Matt Austin

Today, I stood with Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky to announce his $100 million gift to San Francisco’s parks. This is the largest single-donor gift to the city in San Francisco’s history, and will support the development of new parks, upgrades to existing spaces, expanded hours at recreation facilities, and much more.  An initial $39 million will help unlock five projects in neighborhoods across our city. SoMa, the Mission, Bayview-Hunters Point, Potrero Hill, and downtown will all see transformational projects finish sooner, bringing more welcoming public spaces to residents across San Francisco.  As Mayor, one of my top priorities is making San Francisco a city where families can put down roots and build their futures. Earlier this year, we launched our Family Opportunity Agenda—a citywide effort to bring down the cost of living and expand economic mobility for San Francisco families.    We're building more housing, protecting tenants, expanding access to affordable childcare, and keeping public transportation safe, reliable, and affordable. We're also investing in the public spaces families rely on every day.  Our parks are an essential part of what makes San Francisco such a special place to raise a family. Our recreation programs provide exceptional and affordable opportunities for San Francisco families. With this investment, we're bringing those opportunities to more neighborhoods across our city, expanding access to recreation, and making our parks even better for the families who use them.  San Francisco has created enormous opportunity for the people who have built their businesses here. And with that success comes a responsibility to give back to the city that helped make it possible. So, my ask to every leader who sees what Brian has done today is simple: help us create more opportunities for the people who call San Francisco home. Now is the time. Our city is coming back. Don’t just watch it from the sidelines. Be a part of it.