I am very honored to be your new representative on the Board of Supervisors. I am thrilled to represent District 2, the neighborhood where I grew up and the neighborhood where my wife, Liz, and I are raising our children.

From the great restaurants and shops of our neighborhood commercial districts to the history of the Presidio, the beaches of Crissy Field, and the wide avenues of the Richmond District, District 2 has some of the most distinct, beautiful and colorful parts of San Francisco. As I stated throughout my campaign, it is in the neighborhoods where I truly believe we see the heart and soul of our great city and I vow to be a steward of our neighborhoods in City Hall.

There are many issues on the horizon in District 2 that will need our attention. The California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), which provides health care for more than 40 percent of San Francisco patients, plans to build a new hospital on the corner of Van Ness and Geary at the old Cathedral Hill Hotel site. The current hospital design will consist of 555 beds combining both the California and Pacific campuses, which are also located in District 2. Plans for the Pacific campus include transforming it into an outpatient care center, and CPMC is still deciding what to do with the California campus. I look forward to convening neighborhood discussions on all of these plans.

As the Doyle Drive construction continues and the Presidio Trust moves forward with its plans to develop the Main Post and other parts of the national park, we need to be mindful of any impacts on our neighborhoods. On the other side of District 2 in Russian Hill, the Public Utilities Commission has announced its intention to sell the Francisco Reservoir for development. We need to work with the PUC to make certain that the area is maintained as open space and public recreation as called for in the General Plan.

One of the most exciting things on the horizon is the America’s Cup, a world-class sailing competition where the winning yacht club makes the rules and hosts the subsequent event. District 2 is actually the home of that winning club, the Golden Gate Yacht Club, and after rounds of negotiations, San Francisco won the right to host the next America’s Cup in 2013. The race is estimated to generate more than $1 billion in economic activity and thousands of new jobs. District 2 will be intimately involved as many viewing areas will be set up and activities will be held at the Golden Gate Yacht Club. I look forward to taking an active role and working with neighbors, city officials and other agencies to make the 34th America’s Cup a huge success.

As I settle into my office at City Hall, I am mindful of the enormous amount of work that lies ahead. As we face a record budget deficit, I will lean on my finance background and push for measures that will provide long-term solutions to San Francisco’s financial mess. I look forward to working on measures that will bring jobs back to San Francisco and that will help our local small businesses grow.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, you can always reach me by calling the office at 415-554-7752 or by e-mailing me at [email protected]. My legislative aides, Margaux Kelly and Catherine Stefani, are also available to listen and help with any of your concerns. They can be reached at the same number or at [email protected] and [email protected].  
I hope you will engage with the political process in San Francisco and be part of the effort to bring real change to our great city – from the neighborhoods all the way to City Hall.

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve as your District 2 Supervisor.

Supervisor Mark Farrell represents District 2 and can be reached at 415-554-7752 or [email protected].