During the partial government shutdown, screeners at two Silicon Valley airports, San Francisco and San Jose International, ushered thousands of people through security checkpoints.

Operations at airports 35 miles apart looked similar — uniformed officers reminding people to take off their shoes and put their laptops in plastic bins — but there was one big difference: Only the officers at the San Francisco airport were paid.

That's because San Francisco International is one of nearly two dozen airports across the country that hires private contractors to conduct its security inspections instead of the Transportation Security Administration.

As the closure stretched from days to weeks, more and more TSA employees stopped showing up. At some point, 10 percent of TSA officers did not report for duty.

The result: isolated staff shortages across the country and anxiety for travelers. Airports in Baltimore, Houston and Miami had to temporarily close checkpoints. TSA officials acknowledged that many officers did not come to work because of the financial hardship that comes with working without pay.

TSA: Financial stress of closure forces officers to stay home

“Operations were normal,” said Doug Yakel, an airport spokesman.

There has long been a debate about whether airport screening should be carried out by the federal government or by private companies. And the latest government shutdown — and the possibility of a repeat if lawmakers can't reach a deal with President Trump by Friday — has some wondering whether concerns about staffing could prompt more airports to consider switching to private contractors.

Before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, airport security was handled by private contractors and paid for by airlines. But after 9/11, those duties were assigned to the newly created TSA, which is responsible for security screening at the vast majority of the nation's 440-plus airports.

But as part of that agreement, Congress also created a voluntary pilot program allowing five airports to use private contractors for security inspections. The program, launched in 2002, was eventually open to all airports. Today, 22 airports participate – including the original five: San Francisco, Kansas City International in Missouri, Greater Rochester International in New York, Jackson Hole in Wyoming and Tupelo Regional in Mississippi.

Proponents of the system say the TSA hasn't made it easy for airports to make the switch. The agency has the final say on whether an airport can choose to use private auditors, and while requests are rarely denied, the process can be time-consuming. Others blame inertia and say some airports are reluctant to tinker with an agreement that works.

“I don’t know why, but it’s just ingrained in our consciousness that this is the only way,” said David Inserra, a homeland security policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation who has long advocated for the shift to using private companies for Screening.

Considerations when an airport applies for the program include the following: The cost of private screeners cannot be greater than the cost that would be incurred if the TSA remained at the airport. If approved, the TSA – not the airport – selects, pays and manages the contractor.

Private contractors must follow the same rules and procedures as their TSA counterparts, but have some latitude in determining checkpoint staffing. The workers wear different uniforms, but their training, salary and benefits are roughly the same. The starting salary for a TSA officer is $37,455, but may be higher in some parts of the country depending on staffing needs and cost of living.

Although the private auditors are contractors, they were paid during the shutdown while other government contractors were not because they were considered essential personnel and not being paid would have violated their contract.

Evaluations of the two programs by outside firms hired by the TSA have found no significant differences between the two systems – either in cost or in the ability to move passengers through checkpoints, TSA officials said.

But studies by the Government Accountability Office show that private contractors' costs were in some cases 2 to 19 percent lower than the TSA's cost estimates for the same work. The GAO also said the TSA's calculations did not take into account costs such as retirement benefits.

A TSA spokeswoman said the agency adjusted its estimates based on GAO recommendations.

The shutdown is putting a strain on the country's aviation system

The external evaluations did not investigate customer complaints or analyze the absenteeism, retention or turnover of auditors working for private companies.

The Heritage Foundation's Inserra contends that private companies are better suited to the job of managing airport security. He said they are more adept at managing and retaining employees and can respond more quickly to an increase in passenger volume.

“TSA’s focus should be on policy – ​​setting standards and developing new technologies,” added Steve Amitay, executive director of the National Association of Security Companies. “A large portion of TSA is dedicated to managing this screener workforce. It’s about doing a job that isn’t necessarily government-related.”

However, a 2004 Congressional Research Service report found that private companies that ran security services in the years before the September 11 attacks suffered from poor morale and high turnover – some of the same problems faced by today's TSA has to fight. However, Amitay claimed that new training and pay standards had improved working conditions and contractor morale.

At the TSA Academy, teaching is practice-oriented

But Greg Regan, secretary-treasurer of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, a coalition of 32 unions, argued that safety review is best left to the federal government.

