FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 27, 2011

SF Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees Renews Call for Government Transparency in New TV Ad 

Citing Non-Compliance with Sunshine Requests and Interim Mayor’s Undisclosed Meetings with well-connected insiders, Rees says, “It’s time to lift the veil of secrecy at City Hall”   

San Francisco:  Releasing her second TV Ad of the 2011 Mayoral Campaign, Progressive Independent candidate Joanna Rees today renewed her call for greater transparency in city government, including full public disclosure of city department operating budgets and the Mayor’s daily schedule.  

Rees’ new :30 spot, entitled “Secret Meeting,” highlights the pattern of backroom deal making at city hall, and chronicles her efforts to obtain copies of every city department’s line item budget via “Sunshine Requests” in May of this year.   The ad will begin airing on cable networks across San Francisco on September 27^th, and the full text of the spot has been attached to this release. 

Only a portion of City Departments even acknowledged Rees’ request for budget details, but none offered full compliance.  Those who did respond referred Rees back to the vague and complicated City Controller’s budget, which includes multi-million dollar “miscellaneous” line items.   

“To fix our budget and prevent additional cuts to schools or vital city services, we need to first lift the veil of secrecy at City Hall,” Rees said.  “San Franciscans deserve to know how every dollar is spent, and they shouldn’t have to wait for the next election.   That’s why today I’m once again calling on every city department to make their current year operating budgets available to the public.”

Among those who did not comply with Rees’ request for a detailed departmental budget was the Mayor’s Office, currently occupied by fellow candidate Ed Lee.  Lee has also faced criticism for his close ties to well-connected insiders, city contractors and developers, as well as a federal investigation into the “Run Ed Run” committee that urged Lee to break his promise not to seek a full term. 

When the San Francisco Examiner revealed that Lee hosted a previously undisclosed confab with Rose Pak, a controversial power broker behind the “Run Ed Run” Campaign, Rees called on Lee to fully disclose his daily schedule.  The San Francisco Appeal has since reported that Lee and Pak have also offered differing versions as to the subject last week’s meeting.

“The fact that Ed Lee and Rose Pak can’t even get their stories straight on what they discussed last Wednesday only underscores the need for more transparency about who gets access to the Mayor’s office, and for what purpose,” added Rees’ Campaign Manager Nick Panagopoulos.  “Joanna has pledged to publicly post her full daily schedule as Mayor, and it’s well past time for Room 200’s current occupant to do the same.”  

Join Joanna Rees for Mayor 2011

“Secret Meeting,” :30 TV Spot

NARRATOR:

For months, Joanna Rees requested the details of the city budget.

Rees tried …

… and tried…

… and tried.

NARRATOR:

But, city hall insiders are hiding how they spend our money.

JOANNA:

As your mayor, I will make the budget transparent.

It’s time to bring the city budget … out of the shadows…and into the light.

NARRATOR:

Joanna Rees.

More Innovation. Budgets you can read.

Joanna Rees … for mayor.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 22, 2011

BUSTED:  Lee hosts Secret City Hall Confab with Well-Connected Insiders

Rees Calls on Interim Mayor to Publicly Disclose Schedule

San Francisco:  Following revelations about a secret city hall meeting yesterday between Interim Mayor Ed Lee and controversial Chinatown power broker Rose Pak, Progressive Independent SF Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees today called on Lee to publicly disclose his daily schedule.

“Most San Franciscans don’t get regular access to the Mayor’s office, but they deserve to know who does,” said Rees.   “That’s why I have pledged to publicly disclose my full schedule as Mayor, and it’s why I am calling on Ed Lee to do the same.”    

Lee has been criticized for his deep ties to well-connected city contractors, and currently makes only a small portion of his daily schedule available to the public:    http://www.sfmayor.org/index.aspx?page=391. 

The schedule makes no mention of a confab with Pak yesterday, but that meeting was reported by the San Francisco Examiner:   http://www.sfexaminer.com/blogs/under-dome/2011/09/rose-pak-says-shell-kick-dennis-herreras-ass-even-sprained-ankle.

Scheduling is not the only matter on which Lee has been resistant to full transparency.

In May of this year, Rees filed a “Sunshine Ordinance” request  for the operating budgets of all  City Departments, including the Mayor’s office.   Lee’s office has yet to respond to this request, which has been attached to this release.

“As a candidate, Ed Lee loves to talk about transparency, but as Interim Mayor, he has failed to deliver.”  Rees added.  “If we are going to make city government worthy of the public’s trust, we need to lift the cloud of secrecy hanging over city hall—starting in Room 200.”

