Mayor's Press Conference

SF and Cork Sign MOU on University Exchanges and Small-Business Fund

San Francisco and Cork signed a memorandum of understanding establishing university exchanges and a reciprocal small-business incubation fund between the two cities.

Why it matters: The agreements create tangible economic and educational pipelines between the cities, building on a 42-year sister-city relationship that Cork's Lord Mayor called personally historic, given his father signed the original 1984 pact with Dianne Feinstein.

SF Bids Farewell to Irish Consul General Michal Smith After Four-Year Tenure

Mayor Lurie and officials honored outgoing Irish Consul General Michal Smith for strengthening the bond between Ireland and San Francisco during his posting since 2022.

Why it matters: Smith's departure closes a chapter of active Irish diplomatic engagement in San Francisco that saw expanded cultural programming, economic ties, and community-building between the two nations.

SF Honors 175 Years of Irish Parades With Flag Raising at City Hall

Mayor Lurie and Irish dignitaries gathered at City Hall to raise the Irish tricolor and celebrate 175 years of San Francisco's St. Patrick's Day parade.

Why it matters: The event underscored the deep Irish roots in San Francisco's infrastructure, labor movement, and governance while setting the stage for the March 14 parade themed 'Happy Birthday America.'

SF Opens 19-Unit Supportive Housing for Justice-Involved Youth in Bayview

San Francisco celebrates the opening of Just Home 3rd Street, a 19-unit supportive housing facility for transitional age youth involved in the justice system or experiencing homelessness.

Why it matters: Nearly 39% of San Francisco's jail population identifies as experiencing homelessness; this facility targets the pipeline from incarceration to homelessness for young adults, aiming to break recidivism cycles through stable housing and wraparound services.

City Targets Foreclosure Loophole Letting Commercial Buyers Dodge Transfer Tax

Assessor-Recorder Torres warns that commercial properties are increasingly using foreclosure transfers to claim transfer-tax exemptions, prompting a November ballot measure to close the gap.

Why it matters: The Assessor-Recorder's office collected $1.5 billion in transfer taxes over five years, funding affordable housing, public safety, and parks; the growing foreclosure loophole threatens that revenue stream at scale.

Building Trades Rally Behind Tax Reform as Key to Reviving Union Construction Jobs

Over a dozen local trade unions joined the press conference, arguing that stalled projects cost tens of thousands of union job-years and hurt apprenticeship pipelines.

Why it matters: Union pension capital — including $180 million from the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust at 1111 Sutter alone — is directly invested in these projects, linking retiree security to transfer-tax policy.

Mayor and Supervisor Launch BUILD Act to Cut Transfer Tax and Restart Stalled Housing

Mayor Lurie and Supervisor Mahmood unveil the BUILD Act, rolling back San Francisco's 2020 transfer-tax increase on large properties to revive roughly 50,000 stalled housing units and create thousands of union construction jobs.

Why it matters: San Francisco's 6% transfer tax — the nation's highest — has frozen capital and halted construction, costing union trades tens of thousands of job-years while affordable-housing goals went unmet; the BUILD Act attempts to reverse that damage while remaining revenue-neutral.

Community-Based Doula Programs and SisterWeb's Role

Marley, Executive Director of SisterWeb, emphasized that Black-led, community-rooted organizations have been doing maternal health equity work long before the city initiative. She presented evidence that culturally congruent doulas reduce preterm births and improve outcomes. SisterWeb client-turned-apprentice Nicolette Hafiz shared her personal story of receiving doula support at 31 weeks pregnant, describing the culturally responsive care she received. Hafiz was inspired to pursue doula training through Blossoming Birth (now accredited at City College) and is enrolled as a medical assistant student. Her testimony illustrated the pipeline from client to community care provider.