“TSA’s mission is to keep people safe,” he said. “The goal is to detect threats and prevent them from having a negative impact on our system. This is the ultimate mission statement. If you privatize you will introduce another target and that is profit.”

Other union officials argue that the answer lies not in privatization but in a functioning federal government that can pay its workers and its bills on time.

“I don't think throwing up your hands and turning to private security companies is the solution here,” said J. David Cox Sr., national president of the American Federation of Government Employees. “The federal government must do its job to provide the screening services.”

Union says TSA officers can't afford to staff checkpoints without paychecks

Mary Schiavo, a former U.S. Department of Transportation inspector general and aviation expert, added: “We must never say that our TSA employees are not important enough to be federal employees.”

She noted that the September 11 attacks occurred at a time when checkpoints were operated by private companies.

Some of the country's largest airports have toyed with the idea of ​​switching to private contractors. After the understaffed TSA struggled to keep up with record numbers of travelers in 2016, airport officials in Chicago, New York and Atlanta threatened to hire private contractors.

TSA officials blamed years of cuts for the backups, which forced the agency to reduce its 45,000 airport workforce by 12 percent. The furor died down after TSA officials promised changes and convinced Congress to increase its staff. The TSA has 51,000 screeners and about 33,000 are on duty daily.

Atlantic City International Airport recently switched to private screeners after growing frustration over TSA staffing that failed to account for flight delays.

Stephen F. Dougherty, executive director of the South Jersey Transportation Authority, said the TSA will regularly close the airport checkpoint at specific times, regardless of whether flights are delayed. As a result, hundreds of passengers missed their flights because there was no one to escort them through security.

“[Atlantic City International] “prides itself on being a much more convenient and passenger-friendly airport than the larger airports in the region, and this change went against basic operating principles,” he said.

After complaints about long wait times, the TSA is rushing to personnel checkpoints

Some Republican lawmakers have pushed legislation to make it easier for airports to switch to private screeners. A bill introduced last year by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) sought, among other changes, to shorten the time it takes airports to receive TSA approval for the switch. Lee is updating his bill and plans to reintroduce it this year, his spokesman said. However, a provision passed last year to fund the Federal Aviation Administration requires the TSA to make a decision on any application within 60 days. The authority previously had 120 days to make a decision.

Christopher Bidwell, vice president of security for Airports Council International-North America, a group that advocates for the nation's airports, said it supports programs that give airports the flexibility they need to best serve travelers.

“Our position up [SPP]is that it should remain a viable program for any airport that wants to participate.”

The shutdown is putting a strain on the country's aviation safety system

Air traffic controllers receive their first paycheck for the shutdown: $0.00

The TSA is considering eliminating security checkpoints at 150 small airports

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SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–UBS Private Wealth Management announced today that The Klinger Quan Group, led by Private Wealth Advisors Jeffrey Klinger and Bradley Quan, has joined the firm in San Francisco, CA. Jeffrey and Bradley focus on providing bespoke wealth management solutions and advice for ultra-high net worth individuals, families and executives.

“We are very excited to welcome Jeffrey, Bradley and their entire team to UBS,” said Todd Locicero, San Francisco Market Executive at UBS Private Wealth Management. “Their industry experience, expertise and dedication to clients make them a great addition to our firm, and we look forward to helping them continue to grow their business and serve clients in this key market.”

“We believe we have the strongest platform for Private Wealth Advisors in the industry,” added John Mathews, Divisional Director and Head of UBS Private Wealth Management. “With our comprehensive suite of capabilities to support ultra-high net worth individuals, advisors like Jeffrey and Bradley are exceptionally well-positioned to deliver the highest level of personalized service and advice to their clients.”

Jeffrey Klinger is a founder of the Klinger Quan Group within UBS Private Wealth Management. Jeffrey works with ultra-high-net-worth families, corporate executives, and entrepreneurs, providing comprehensive advice on their financial lives. He employs a goals-based approach that centers on the unique needs and priorities of each client.

Jeffrey joins UBS from Merrill Private Wealth Management where he worked as a Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor since 2013. Prior to that, he spent five years as a Director of the Private Bank at Credit Suisse. Previously, Jeffrey served as a Vice President at Lehman Brothers within the Private Wealth Management division. He began his financial services career in 1997 at Burnham Securities in New York, where he was an investment banker. Jeffrey earned his Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona.

