Thursday, November 9, 2023  

Contact: Mayor’s Press Office, mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org  

MAYOR LONDON BREED AND CITY LEADERS PREPARE FOR START OF APEC IN SAN FRANCISCO  

City leaders detailed preparations for next week’s international economic conference so residents, workers, and attendees are aware and prepared for security plans

San Francisco, CA – Mayor London Breed joined City elected and public safety leaders to provide an update on preparations for next week’s APEC in San Francisco today at a press conference at the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The Mayor reaffirmed the City’s readiness to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting and CEO Summit next week.  

San Francisco City department heads and leaders have been working with the federal government, including representatives from the U.S. Secret Service, State Department and White House, to ensure security and operational plans are robust while minimizing impacts to the public wherever and whenever possible.  

“San Francisco is ready to host APEC and welcome the international community to our City,” said Mayor London Breed. “We know with an event of this magnitude that there will be impacts for our residents. We have been working hard to make sure everyone has the information they need to understand what’s planned for next week, and we will continue to communicate about street closures and any other impacts that arise. But this is a major moment for San Francisco to shine on the world stage and we are excited and ready.”

Due to the national security measures required for the event, the Economic Leaders’ Meeting holds a National Special Security Event (NSSE) designation between November 15 and 18, which allows the federal government to fully implement event security and incident management plans to ensure the safety of all event participants and residents. As part of the NSSE structure, the U.S. Secret Service leads the design and implementation of security plans through an executive network of representatives from agencies holding various primary jurisdictions. This is the first time an NSSE event has ever occurred in San Francisco.  

Street, Transit, and Public Safety Impacts

Though the NSSE designation only applies to one portion of APEC Week from November 15-18, residents and businesses will begin to experience street and access impacts throughout the entire week of APEC in the areas designated by the NSSE. The United States Secret Service has identified the following days and times people should expect impacts:

Monday, November 13

• Areas will be impacted around the Fairmont Hotel beginning at 10 p.m.

Tuesday, November 14

• Areas around the Fairmont Hotel will be impacted all day.  
• Additional street impacts around the Moscone Center will begin at 10 p.m.

Wednesday, November 15

• Areas around the Fairmont Hotel and Moscone Center will be impacted all day.  
• Areas around the Exploratorium and along the Embarcadero will be impacted beginning at 12 p.m. through the evening.  

Thursday, November 16  

• Areas around the Fairmont Hotel and Moscone Center will be impacted all day.  
• Street impacts around the Legion of Honor will begin at 12 p.m.

Friday, November 17

• Areas around Moscone and Nob Hill will continue to have impacts throughout the day.
• People should expect residual impacts as safety barriers are removed.

Prior to these security restrictions being in place, the public may notice security barriers and fencing being installed in the area. Sidewalks and limited lane impacts may occur during this time to facilitate those installations.  

Additional information about Local Traffic Only/Vehicle Exclusion Zones (green on map) and Controlled Pedestrian Access Zones (red on map) may be found on this page.  

“The San Francisco Police Department is excited to be part of this extraordinary event that will put the global spotlight on our city,” said Police Chief Bill Scott. “We’re coordinating closely with our local, state and federal partners to ensure everyone is safe around the APEC events. We’re also fully staffed at our district stations and don’t anticipate any disruptions to normal policing services.”

Commuters should plan for transit reroutes and traffic congestion. Everyone in and around the secure areas should expect heightened security throughout the week. All regional transportation is fully operating, including Caltrain, BART, and our ferry system. Muni’s Market Street Subway will be running downtown, which will provide an efficient way to get around.  

“We are excited to be hosting APEC next week. While there will be anticipated impacts, Muni service will remain accessible and we are committed to getting information to the public as soon as possible,” said Jeffrey Tumlin, SFMTA Director of Transportation. “We thank our riders for their patience and cooperation during the various reroutes and supplementation and look forward to this exciting event.”