Joanna Rees is a mother, educator and entrepreneur who has helped build more than 60 Bay Area companies and has been recognized as among the “Most Influential Business Women in the Bay Area” by the San Francisco Business Times.  She also teaches at Santa Clara University and serves on the board of New Schools Venture Fund and the Advisory Council of the San Francisco School Alliance. She previously was board chair of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship – Bay Area.

For more information, visit www.JoinJoanna.com

For Immediate Release:  September 9, 2011

SF Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees Releases First TV Spot

Rees Record of Innovation on Jobs and Education Featured 

San Francisco:  The campaign of Progressive Independent SF Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees today released its first TV ad of the 2011 Campaign.  

Entitled “Innovation Capital,” the thirty second spot focuses on Rees’ record as an innovator who has created thousands of jobs and improved struggling schools, and will begin airing on cable networks across San Francisco on September 9th.

“As an entrepreneur and an educator, Joanna Rees has been focused on resourceful ideas and new innovations that create jobs and dramatically improve schools.  She can do even more as Mayor," said Rees Campaign Manager Nick Panagopoulos.  “Ultimately, this ad underscores the clear choice in this election—a new approach to city government, or another game of musical chairs inside city hall.”

As an entrepreneur, Joanna Rees has worked with everything from tourism-reliant hotels and restaurants, to cutting edge technologies and consumer products.   She’s helped more than 60 Bay Area companies create sustainable business models and thousands of jobs. 

An instructor at Santa Clara University, Rees has also served as a Board member of the Bay Area Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship and New Schools Venture Fund, and an Advisory Board Member of the San Francisco Schools Alliance, where she’s led cutting-edge efforts to support teachers and transform public schools in San Francisco’s most underserved communities.

Join Joanna Rees for Mayor 2011

“Innovation Capital,” :30 TV Spot

“(Narrator) San Francisco is the innovation Capital of the World…

….Except in City Government

It’s time for a Mayor who is an innovator, not a city hall insider

Joanna Rees

An Educator who improved failing schools

An entrepreneur who created thousands of jobs”

“(Joanna Rees) I’ve put new ideas to work before.

I’ll do it again.

To improve our schools and grow our economy.”

“(Narrator) Joanna Rees for Mayor.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 7, 2011

JENNIFER SIEBEL NEWSOM ENDORSES JOANNA REES FOR MAYOR

Citing Absence of Women from Citywide Elected Posts, Newsom Calls Rees “…one of our community’s most innovative, insightful and accomplished leaders…”

San Francisco:  Progressive Independent SF Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees today announced the endorsement of Jennifer Siebel Newsom—a filmmaker, women’s rights advocate, and the wife of former San Francisco Mayor and current California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom.

“San Francisco has a proud history when it comes to issues of equality, but the absence of women from citywide elected office undermines that tradition and deprives our community of talented leaders, skilled public servants and positive role models that can inspire young people,” Newsom said.    “Joanna Rees is a self-made woman who came to our community as a working mom nearly twenty years ago, bootstrapped her way to the top of a male dominated profession, created thousands of local jobs, and helped transform our most underserved schools.  As one of our community’s most innovative, insightful and accomplished leaders, Joanna will bring a new approach to city government and reflect our highest ideals as San Franciscans.   I am proud to endorse her campaign for Mayor.”

An honors graduate of Stanford University and Stanford Business School, Newsom has devoted much of her life to the empowerment of women and girls, and is actively involved with many  non-profits.  She’s produced three independent films, including writing and directing the critically acclaimed documentary, “Miss Representation,” which examines the links between media portrayals of women and their under-representation in positions of influence.

“Jennifer Siebel Newsom is an unwavering advocate for progressive values and she understands what it means to lead this community through challenging times,” Rees said.  “I am grateful for her continued work to empower women around the world, and proud to have her support in this campaign.”   

Last week, Rees also earned second choice endorsement of the San Francisco Women’s Political Committee, the largest women’s organization in city.  If elected, she would become only the second woman ever elected Mayor in San Francisco, and the first in more than thirty years.

Joanna Rees is a mother, educator and entrepreneur who has helped build more than 60 Bay Area companies and has been recognized as among the “Most Influential Business Women in the Bay Area” by the San Francisco Business Times.  She also teaches at Santa Clara University and serves on the board of New Schools Venture Fund and the Advisory Council of the San Francisco School Alliance. She previously was board chair of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship – Bay Area.

For more information, visit www.JoinJoanna.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 6, 2011

SF MAYORAL CANDIDATE JOANNA REES SCHEDULES 25^th TALK OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONVERSATION 

Upcoming Schedule includes “Bark in the Park,” First Town Hall for SF Dog Owners on September 10^th in Lafayette Park

San Francisco:  Announcing her 25^th Town Hall Meeting since March, the campaign of Progressive Independent SF Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees today released the upcoming schedule for her “Talk of the Neighborhood” Series—on September 8^th in Russian Hill; September 10^th in Lafayette Park; September 17^th in Visitation Valley; September 18^th at Parkmerced; September 29^th in Outer Sunset; and on October 1st in Glen Park.

