If you live in, work in or visit San Francisco, chances are you’ve ridden Muni. As a regular rider and resident, I understand why the system is valued for its comprehensive coverage of our city and also why it is criticized for sometimes being crowded, dirty or late. Read More

As summer rolls around, I am challenging employers throughout San Francisco to participate in the second annual Summer Youth Jobs+ program. Last summer, we rose to President Barack Obama’s challenge to create jobs for our youths, and the results were unprecedented public, private and nonprofit partnerships that successfully placed more than 5,200 young people in jobs and training opportunities, including large numbers from our city’s disadvantaged and low-income communities. Read More

You probably already know that public schools in California aren’t funded well enough to provide all students with the educational investments they deserve. And I know you’re thinking, “Right, Richard, we could all use more money.” But listen to this: California ranks 47th out of 50 states for the amount of funding it gets to educate each student. New York, which also has a high cost of living, gives its K-12 public school districts almost double what California gives us. Read More

When Tanya, a senior at the Academy of Arts and Sciences, started high school, she met with a volunteer counselor from the Bar Association who sat down with her to map out her entire high school career. Because of this, Tanya knew exactly what she needed to do to get to college. Read More