City’s Coordinated Readiness

As part of the City’s response to ensure a safe APEC week, the San Francisco Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be activated at its highest level to closely coordinate with federal response entities, as well as to allow for real time dissemination of timely and accurate information. The San Francisco EOC APEC activation begins today, November 9, and will continue through the conclusion of APEC, or as needed for any subsequent APEC-related events scheduled to conclude.    

“APEC is a globally significant and historic event for our city and an event of this magnitude comes with special security and logistical considerations. This is why the city’s Emergency Operations Center has activated in order to coordinate all necessary operational and response components,” said Department of Emergency Management Executive Director Mary Ellen Carroll. “The EOC will ensure that San Francisco agencies continue their levels of service to the public while keeping residents and guests informed about APEC and its impacts on San Francisco.”

Community Outreach

Since October, a multi-agency outreach effort has been underway led by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), the Office of Small Business (OSB), Office of the Assessor Recorder, Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA), the Port, and the Mayor’s Office. The inter-agency team conducted direct, door-to-door outreach engaging with residents, business owners, and employers in the areas designated by the NSSE including around the Moscone Center, the Fairmont hotel, and the Waterfront. Team members are distributing flyers available in multiple languages to help in planning for the week, including information on how to coordinate deliveries and the process to enter the secure perimeter.  

“The Office of Economic and Workforce Development is committed to ensuring that San Francisco residents, workers, small businesses, and employers can share in the incredible opportunity that APEC brings to our city, while preparing them for its impacts,” said Sarah Dennis Phillips, Executive Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “We firmly believe that APEC will not only generate lasting global economic impacts, but also provide a significant boost to our local economy. San Francisco welcomes this opportunity, and we are fully prepared to showcase the unique experiences our city has to offer. Together, we can achieve our goals while prioritizing safety and unity.”

“As the City has been preparing for this historic event and finding innovative ways to ensure that APEC attendees experience the best of San Francisco, we’ve also been walking the streets and sharing information with people who live or work in the neighborhoods that will be most impacted by the heightened security measures,” said Assessor-Recorder Joaquín Torres. “Through community meetings, door-to-door outreach and collaboration with local community stakeholders—we’ve provided our families, seniors, essential service providers and local businesses with actionable and up-to-date information that they need to go about their daily lives. This around-the-clock effort to keep San Franciscans informed will continue throughout the duration of APEC.”

How to Find APEC-related Information

SF.gov  

SF.gov, San Francisco’s centralized website for all City services, will serve as a landing page directing residents and guests to information on City services continuity during APEC, including public transit temporary reroutes, adjustments to hours of public-facing services at City buildings, and information for small businesses. Visit SF.gov/apecfor more information.  

3-1-1  

Residents and guests can call 3-1-1 for updates on key APEC-related activities, including traffic disruptions and transit reroutes, from the 311 Customer Service Center. 3-1-1 offers customer service support with translation services in over 200 languages.  

AlertSF  

San Francisco’s emergency notification system, AlertSF, provides emergency updates to subscribers via email, text message or phone call. AlertSF would be used to inform all who live in, work in, or visiting San Francisco significant APEC related impacts to city services such as transit disruptions and emergency public information and alerts. AlertSF by texting their zip code to 888-777, or by texting APEC2023 to 888-777 for APEC-related emergency information.  

APEC in San Francisco   

APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) is the premier platform for the United States to advance economic policies in the Asia-Pacific region to promote free, fair, and open trade and investment and advance inclusive and sustainable growth. As part of our enduring commitment to the region and broad-based economic growth, San Francisco is excited to serve as host of the APEC Leaders’ Meeting taking place in San Francisco, November 11-17, 2023.   

APEC will be the largest convening of world leaders in San Francisco since the UN Charter was signed in 1945 during the UN Conference on International Organization, also called the San Francisco Conference.    

Next week, the United States will chair the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in iconic San Francisco, California. The 21 APEC Member Economies account for nearly 40% of the global population and nearly 50% of global trade.  

APEC’s themes this year are sustainability, inclusivity, innovation and resilience.  