Through “Talk of the Neighborhood,” Rees is encouraging city residents to share their questions and comments about city government, while offering her own vision for creating jobs, strengthening schools, and improving transparency at city hall.   The Glen Park Event will mark Rees’ 25^th “Talk of the Neighborhood” event since March, at which more than 1200 San Franciscans have participated to date. The campaign expects to schedule at least five more town hall events before the November 8^th election. 

The September 10th appearance in Lafayette Park will be a first for the 2011 Mayoral Election.  Called, “The Bark in the Park,” the event will bring local canine owners together with Rees and her two dogs, Jack and Jill, for a wide ranging discussion, to include issues of particular concern to pet owners.

Each “Talk of the Neighborhood” event is open to the press and the public, with refreshments provided. To ensure the events are accessible as possible, they are streamed live online via Ustream and accessible by visiting http://bit.ly/joannalive.  Questions for each event may also be submitted via Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/joinjoanna) and Twitter (@joannarees).  Rees has also extended a standing invitation to the other leading Mayoral candidates to participate in each event.

The upcoming schedule is as follows:

What:  Talk of the Neighborhood Town Hall Series with Progressive Independent SF Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees

Where and When: 

• Russian Hill--Thursday, September 8^th, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Chameleon Cafe, 1299 Pacific Ave
• “Bark in the Park,” Lafayette Park—Saturday, September 10th, 12:00-1:30 p.m, Lafayette Park Picnic Area, Corner of Laguna and Sacramento Streets. 
• Visitation Valley—Saturday, September 17^th, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Queen's Louisiana Po-Boy Café, 3030 San Bruno Ave.
• Parkmerced—Sunday, September 18th, 11:30a.m.-1:00 p.m, 3711 19th Avenue, Parkmerced Club House
• Outer Sunset—Thursday, September 29th, 6:30-8:00 p.m, Java Beach Café, 1396 La Playa
• Glen Park--Saturday, October 1, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., San Francisco Public Library, Glen Park Branch, 2885 Diamond Street

RSVPs:           rsvp@joinjoanna.com or http://www.joinjoanna.com/calendar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 16, 2011

SF MAYORAL CANDIDATE JOANNA REES:  BART CENSORSHIP “UN-AMERICAN” 

 Rees Calls for Investigation into subsequent Cybersecurity Breach

 SAN FRANCISCO:  SF Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees today condemned the Bay Area Transit Authority’s (BART) decision to shut down cell service in advance of expected protests of a July 3^rd shooting at its downtown stations last Thursday, and has called for an investigation into a subsequent online security breach that compromised the mybart.org website over the weekend.

“I’m outraged to see our regional transit agency employing the kinds of tactics we’re used to seeing confined to authoritarian regimes in other parts of the world,” Rees said.  “Not only is this type of censorship un-American, it unnecessarily put the lives of commuters at risk by cutting off their ability to communicate with first responders in the event of an emergency.”

 Last week’s incident was followed over the weekend with a breach of online security at mybart.org---an attack that resulted in the publication of the personal information of thousands of BART customers.   Rees has called for an investigation into the matter.

“We need to know what caused this serious online breach, and what concrete steps can be taken to prevent a similar incident in the future,” Rees added.  “It’s time for BART officials to stop attacking the 1^st Amendment rights of San Franciscans, and to start attacking any security lapses that could undermine customer privacy, safety, or the reliability of transit services.”     

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

August 8, 2011

STATEMENT:  PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT JOANNA REES REACTS TO ED LEE’S ENTRANCE INTO SF MAYORAL RACE

San Francisco:  In response to today’s announcement that interim Mayor Ed Lee will break his promise to San Francisco voters and seek a full term as Mayor, Progressive Independent Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees issued the following statement:

“While it is unfortunate that his first act as a candidate was to renege on a promise made to the people of San Francisco less than 8 months ago, I welcome Ed Lee to the race for Mayor.   I was running against eight city hall insiders---now it’s nine.

