By Vivian Po and Summer Chiang, New America Media
Ed Lee’s inauguration Sunday morning marked a historic moment for San Francisco, which now has its first-ever elected Chinese American mayor. But unlike when he was first appointed a year ago by then-outgoing Mayor Gavin Newsom, Sunday’s ceremony saw an affable Lee downplaying his background in the Chinese community, instead emphasizing his role as an innovator for the city as a whole.
Thousands gathered to witness the swearing-in, administered by former San Francisco mayor and now-U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. The ceremony began at 11 a.m. after an hour of dance and musical performances. Introduced by former Mayor Willie Brown, Lee, the 43rd mayor of San Francisco, was joined by his wife, Anita, and two daughters, Brianna and Tania.
“I came in determined to bring a new level of stability to City Hall,” Lee told those gathered during a 26-minute inaugural address delivered just after his swearing in. He then cut straight to the challenges San Franciscans continue to face, including unemployment, a severe budget crunch, pension reform issues, and housing.
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