San Francisco residents and businesses looking for official City updates and information are encouraged to visit this page. Media, visitors and attendees should visit this page for more information, please visit: https://www.apec2023sf.org.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023   

Contact: Mayor’s Press Office, mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org     

MAYOR BREED KICKS OFF SAFE SHOPPER INITIATIVE FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN UNION SQUARE   

The public safety initiative will focus on Union Square and other key shopping areas to support the City’s economic recovery, building on the recent expansion of organized retail theft efforts  

San Francisco, CA – Today Mayor London N. Breed joined Police Chief Bill Scott, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and business and community leaders to kick off the 2023 Safe Shopper initiative in and around Union Square for the holiday season. The City will again deploy additional police and community ambassadors to the area to enhance public safety and maintain a safe shopping experience for visitors, workers, and residents.   

Year to date larceny cases have dropped 10% citywide since last year, which is why the Mayor has asked SFPD and other City departments to sustain prioritization of organized retail theft disruption, focusing on key tourist areas.   

Similar to last year, the City will work with the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) to limit points of entry in Union Square with some street closures to automobile traffic as added safety measures. In addition to a ramped-up police presence in and around Union Square, the City plans to increase patrol in parking garages by SFPD, Park Rangers, and other security personnel. More SFPD Community Ambassadors will be deployed to Union Square as part of the Safe Shopper initiative.  

“As we welcome the many events and attractions that make San Francisco a unique place to celebrate the holiday season, we have to continue to dedicate resources to ensure our residents and visitors are safe,” said Mayor London Breed. “Our public safety focus remains citywide, but we also will work to protect our businesses and create a welcoming shopping experience for everyone. This year we will also benefit from new state funding to help us address retail theft that is already yielding results.”  

This past September, Mayor Breed announced that San Francisco received $17 million in a state grant to combat organized retail theft. This includes $15 million in funding to support SFPD’s work to combat organized retail crime, which has helped to pay for overtime for SFPD officers to run targeted retail theft operations. Just yesterday, SFPD announced the arrest of four prolific organized retail theft suspects that have hit multiple locations throughout the City.   

The grant also supports the purchase and installation of 400 automated license plate readers to cover 100 intersections throughout the City. The state grant also includes $2 million for the District Attorney’s Office to fund a full time dedicated Assistant District Attorney and a full-time dedicated District Attorney Investigator to prosecute retail theft crimes in San Francisco.  

“The San Francisco Police Department will have officers out in force to ensure this holiday season is fun and safe for everyone,” said Police Chief Bill Scott. “We’re collaborating closely with our city partners so we’re able to deter crime and respond quickly when necessary. I want to thank our officers who have been working hard and will continue to keep people safe as we begin this holiday shopping season.”  

The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office is now prosecuting felony retail theft cases vertically, from charging to final disposition. The dedicated Assistant District Attorney will work closely with SFPD partners to build cases and serve as a single point of contact for witnesses, SFPD, and victims in felony cases.       

“I am proud to once again join Mayor Breed, the San Francisco Police Department and our many community and business partners to ensure a safe holiday experience for our residents, workers and visitors,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “My office will not hesitate to prosecute individuals or groups who continue to target our businesses for theft.  We take these cases seriously and will do everything in our power to ensure there is accountability.”    

For decades, Union Square has been known as an international destination for quality retail shopping, luxury hotels, world-class cultural institutions, vibrant public spaces, and exceptional dining. In addition, visitors from across the globe are drawn to the many events held in the square, including the Union Square in Bloom event in May that brings oversized floral displays to the area; American Tulip Day, which drew 35,000 visitors this year; and the Union Square in Bloom Summer Music Series, which brings as many as 1,000 people weekly. Other annual events include the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink, which kicked off earlier this month; the SFSPCA Holiday Windows at Macy’s, the Macy’s Great Tree, and the Bill Graham Menorah.  

The Union Square Alliance will once again host Winter Walk, which is making its post-pandemic return. This activation drew over 2 million attendees to the area in 2018. Outside Lands producer Another Planet Entertainment has committed to bringing free outdoor concerts to downtown public spaces, including Union Square, for three consecutive years starting in 2024.   