If anything, the ethically questionable sideshow that brought us to today’s announcement serves as a stark reminder of the widening disconnect between insider power struggles at city hall, and neighborhoods concerned about creating jobs, strengthening schools, and ending the cycle of deficits that puts vital city services at risk.   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 5, 2011

SF MAYORAL CANDIDATE JOANNA REES BRINGING NEIGHBORHOOD CONVERSATIONS TO NORTH BEACH, COLE VALLEY, CROCKER AMAZON, CASTRO, WESTERN ADDITION, AND MISSION 

Rees’ Neighborhood Driven Grassroots Campaign Picking Up Steam 

San Francisco:  The campaign of Progressive Independent SF Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees today released the upcoming schedule for her “Talk of the Neighborhood” Town Hall Series—on August 10^th in North Beach; August 15^th in Cole Valley; August 20^th in Crocker Amazon; August 22^nd in the Castro and Western Addition; and on August 27^th in the Mission District.

Through “Talk of the Neighborhood,” Rees is asking residents to share their questions and ideas about local government, while offering her own vision for creating jobs, strengthening schools, and improving transparency at city hall.   Since March, Rees has conducted twelve such events, with plans for another ten beyond those already scheduled. 

In addition to its accelerating calendar of town hall meetings in neighborhoods across San Francisco, the Rees campaign recently posted the third strongest cash position of all the candidates for Mayor, and announced that it has already knocked on more than 120,000 doors, made over 140,000 phone calls, participated in 14 Mayoral candidate forums, and campaigned across 16 MUNI lines.

“This is a campaign that’s rooted in the neighborhoods and focused on practical solutions that bring together the cutting edge and common sense,”  said Rees Campaign Manager Nick Panagopoulos.  “The growing support we’re seeing shows that Joanna’s unique background as an innovator and educator, and her steadfast commitment to bridging the divide between city residents and city hall is resonating across our diverse community.”  

Each “Talk of the Neighborhood” event is open to the press and the public, with refreshments provided. To ensure the events are accessible as possible, they are streamed live online via Ustream and accessible by visiting http://bit.ly/joannalive.  Questions for each event may also be submitted via Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/joinjoanna) and Twitter (@joannarees).  Rees has also extended a standing invitation to the other leading Mayoral candidates to participate in each event.

The upcoming schedule is as follows:

What:  Talk of the Neighborhood Town Hall Series with Progressive Independent SF Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees

Where and When: 

·         North Beach—Wednesday, August 10^th, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Café Cavalli, 1441 Stockton Street

·         Cole Valley—Monday, August 15th, 6:00-7:30 p.m, Café Reverie, 848 Cole Street 

·         Crocker Amazon—Saturday, August 20^th, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Crocker Amazon Multi-Purpose Room, 799 Moscow Street

·         Castro—Monday, August 22, 5:00 p.m.-6:15 p.m, Twin Peaks, 401 Castro Street

·         Western Addition--Monday, August 22, 6:30-7:30 p.m, Bean Bag Café, 601 Divisadero Street

·         Mission--Saturday, August 27^th, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Casa Sanchez, 2778 24^th Street

RSVPs:           rsvp@joinjoanna.com or http://www.joinjoanna.com/calendar

Joanna Rees is a mother, educator and entrepreneur who has helped build more than 60 Bay Area companies and has been recognized as among the “Most Influential Business Women in the Bay Area” by the San Francisco Business Times.  She also teaches at Santa Clara University and serves on the board of New Schools Venture Fund and the Advisory Council of the San Francisco School Alliance. She previously was board chair of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship – Bay Area

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 21, 2011

IN OR OUT?  JOANNA REES CALLS FOR INTERIM MAYOR TO COME CLEAN ON POLITICAL INTENTIONS

Rees calls Lee Speculation an “unnecessary distraction”  

San Francisco:   Progressive SF Mayoral candidate Joanna Rees today called on interim Mayor Ed Lee to address the growing speculation about whether he will be a candidate this November. 

“San Franciscans deserve to know who is willing to throw their hat in the ring, articulate a vision for the future and debate the important issues facing our community,” Rees said.   “When he took the job of interim Mayor, Ed Lee promised not to seek another term. And while he has done an able job as caretaker for the city, by failing to definitively tell us whether or not he plans to keep his word, he is fueling an unnecessary distraction from the big challenges facing our community.”

When Lee was nominated for his current post by Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom back in January, his appointment was approved by four Board members who are currently declared candidates in the Mayoral race.

On July 17^th, the San Francisco Chronicle editorialized against Lee entering the campaign for Mayor, saying it would undermine “the chances of anything meaningful emerging out of City Hall for the remainder of the year…”

In recent weeks, Lee has wavered between saying he had no plans to run “at this time,” to saying yesterday that he’d been having “interesting discussions,” about the matter.

The Chronicle has also reported that as many as three independent groups have now been formed to promote a Lee candidacy.  Some have suggested that these efforts reflect longstanding divisions between city-hall insiders.    

According to the Chronicle, the leadership of one of the groups has ties to city contracts, and has drawn scrutiny from City Ethics watchdogs by raising and spending funds supporting Lee and targeting other declared candidates in the race without registering as an independent expenditure committee.

