter which was finally adopted by the voters in 1996. He co-chaired the Citizens Committee which succeeded in getting the Embarcadero Freeway demolished. He also chaired the Committee which succeeded in convincing the voters to adopt a sale tax increase to finance City transportation improvements. For the last twenty years, his primary focus has been the completion and rehabilitation of San Francisco's Civic Center. Starting with the new Main Library in 1984, Mr. Haas has been involved with many Civic Center projects including serving as Treasurer of the bond campaign to complete the rehabilitation of City Hall in 1996 and coordinator for the Mayor first Civic Center Stakeholders' meeting in June 2005.