Aside from the annual events and new activations, the City has prioritized security in the area through public safety investments at the square and its underground garage, including improved lighting, increased police patrols, park ranger outreach, and additional ambassadors to oversee additional security tasks, janitorial duties, and customer service.  

“San Francisco’s Union Square holds a special place in the hearts of San Franciscans, Bay Area residents, and visitors, especially during the holiday season,” said Marisa Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer of the Union Square Alliance. “We want to thank our Mayor London Breed, Police Chief Scott, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and our City leaders for guaranteeing a secure and hospitable holiday experience that everyone can enjoy freely.”  

Following the 2021 mass organized retail theft incident in Union Square that brought felony charges to multiple people, Mayor Breed announced the Safe Shopper initiative in tandem with the SFPD’s rollout of the Community Ambassador program, which is comprised of civilian retired police officers hired for their training and experience in community engagement.  

Last month, Mayor Breed and the SFPD announced plans to expand San Francisco’s Reserve Police Officer Program, which would result in an expedited increase in foot patrols citywide. This will require legislation to be approved by the Board of Supervisors.  

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Media Contacts: 
Mayor’s Office of Communications / mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org
Union Square: David Perry / news@davidperry.com / (415) 676-7007

WHAT:
Mayor London N. Breed will join Police Chief Bill Scott, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, City leaders, business and community leaders to announce the kickoff for the 2023 Safe Shopping Initiative in and around the Union Square area for the upcoming holiday season

The City will again deploy additional police and community ambassadors to the area to enhance public safety and maintain a safe shopping experience for visitors, workers, and residents.

WHEN:
Tuesday, November 7:
11am
Union Square Plaza
Powell Street
(between Post and Geary Street)

The press event will take place in the lower plaza area in front of the Macy’s Holiday Tree. Media should plan to arrive by 10:45 A.M.

Note: Mayor’s schedule is subject to change.

For more information on APEC, download the a PDF of the flyer ar the link below. 

https://mcusercontent.com/2bf1f68595f7fd5371df645be/files/4b77063b-b8f5-1019-7362-9a07df719368/Final_APEC_City_Info_Flier_Final.pdf

A Message from the Union Square Alliance RE APEC Safety

San Francisco is eagerly anticipating the upcoming APEC event, which is expected to bring together around 20,000 attendees, including government officials, members of the press, representatives from the private sector, and the general public, hailing from 21 APEC economies. This significant gathering is scheduled to take place from November 11th to the 18th, and we’re looking forward to an outstanding event.

Although these events can present substantial opportunities for our city, they can also, at times, result in organized protests. We want to bring your attention to the likelihood of organized protests, in and around Union Square, during the week of APEC. The Alliance acknowledges and respects the right to peaceful protest. That said, we must prioritize the safety of our community in the event that things take a unexpected turn. The Alliance will share the information it receives through this channel, but it is crucial that we are all prepared for contingencies. We encourage you to remain vigilant and proactive. If you notice anything unusual, please do not hesitate to report it. 

In preparation for any unexpected emergencies, we strongly recommend taking necessary precautions, such as ensuring that you have access to plywood and physical barriers to protect your storefronts and merchandise, in the event that it is needed during APEC week. It is essential to have experienced professionals skilled in plywood installation available. If you require storage space for plywood, don’t hesitate to contact the Alliance; we have secured temporary storage options with a local retailer.

At present, there is no specific indication for the need to board up your property. This precautionary measure is intended to ensure your readiness for potential challenges, enabling you to promptly access the required materials if advised by the SFPD or other authorized law enforcement officials.

We want the community to be as prepared as possible in the event of any unforeseen circumstances, therefore it is important to establish and maintain an open channel of communication with as many sources as possible, including your loss prevention and security personnel. Please make sure you stay in regular contact with these individuals to ensure that, in the event of a credible threat, you can react swiftly and respond accordingly.

Furthermore, we strongly recommend that you confirm the functionality of your security cameras to help ensure the safety of both the community and the protesters. In the event of an emergency, please dial 911 immediately. If you observe or hear anything that necessitates attention, please contact our Member Services team at 415.781.4456. We will continue to provide updates as we receive them. 