“As I’ve met with thousands of voters in the neighborhoods across our community, it’s clear that San Franciscans are far more concerned with creating jobs, strengthening schools, and improving government transparency than a power struggle amongst city hall insiders,”   Rees added.   “It’s time to move onto a real debate about the issues, and it’s time for Ed Lee to decide whether or not he intends to be a part of that conversation.” 

Joanna Rees is a mother, educator and entrepreneur who has helped build more than 60 Bay Area companies and has been recognized as among the “Most Influential Business Women in the Bay Area” by the San Francisco Business Times.  She also teaches at Santa Clara University and serves on the board of New Schools Venture Fund and the Advisory Council of the San Francisco School Alliance. She previously was board chair of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship – Bay Area.

For more information, visit www.JoinJoanna.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 July 20, 2011

JOANNA REES RAISES NEARLY $800K FOR SAN FRANCISCO MAYORAL BID

Neighborhood Focused Grassroots Campaign Has Reached more than 170,000 San Franciscans since March

San Francisco:  The Mayoral campaign of progressive independent Joanna Rees announced today that it has raised nearly $800,000, including public matching funds, and has already made contact with more than 170,000 San Franciscans. 

Back in May, Rees opted into San Francisco’s public campaign finance system, which caps total campaign spending at $1.475 million.  In its report to be filed with the San Francisco Ethics Commission on August 1^st, the campaign will report more than $440,000 in cash on hand. 

Since March, the Rees campaign has knocked on over 77,000 doors, made over 100,000 phone calls to voters, hosted 16 “meet the candidate” house parties, and 9 “Talk of the Neighborhood” town hall meetings across the city—each of which are live streamed online, with another twenty planned before the election.  Rees alone has knocked on over 7,000 doors, completed more than 20 merchant walks, visited more than fifteen farmer’s markets, has met weekly with commuters aboard more than 14 MUNI routes, and participated in a dozen candidate forums and debates. 

“This is a grassroots campaign that’s rooted in the neighborhoods, and I’m proud of the strong support we are receiving from across our diverse community,” Rees said. “As I’ve shared my vision and met with people in their homes, on buses, along merchant corridors, in schools and at community centers, it’s been clear that a growing number of San Franciscans are looking for a new approach at City Hall---an open dialogue, greater transparency, a culture of innovation, and a determined focus on revitalizing our economy and strengthening our schools.”    

Joanna Rees is a mother, educator and entrepreneur who has helped build more than 60 Bay Area companies and has been recognized as among the “Most Influential Business Women in the Bay Area” by the San Francisco Business Times.  She also teaches at Santa Clara University and serves on the board of New Schools Venture Fund and the Advisory Council of the San Francisco School Alliance. She previously was board chair of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship – Bay Area. 

For more information, visit www.JoinJoanna.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 15, 2011

SF MAYORAL CANDIDATE JOANNA REES BRINGING NEIGHBORHOOD CONVERSATION SERIES TO INNER SUNSET, MISSION BAY AND BAYVIEW 

 Rees’ Has Already Held Eight “Talk of the Neighborhood” Events Across San Francisco

San Francisco:  Progressive Independent SF Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees today released the upcoming schedule for her “Talk of the Neighborhood” Conversation Series—on July 18^th in Inner Sunset, July 26^th in Mission Bay, and July 30^th in Bayview.

Through “Talk of the Neighborhood,” Rees is encouraging residents to share their questions and ideas about local government, while offering her own vision for creating jobs, strengthening schools, and improving transparency at city hall.   Since March, Rees has conducted eight such events, with approximately ten more still to be scheduled in the coming month.

Each “Talk of the Neighborhood” event is open to the press and the public, with refreshments provided.  Rees has also extended a standing invitation to the other leading Mayoral candidates to participate in each event.

The upcoming schedule is as follows:

Inner Sunset--Monday, July 18, 2011, 6:00p.m.-7:30 p.m.:  Dash Café, 420 Judah Street.

Mission Bay—Tuesday, July 26, 2011, 6:00p.m.-7:30 p.m.:  The Creamery, 685 4^th Street

Bayview—Saturday, July 30, 2011, 11:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.:  Frisco Fried, 5176 3^rd Street

RSVPs:           rsvp@joinjoanna.com or http://www.joinjoanna.com/calendar

Joanna Rees is a mother, educator and entrepreneur who has helped build more than 60 Bay Area companies and has been recognized as among the “Most Influential Business Women in the Bay Area” by the San Francisco Business Times.  She also teaches at Santa Clara University and serves on the board of New Schools Venture Fund and the Advisory Council of the San Francisco School Alliance. She previously was board chair of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship – Bay Area.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 11, 2011

PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR JOANNA REES AGREES TO VOLUNTARY SPENDING LIMITS - OPTS IN TO PUBLIC FINANCING

San Francisco, CA – May 11, 2011 – Progressive independent candidate Joanna Rees filed paperwork today to opt in to public financing and agreed to limit campaign spending to $1,475,000. She calls on all candidates to reject outside money and independent expenditures.

