Greetings from City Administrator Carmen Chu
Check out this link to see Carmen's greeting from the December newsletter!
Resources for Immigrants in San Francisco
The SF Immigrant Forum is an online resource for immigrants of all backgrounds in San Francisco. The site includes resources for free to low-cost immigration legal help, healthcare and public benefits information, know your rights, upcoming events, and much more! Help immigrant San Franciscans get connected to valuable resources at: sf.gov/immigrants.
250 Couples Married in City Hall on Valentine's Day
The County Clerk's Office helped 250 couples tied the knot at City Hall in a single day—on Valentine’s Day—just ahead of the NBA All-Star weekend and the annual Lunar New Year Parade! Mayor Daniel Lurie joined the festivities and officiated several weddings.
This year marks 21 years since the "Winter of Love," when the County Clerk was first authorized to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Since 2016, it has become a tradition for City Hall to host a special marriage event on Valentine's Day for all couples. The County Clerk's Office typically processes 28 marriages per day, so 250 marriages is truly record-breaking!
Check out a recap of the celebration in this SF Standard news article.
CMD Launches Contracting Equity Study
The Contract Monitoring Division is launching a contracting equity study to address barriers that small and local businesses face in accessing the City’s contract and procurement opportunities. Information from the study will help inform the City's efforts to improve the Local Business Enterprise program and encourage participation of small and local businesses in our work. Later in the Spring, the City and its research partners will conduct a series of virtual community engagement sessions. We will present information about the contracting equity study, answer any questions, and ask participants for insights they would like to share regarding their experiences working in the San Francisco marketplace. The sessions dates are still being scheduled and planned, but please stay tuned for future announcements.
Grants for the Arts 2025 Community Gathering
Grants for the Arts welcomed the new year by hosting its very first grantee community gathering in January. Current grantees and City stakeholders were invited to build and celebrate community and learn about GFTA’s grantmaking priorities and strategies. GFTA welcomed over 150 grantees and stakeholders at the Asian Art Museum, and enjoyed a powerful performance and engaging activity led by two of their own grantees: Loco Bloco and KulArts. Additionally, they hosted an alternative virtual grantee gathering where they held space for reflection and connection in smaller groups.
To stay up to date on the latest with GFTA, follow them on social media.
SF.gov Just Got an Upgrade!
San Francisco’s Digital and Data Services team has successfully launched a redesigned SF.gov, making it more accessible, flexible, and user-friendly. Powered by Karl, our new content management system, and Maya, a modern design system, the site is built to better serve San Franciscans.
With 750,000+ monthly visitors and 200+ departments using the platform, these upgrades make it easier than ever to access City services and information. And we’re just getting started—more improvements are on the way!
Join SF Music Week this week Feb. 24 – March 2
SF Music Week invites the public to celebrate San Francisco’s vibrant music scene, connect with industry leaders, and explore opportunities in the music world. From live performances to insightful panels, this week-long event highlights the city’s thriving arts community.
Don’t miss the SF Music Week Industry Summit on Friday, February 28—FREE to attend! Hear from top industry voices, including Ghazi, CEO and Founder of EMPIRE, and Grammy-nominated producer David Katznelson, as they discuss the past, present, and future of SF’s music ecosystem.
Moscone Center Hosts Unforgettable NBA All-Star Weekend!
The recent 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco provided an unforgettable experience for locals and many thousands of visitors from across the country! While the All-Star game was played at Chase Center, Moscone Center shared a piece of the excitement by hosting NBA Crossover, a fan-centric event celebrating basketball culture with interactive exhibits, exclusive merchandise, live performances, and appearances from NBA legends and current stars. Tens of thousands of die-hard fans packed Moscone Center throughout the weekend. This is just the first of several major sporting events San Francisco will be helping to host over the next 18 months, including the Laver Cup in September 2025, Super Bowl in February 2026, and FIFA World Cup matches in June 2026.
Check Out CAO in the News!