Let’s work together to overcome challenges and ensure a spectacular APEC event, allowing the beauty of our Square to shine.

Monday, November 6, 2023 

Contact: Mayor’s Press Office, mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org 

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL RETURNING TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS 

In August of this year, SFO reached up to 97% of international travel as compared to pre-pandemic levels driven by connections with the United Kingdom, Europe, and India 

With anticipated return of key Chinese carriers this month, SFO will be back to pre-pandemic level number of flights 

San Francisco, CA – The City’s recovery efforts show significant growth for international travel into San Francisco as service continues to expand. This year, the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has reached up to 97% of international travel as compared to 2019 levels prior to the pandemic. By the end of the year, with return of key Chinese carriers and the expansion of new carriers elsewhere, San Francisco will exceed the number of international flights pre-pandemic.  

San Francisco’s international travel recovery has been driven by the United Kingdom, Europe and India, while Mexico and Canada remain the city’s largest international visitor source markets. For example, SFO has more flights to India than all other major west coast cities combined with 17 nonstops to India per week, and an 18^th flight coming soon.  While China has been slower to recover when it comes to international travel, key flights are returning this month to SFO. 

“San Francisco is open for business and travel, and we are thrilled to see our international travel demand not only return, but continue to increase at this pace,” said Mayor London N. Breed. “With the coming of APEC, we know the eyes of the world will be on San Francisco. Our City is a world-class destination and with these new air carriers, we can now welcome even more people to experience San Francisco This is a great moment for our airport, our City, and our economy.” 

In March of 2022, Mayor Breed visited London, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Paris, where she met with airlines, airports, and local leaders to both continue and expand partnerships to reestablish San Francisco International Airport (SFO) as the international gateway to California and a hub for European markets, and to bring tourists back to San Francisco.  

That trip has helped support San Francisco’s international travel recovery, including for example securing a new airline which services direct routes from London to San Francisco.   

Key Airline Recovery Info: 

• During the pandemic, SFO successfully introduced seven new airlines for travelers: Air Transat, Breeze, Flair, ITA, Qatar, Vietnam, and ZIPAIR already launched flights at SFO.  
• With the anticipated return in November of Chinese carriers, to include Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern, SFO will be back to 43 total international flights, fully back to pre-pandemic levels.  
• San Francisco has two more international airlines on the way, with Starlux and Porter planned for December and January launch dates respectively. 

Last week, the first airline based in China returned to SFO after an absence of more than 3 years. Air China, the flag carrier of China, restored nonstop flights to Beijing. On November 11^th, China Southern will resume nonstop flights to Wuhan, followed by China Eastern to Shanghai on November 29^th. 

“Attracting new airlines and new destinations to SFO has been such an important part of our post-pandemic recovery,” said Ivar C. Satero, SFO Airport Director. “Reaching this level of international passenger activity demonstrates that San Francisco continues to be a compelling destination for new and existing airlines. My thanks go out to the entire Airport team for this achievement.” 

Nearly two million international visitors—a key segment of San Francisco’s tourism industry due to their longer length of stay and higher spending—are projected to spend $4.2 billion this year, and international overnight visitation is expected to grow 14.6% compared to 2022.  

San Francisco is at a key moment for international travel with the arrival of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in two weeks. The 21 APEC Member Economies account for nearly 40 percent of the global population and nearly 50 percent of global trade.  APEC’s themes this year are sustainability, inclusivity, innovation and resilience.   

APEC will be the largest convening of world leaders in San Francisco since the UN Charter was signed in 1945 during the UN Conference on International Organization, also called the San Francisco Conference. 

“International travel is a vital part of San Francisco’s tourism industry,” said Joe D’Allesandro. “The addition of new airline routes and increased number of international flights, especially those catering to Asian travelers, is a huge step forward in our path to recovery. This milestone demonstrates our city’s resilience and is a clear indication that San Francisco remains a must-visit destination for travelers from around the world.” 

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