 “San Francisco is a leader on clean election reform. We have created a system that limits the influence of outside money and interests on candidates. I challenge all of my colleagues running for Mayor to respect the spirit of our campaign finance laws and publicly declare their commitment to honor the system by rejecting the undue influence of independent expenditures in this election.

I am taking this campaign to the streets and online to engage voters one-on-one. I invite my colleagues in this race to join me at forums and debates in every neighborhood across the city. The voters of San Francisco deserve an honest debate. They expect to hear directly from us about our record and our plans for the future of the city.

I have spent the last several months reaching out and building support for my campaign in neighborhoods all across the city- and I will continue to do just that- in living rooms, community centers, coffee shops, on busses and up and down our merchant corridors. I am committed to running a grassroots campaign apart from the City Hall crowd. I will work tirelessly to earn the first, second or third choice vote of San Franciscans in November.

I am a progressive independent and I am running for mayor to put school improvement and job creation on the top of the agenda. It is time for an innovative and transparent approach to problem solving. I’ve achieved success by focusing on practical ideas where the cutting edge meets common sense. I have taken the same approach as a mother, mentor, educator, and advocate for public school reform and that’s what I’ll do as a Mayor for all of San Francisco’s diverse neighborhoods.”

Joanna Rees formed VSP Capital with a partner in 1996 from $50,000 in savings and personal debt and has since helped build more than 60 Bay Area companies that have created thousands of jobs. Joanna teaches at Santa Clara University and serves on the board of the New Schools Venture Fund and the Advisory Council of the San Francisco School Alliance.  She previously was Board Chair of the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship – Bay Area.

###

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 9, 2011

JOANNA REES TO HOST THIRD IN SERIES OF “TALK OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD” MEETINGS

Progressive Independent mayoral candidate Joanna Rees on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 will host her third “Talk of the Neighborhood” meeting in the Sunset. Over the next few months Joanna is reaching out – and listening – in every neighborhood and every community of San Francisco. On May 11, she will speak to neighborhood residents in the Sunset about her vision for San Francisco. Residents are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas about San Francisco’s future. The event is free and open to the public and press. Food and beverages are provided. This is the third event in a series of ‘Talk of the Neighborhood with Joanna Rees’ meetings across San Francisco. Additional dates will be announced in upcoming weeks.

EVENT:         Talk of the Neighborhood with Joanna Rees

DATE:            Wednesday, May 11, 2011

TIME:             6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

WHERE:       Greenhouse Café, 1722 Taraval (@ 27^th)

RSVP:           rsvp@joinjoanna.com or http://bit.ly/joinjoanna

Joanna Rees formed VSP Capital with a partner in 1996 from $50,000 in savings and personal debt and has since helped build more than 60 Bay Area companies that have created thousands of jobs. Joanna teaches at Santa Clara University and serves on the board of New Schools Venture Fund and the Advisory Council of the San Francisco School Alliance. She previously was board chair of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship – Bay Area.

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 18, 2011

JOANNA REES TO HOST SECOND IN SERIES OF TOWN HALL MEETINGS

Mayoral candidate Joanna Rees on Saturday, April 23 will host her second town hall meeting. Over the next few months Joanna is reaching out – and listening – in every neighborhood and every community of San Francisco. On April 23, she will speak to neighborhood residents about her vision for San Francisco. Residents are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas about San Francisco’s future. The event is free and open to the public and press. Food and beverages are provided. This is the second event in a series of ‘Talk of the Neighborhood with Joanna Rees’ town hall meetings across San Francisco. Additional dates will be announced in upcoming weeks.

EVENT:         Talk of the Neighborhood with Joanna Rees

DATE:            Saturday, April 23, 2011

TIME:             2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

WHERE:       Claire Lilienthal School, 3630 Divisadero St. (at Beach St.)

RSVP:           rsvp@joinjoanna.com

Joanna Rees is a mother, mentor, education advocate, and entrepreneur.  She formed VSP Capital with a partner in 1996 from $50,000 in savings and personal debt and has since helped build more than 60 Bay Area companies.  Joanna teaches at Santa Clara University and serves on the board of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship - Bay Area and the boards of the San Francisco School Alliance and New Schools Venture Fund.

