January 29, 2016

Honorable Edwin Lee

Mayor
City & County of San Francisco
City Hall, Room 200
San Francisco CA 94104
Dear Mayor Lee
Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation as Port Director of the City and County of
San Francisco effective February 29, 2016.
Making the decision to resign was difficult and emotional. As you know, I am passionate about
the Port and I have really enjoyed working for you. I appreciate your faith in me and am grateful for
the opportunity to serve both your administration and the City I love so much.
The City captured my mind and heart with its challenges and hopes and gave me the
opportunity to play a meaningful part in enacting positive change. In my tenure I have participated in
so many key projects and initiatives; projects such as financing the 911 Center, Moscone West, and
the de Young Museum and initiatives such as encouraging Wall Street firms to offer Domestic Partner
Benefits and vendors to forgo plastic water bottles and bags. I dont know that I ever again will have
the pleasure and satisfaction that I experienced in our quest to open the Pier 27 Cruise Terminal, or
bask in the tremendous pride of watching millions of people enjoy the Port at AT&T park, the
Exploratorium, the Ferry Building and the Ports numerous open spaces. For someone who joined the
City on what was intended as a 2-year sabbatical from an investment banking career, this 2-decade
odyssey has been a heady experience.
Your encouragement and guidance are an integral component in what I was able to achieve.
Your passion for improving both the physical and social fabric of the City, as well as your mission to
mitigate homelessness, ensure a steady stock of affordable housing and pursue solutions to seawall
vulnerability and sea level rise have made it an honor to serve in your administration. The energy with
which you approach these unquestionably complex and deeply emotional, economic and
environmental challenges throughout your tenure speak to your commitment and dedication. I am
proud to have served with you as your department head.
I began my tenure under Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. as the Citys Director of Public Finance
and, briefly, Director of Economic Development. In 2004, I was appointed Port Director by Mayor
Gavin Newsom, and I have had the extraordinary and humbling experience of serving in this role
during his administration and yours. Through it all, I have worked with a cadre of exceptional,
dedicated and skilled people, including several devoted Port Commissioners, who have made it
possible for me to accomplish aspirational goals. I thank you and I wish you all the best in your
continued efforts.
I shall forever remain a supporter and enthusiast and hope that you will call on me if ever I can
be of assistance or play a role in tomorrows vision for the City and County of San Francisco.
With gratitude and admiration,