Mayor Lee pitches youth tech apprenticeships, consolidation and early-childhood office in Q&A with supervisors

Mayor Edwin Lee addressed the San Francisco Board of Supervisors during a scheduled policy discussion, laying out steps his administration intends to pursue on workforce development, government efficiency and early childhood services.

Lee told supervisors on the odd-district panel that his office will pursue a “local pipeline to technology jobs” that starts with education and skills development, continues with direct access to jobs and includes wraparound supports from community-based organizations. He described a component of his economic plan as “new economy apprenticeship programs” focused on IT, social media, health care and green technology and said he has challenged the private sector to commit paid summer jobs to local youth.

The comments came after several supervisors urged the mayor to help create formal training and feeder programs so San Franciscans, particularly young people in neighborhoods with limited access to technical education, can compete for technology-sector jobs. Supervisor Mar noted recent public budget town halls where a young attendee urged more local training opportunities; Lee said he agreed and cited early recruitment of tech companies for paid internships.

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