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 14, 2011 

JOANNA REES TO HOST FIRST IN SERIES OF TOWN HALL MEETINGS 

Mayoral candidate Joanna Rees on Saturday, March 26 will host her first town hall meeting. Over the next few months Joanna is reaching out – and listening – in every neighborhood and every community of San Francisco. On March 26, she will speak to, neighborhood residents about her vision for San Francisco. Residents are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas about San Francisco’s future. The event is free and open to the public and press. Food and beverages are provided. This is the first event in a series of ‘Talk of the Neighborhood with Joanna Rees’ town hall meetings across San Francisco. Additional dates will be announced in upcoming weeks.

EVENT:         Talk of the Neighborhood with Joanna Rees

DATE:            Saturday, March 26, 2011

TIME:             11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

WHERE:       Mission YMCA, 4080 Mission St. 94112

San Francisco 

RSVP:           rsvp@joinjoanna.com

Joanna Rees is a mother, mentor, education advocate, and entrepreneur.  She formed VSP Capital with a partner in 1996 from $50,000 in savings and personal debt and has since helped build more than 60 Bay Area companies.  Joanna teaches at Santa Clara University and serves on the board of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship - Bay Area and the boards of the San Francisco School Alliance and New Schools Venture Fund.

JOANNA REES SENDS LETTER TO MAYOR, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, MAYORAL CANDIDATES CALLING ON THEM TO SIGN PLEDGE REJECTING BACKROOM DEALS

PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR CALL ON BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO REJECT POLITICAL HORSE TRADING AND BACKROOM DEALS

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 1:31pm

SAN FRANCISCO — November 3, 2010 — Progressive Independent candidate for San Francisco Mayor, Joanna Rees, today challenged the San Francisco's Board of Supervisors and all mayoral candidates to sign a pledge that they will appoint a true interim Mayor — one that will agree not to run for a full 4-year term in November 2011 — to succeed Gavin Newsom . In a letter to the Mayor, Board of Supervisors and mayoral candidates, Rees asks that they join her in pledging not to accept an appointment as interim Mayor or to vote for a person who will stand for election in November 2011. In her letter, Rees joins others who have already come out in strong support of a true interim mayor, including candidate for District 2 Supervisor, Janet Reilly.

November 3, 2010

Mayor Newsom, San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Candidates for Mayor:

As a San Franciscan, I am especially proud to congratulate Mayor Gavin Newsom on his election as Lieutenant Governor of the State of California. Over the last seven years, Mayor Newsom has been a tremendous leader for our City — who courageously stood up for the civil rights of all San Franciscans, seriously confronted the problem of homelessness, fought for universal healthcare and preschool access and helped put our City on the cutting edge of the green technology economy. We are a stronger City today thanks to Mayor Newsom, and I know all Californians will benefit from his creativity and vision for many years to come.

As the Mayor prepares to assume his new role as Lieutenant Governor, we San Franciscans find ourselves in an uncertain position. Under the City Charter, the Board of Supervisors is charged with appointing an interim Mayor until the people can choose their next full-term Mayor next November. As you know, the rumor mill has been churning for weeks, with some published speculation about office-swapping, musical chairs and political deal-making brazen enough to make Rod Blagojevich blush.

Of course, that's not how we do things in San Francisco. As San Franciscans we can surely agree, our interim mayor should be chosen as an interim mayor based on what's in the best interest of City residents — not as part a process of palace intrigue designed solely to give one candidate the overwhelming advantage of incumbency. At the end of the day, our permanent mayor must be determined based on a public process of debate and dialogue with the community.

For these reasons, I am calling on the Board of Supervisors to appoint a true interim Mayor to fill this role. I further ask all of the announced and prospective candidates for Mayor to take themselves out of consideration for an interim appointment. San Franciscans deserve a Mayor whose sole priority is to keep the City on track, with no political agenda other than the effective stewardship of San Francisco in 2011. In the wake of scandals in Illinois and elsewhere, we must avoid the kind of backroom deals that can shake public confidence and take us backwards.

I am by no means the first to assert that a true interim Mayor appointment is the only responsible course. For example, candidate for District 2 Supervisor, Janet Reilly, has also called for an appointee pledging not to seek re-election to a 4-year term. Reilly is right. San Franciscans deserve an interim-Mayor who is focused one hundred percent on their interests, and there are a number of highly capable, experienced City officials and public servants who would serve in the role.

Every day, I hear people in our community who are frustrated with the lack of transparency in City politics. And that shouldn't be the case. This appointment represents an opportunity for local leaders to demonstrate strong, honest leadership — an opportunity to affirm our democratic principles and commitment to fair, transparent government.

Today, immediately after a national election, is an appropriate time to cast our lots with democracy by rejecting backroom deal-making. Let's allow the voters of San Francisco to pick their next Mayor and decide their own future.

