San Francisco's City Hall unveiled a new bust of Mayor Ed Lee, the city's first Asian American mayor, replacing that of James Phelan, a former mayor who held anti-Chinese views. The move comes as a poignant reminder of the importance of inclusivity and fighting hate in the city.
Lee, born to Chinese immigrant parents, grew up in public housing and later became a housing rights attorney. After Gavin Newsom's resignation, Lee was elected by the Board of Supervisors to become mayor, marking a historic moment for San Francisco's Asian American community.
Mayor Ed Lee is remembered for tackling tough issues such as homelessness and affordable housing. In 2016, he created the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and later introduced the Affordable Housing Fund to address the growing issue of gentrification.
Despite controversy over his efforts to revitalize the mid-Market area with tax breaks for tech companies, Lee's legacy is defined by his commitment to the city's diverse community. He was a fan of sports, instrumental in bringing the Golden State Warriors to San Francisco, and turned the city into Gotham City for a young boy with leukemia.
Lee passed away in 2017 due to a heart attack at the age of 65, leaving behind a wife Anita who has stated she wants him remembered as "the People's Mayor."
Lee, born to Chinese immigrant parents, grew up in public housing and later became a housing rights attorney. After Gavin Newsom's resignation, Lee was elected by the Board of Supervisors to become mayor, marking a historic moment for San Francisco's Asian American community.
Mayor Ed Lee is remembered for tackling tough issues such as homelessness and affordable housing. In 2016, he created the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and later introduced the Affordable Housing Fund to address the growing issue of gentrification.
Despite controversy over his efforts to revitalize the mid-Market area with tax breaks for tech companies, Lee's legacy is defined by his commitment to the city's diverse community. He was a fan of sports, instrumental in bringing the Golden State Warriors to San Francisco, and turned the city into Gotham City for a young boy with leukemia.
Lee passed away in 2017 due to a heart attack at the age of 65, leaving behind a wife Anita who has stated she wants him remembered as "the People's Mayor."
. Replacing that bust of James Phelan with one of Ed Lee is like a big ol' middle finger to the hate and exclusion that Phelan's views perpetuated 
. I mean, can you even imagine growing up in SF and being told you're not good enough because of your skin color? No thanks! 
. From public housing to the mayor's office, he's proof that if you work hard and fight for what's right, you can make a real difference 
. And let's not forget all the good stuff he did for this city - tackling homelessness, affordable housing, and bringing in the Warriors? What more could you ask for?! 
. Anita's call for him to be remembered as "the People's Mayor" is literally the most perfect thing I've ever heard 
. We need more leaders like Ed Lee who care about their community and want to make a real impact 
.
- seems like a nice gesture, but what about all the other changes thats been happening in sf? 
like where did all the affordable housing go? anyway, i think its great that ed lee is finally getting the recognition he deserves... hes always been about the people, not just the rich tech folks 
. and btw, what happened to all his housing initiatives after he left office? still feel like the city didnt do much to address homelessness 
. Replacing that old bust with one of Ed Lee is like, totally necessary. I mean, can you imagine if they left it up? It'd be like holding onto a piece of hate history, you know? James Phelan's views were straight outta another era... let's not revisit those times 
. Anyway, Ed Lee was a total hero for the community - tackling homelessness and affordable housing issues was no easy feat. I remember his efforts to bring the Warriors to SF was like, a dream come true for sports fans 
️. And, omg, he turned San Francisco into Gotham City for that little boy... pure heart 
.
. He really put his foot down on issues like homelessness and affordable housing, and for that, we should all be grateful 
. It's also cool to see how he brought the community together - who would've thought that Ed Lee was a fan of sports? 
But seriously, this new bust is a reminder that everyone deserves to be remembered for their positive contributions, not just their controversies. Anita Lee was spot on with her "People's Mayor" comment 
it's beautiful to see a mayor who wasn't afraid to break barriers and take on tough topics 
!!! i mean mayor ed lee was literally the people's mayor, you know? he came from nothing (no pun intended lol) and became one of the most powerful ppl in sf. and can we talk about how he paved the way for more ppl like him to lead our city? 
. And what about the mid-Market area thingy? Shouldn't they be talking about the good and the bad at the same time? 
Still, I guess it's a step in the right direction for inclusivity and all that 
And can we talk about how awesome it is that he helped bring some joy to a young boy with leukemia? That's pure 'Wonder' right there 
. My only suggestion would be to make sure the new bust is actually going to get installed... don't want it to sit in storage forever 
.