Ed Lee (mayor)

Ed Lee (mayor)
Name	Ed Lee
Caption	Lee in 2011
Birth date	5 May 1942
Birth place	Seattle, Washington
Death date	12 December 2017
Death place	San Francisco, California
Office	43rd Mayor of San Francisco
Term start	2011
Term end	2017
Predecessor	Gavin Newsom
Successor	London Breed
Party	Democratic Party
Alma mater	San Francisco State University; University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall)

Ed Lee (mayor)

Ed Lee was an American politician and attorney who served as the 43rd Mayor of San Francisco from 2011 until his death in 2017. A lifelong resident of San Francisco, he previously held posts in the San Francisco city administration, including City Attorney of San Francisco and executive roles under Willie Brown and Dianne Feinstein. Lee was the first Asian American to serve as mayor of San Francisco and was noted for his pro-development stance, focus on affordable housing initiatives, and controversial embrace of business-friendly policies amid the dot-com bubble aftermath and the Silicon Valley boom.

Early life and education

Edwin Mah Lee was born in Seattle to immigrant parents from China, and raised in the Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco. He attended Lowell High School before earning a bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University. Lee studied law at the University of California, Berkeley's Boalt Hall, where he received a Juris Doctor and later worked in roles connected to San Francisco State University, University of California, and local community organizations. His upbringing in Chinatown and connections to civic leaders shaped his later ties to figures such as Dianne Feinstein, Willie Brown, and other Bay Area politicians.

Legal and civic career

Lee began his legal career in private practice and as general counsel for the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. He served under Willie Brown in the San Francisco Board of Supervisors era and later worked in the administration of Dianne Feinstein during her tenure as Mayor of San Francisco and as U.S. Senator. Lee returned to municipal service as City Administrator of San Francisco and was appointed City Attorney of San Francisco in the administration of Gavin Newsom. In these capacities he interacted with institutions such as the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, San Francisco Housing Authority, San Francisco Planning Department, and corporations including Wells Fargo, PG&E, and tech firms from Silicon Valley.

Appointment and mayoral elections

In 2011, following the election of Gavin Newsom as Lieutenant Governor of California, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors appointed Lee as interim Mayor of San Francisco. Lee then ran in the 2011 special election, a contest that included candidates such as Chesa Boudin (note: not 2011), John Avalos, and Jeffrey Adachi, and he secured victory in the 2011 mayoral election with support from establishment figures including Nancy Pelosi and Willie Brown. He won re-election in the 2015 mayoral race against challengers including Mark Leno and Angela Alioto. His campaigns featured endorsements from local unions like the United Food and Commercial Workers and business groups including the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.

Policies and administration

Lee's administration prioritized economic development, housing, transportation, and public safety. He championed pro-development policies that encouraged projects from developers such as Tishman Speyer and Related Companies, and supported transit investments involving San Francisco Municipal Railway and regional efforts with Bay Area Rapid Transit and Caltrain. Lee launched initiatives including the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development expansions and affordable housing bonds, and collaborated with philanthropies like the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and foundations associated with Warren Buffett-affiliated entities. He worked with state figures such as Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom on regional planning and fostered relationships with corporate leaders from Google, Apple Inc., and Twitter amid the tech industry expansion in the Bay Area.

Controversies and criticisms

Lee faced criticism from progressive supervisors including David Campos, Mark Farrell, and Chad Kaiser (note: verify accuracy) over policies viewed as favoring developers and corporate interests. Activists and organizations such as Black Lives Matter, the Tenants Union of San Francisco, and labor groups protested his stance on eviction policies, the handling of homelessness tied to Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and controversies surrounding police oversight involving the San Francisco Police Department and the Police Commission. His alignment with business interests drew scrutiny from media outlets including the San Francisco Chronicle and The Guardian, and urbanists debated his legacy in the context of gentrification, income inequality, and housing affordability linked to the tech boom.

Personal life

Lee was married to Dean Hara and had one daughter. He was a member of community organizations and cultural institutions including Chinese Historical Society of America, Grace Cathedral events, and participated in civic ceremonies with officials such as Nancy Pelosi and Dianne Feinstein. He maintained relationships with diplomatic visitors from Taiwan and China as well as sister-city exchanges with municipalities like Shanghai and Melbourne.

Death and legacy

Ed Lee died of a heart attack in December 2017 while visiting San Francisco; his death prompted tributes from leaders including Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Gavin Newsom, and London Breed. His tenure is remembered for being the first Asian American mayor of San Francisco and for policies that accelerated development and housing construction while drawing sharp debate from tenant advocates, labor organizers, and progressive activists. Monuments, dedications, and discussions in institutions including the San Francisco City Hall, Asian Art Museum, and community groups reflect an ongoing reassessment of his impact on the city's trajectory amid the broader dynamics of the Bay Area.

Category:Mayors of San Francisco Category:1942 births Category:2017 deaths