Thank you,
Joanna Rees

ABOUT JOANNA

The Mercury News said Joanna's story "reveals the kind of grit it takes." A mother, mentor, education advocate and entrepreneur, Joanna grew up in a boisterous Italian-American family in Montclair, New Jersey. Her grandparents emigrated from Europe. Her father was an entrepreneur who worked in housing development, railroads and shipping. Her mother was a school teacher following in the footsteps of her grandmother. Joanna's father was the first in his family to go to college and he was a passionate believer in the democratization of society through education.

A competitive gymnast in high school and at Duke University, where she earned a BS in psychology, Joanna learned early in life that reaching goals mostly involves a stubborn willingness to fall down and pick yourself up. Her first job was with a multinational advertising agency in New York City, where she started as a media planner making $12,000 a year. Soon she won a promotion, moved on to become director at a leading global consumer products firm where she was managing brand with revenues of $500 million, and earned her MBA from Columbia University. She got married, had an infant son and when it seemed Joanna "had it all," her husband suddenly left the family. Things went from bad to worse. With her father's health failing, she moved back home to Montclair to manage the family's struggling 42-room inn. A working mom mired in debt, she drew from her parents' example, put her head down and managed to return the business to profitability in just three years.

A SAN FRANCISCAN BY CHOICE

In 1993, following the loss of her father and the birth of her daughter, it was time for a new beginning, and Joanna headed west. She'd long admired San Francisco for its beauty, energy and unabashed diversity. Like thousands of others before and since, Joanna fell in love with the City, and she discovered first-hand that San Francisco is a place where you can be who you are and make no apologies.

With her second husband, an award-winning chef, Joanna opened a restaurant in Rincon Center, which won national attention for concept and cuisine. Unfortunately, after just two years, the business was forced to shut its doors, providing a valuable long-term lesson in the practical realities and challenges of running a small business.

BREAKING "INTO THE OLD BOYS CLUB"

Meanwhile, as Joanna worked a day job in the Financial District, she continued to make bigger plans. In 1996 she took the risk of a lifetime, plunging headlong into the traditionally male-dominated world of venture capital. As Forbes Magazine would later write, "With no history of investing or personal wealth, she bootstrapped her way into the clubby venture capital world. She did it by being as resourceful and imaginative as the entrepreneurs she backs — raising seed money, living on no salary, dealing with repeated rejection, surviving the loss of two initial partners."

With a beginning investment of $50,000 cobbled together from savings and personal debt, Joanna formed Venture Strategy Group together with a partner (later renamed VSP Capital). Within four years, they built a $200 million fund.

BRINGING GREAT IDEAS TO LIFE

Joanna's business was based simply on identifying smart entrepreneurs with great ideas and making them happen. Investing in and advising early-stage best-of-breed innovative ideas, VSP helped build more than 60 Bay Area companies, moving innovative concepts from the drawing board, through the research, planning, and financing stages, and establishing dozens of solid, sustainable companies with long-term value. Over fourteen years, VSP weathered the dot.com collapse and helped start firms in a diverse range of industries including technology, retailing, consumer products, wireless networking, cognitive learning software, and financial services for the unbanked. VSP companies have created thousands of jobs across the Bay Area.

INDEPENDENT LEADERSHIP

An active teacher, mentor and education reform advocate, Joanna believes passionately in the need for greater innovation in the arena of public education. She teaches at Santa Clara University and has served for eight years on the Bay Area Board of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, which brings business -building skills to students in low-income communities. Joanna is an advisory board member of the San Francisco School Alliance and serves on the board of the New Schools Venture Fund, which helps education entrepreneurs "scale" their enterprises to effect systems change in San Francisco and across the country. Joanna also serves on the Global Board of Directors of Endeavor, a non-profit that assists high-impact entrepreneurs in developing nations.

Selected by the World Economic Forum as a "Global Leader for Tomorrow," she is winner of the "Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award" by the San Francisco Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and was named among the "Most Influential Business Women in the Bay Area" by the San Francisco Business Times. In 2002, she was named an Aspen Institute Crown Fellow where Texas Governor Ann Richards became her mentor.

"THE REES BUNCH"

Joanna is married to John Hamm, a venture capitalist, author and CEO advisor. She is the proud mother of four in a blended household comprised of her 21 year old son Arthur, her 17 year old daughter Taylor, and her step-daughters, Andie, 13, and Perry, 11. The family is topped off with two dogs, Jack and Jill. Joanna has two brothers and one sister. Her mother now lives in San Francisco, the place where she always told her kids she had left her heart when they were growing up.

For more information, visit www.JoinJoanna.com.