San Francisco's 43rd Mayor Edwin M. Lee died early Tuesday morning at the age of 65.
With his family and colleagues by his side, Lee suffered cardiac arrest according to former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. Since 2011, Lee has served the city as its mayor but his public service dates back to 1980s when he was named investigator for the city's first Whistle Blower's Ordinance, per CNN.
“It is with profound sadness and terrible grief that we confirm that Mayor Edwin M. Lee passed away on Tuesday, Dec.12 at 1:11 am at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Family, friends and colleagues were at his side," his office said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Anita, his two daughters, Brianna and Tania, and his family.”
Board of Supervisors President London Breed became acting mayor of San Francisco, effective immediately, the mayor's office said in the statement. According to multiple reports, she is the first black woman to serve as mayor.
A San Francisco native, Breed was born Aug. 11, 1974, and grew up in Plaza East Public Housing in the Western Addition community, located in District 5. She would later serve her home district in the city's government.
She graduated from Galileo High School and attended the University of California, Davis, earning a Bachelor's of Arts in political science-public service with a minor in African American studies. She also has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco.
2. London Breed, the President of the SF Board of Supervisors, is now Mayor of San Francisco. She is the first black woman Mayor of SF and I believe the first to grow up in public housing. Last time this happened was when Mayor Moscone was killed and Dianne Feinstein became Mayor pic.twitter.com/ky2YG2TThi
— Yashar Ali ???? (@yashar) December 12, 2017
My fellow San Franciscans will wake up this morning to a new mayor, London Breed. She is the city’s first female African-American mayor in history. https://t.co/V60C2FVxZI
— Nathanial Owen (@NJOwen) December 12, 2017
When she was elected in 2012 to District 5, she made it her priority to fight gun violence, provide good jobs, "a safe, dignified place to live that fits a working person’s budget, improved environmental health and more reliable public transportation."
Now, she is the mayor of one of the most progressive cities in the nation when the city needs her the most.