Bradley Quan is a founder of the Klinger Quan Group within UBS Private Wealth Management. Bradley focuses on providing clients with customized advice and guidance on wealth management, tax-efficient investment management strategies, trust and estate planning services, and retirement strategies. He has particular knowledge in developing long-term frameworks designed to help preserve capital and generate cash flow, while mitigating risk.

Prior to joining UBS, Bradley was a Senior Vice President at Merrill Private Wealth Management since 2013. Prior to that, he was a Relationship Manager in Private Wealth Management at Credit Suisse, where he spent more than five years. Bradley began his career in 2003 as a Business Analyst for Lehman Brothers. He is a graduate of San Francisco State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Finance.

Notes to Editors

About UBS

UBS convenes the global ecosystem for investing, where people and ideas are connected and opportunities brought to life, and provides financial advice and solutions to wealthy, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as to private clients in Switzerland. UBS offers investment solutions, products and impactful thought leadership, is the leading global wealth manager, provides large-scale and diversified asset management, focused investment banking capabilities, and personal and corporate banking services in Switzerland. The firm focuses on businesses that have a strong competitive position in their target markets, are capital efficient and have an attractive long-term structural growth or profitability outlook.

UBS is present in all major financial centers worldwide. It has offices in more than 50 regions and locations, with about 30% of its employees working in the Americas, 29% in Switzerland, 20% in the rest of Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 21% in Asia Pacific. UBS Group AG employs more than 72,000 people around the world. Its shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

https://www.ubs.com

© UBS 2023. All rights reserved. The key symbol and UBS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS.

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SAN FRANCISCO, october 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Uphold, the digital money platform serving more than 10 million customers in more than 150 countries, has been ranked Number 1 in the prestigious The San Francisco Business Times Fast 100 List of fastest-growing businesses in the SF Bay Area for 2022.

Uphold provides retail, enterprise and institutional investors with easy access to cryptocurrencies, digital assets, national currencies, precious metals and US equities*.

We’re delighted to be Ranked No 1 on the Fast Track 100 List,’ said Simon McLoughlin, CEO of Uphold (PRNewsfoto/Uphold)

the san francisco-based firm has enjoyed spectacular growth as its platform has been white-labelled by fintechs, banks and gaming companies seeking to distribute digital assets to their customers – or to use cryptocurrencies for payments. Uphold now serves an extended ecosystem of more than 30 million users.

The Uphold platform has a unique model. Linked to 26 underlying exchanges, it smart-routes orders to trading venues offering the best pricing, and also provides superior liquidity.

In a sector where trust can be scarce, Uphold is the only platform that publishes its assets and liabilities in real-time on a public website giving customers transparency and assurance that their funds are always available to withdraw.

Any asset in an Uphold Wallet can be held in one account and traded seamlessly in one step as well as spent via a debit card. This enables any asset from Bitcoin to gold to be spent at merchants worldwide or to fund cash withdrawals at ATMs.

‘We’re delighted to be Ranked No 1 on the Fast Track 100 List,’ said Simon McLoughlin, CEO of Uphold. ‘The achievement reflects the fact that we now have strong and highly differentiated offerings for retail, enterprise and institutional customers.

‘We expect our growth to accelerate over the next 3-5 years as more companies adopt blockchain technology now that regulators are providing greater clarity.’

The San Francisco Business Times Fast Track 100 List has been published annually for 30 years and covers the latest breaking business news and top stories coming out of the Bay Area every day. Each year, the SFB Times catalogs the fastest-growing companies serving san francisco and releases their “Fast 100,” list, showcasing the most innovative and successful offerings.

Released annually in October, the list details the most rapidly expanding enterprises that are located in the counties of alameda, Against Costa, marine, san franciscoand San Mateo. All eligible businesses must be headquartered in one of these areas, have had a net revenue greater than $200,000 as of 2018, and be a privately held corporation as of 2020.

About Uphold
Uphold is a global digital money platform serving over 10 million customers in more than 150 countries where consumers seek a more versatile and cost-effective home for their financial lives. Leveraging blockchain technology, the platform provides both consumers and businesses with easy access to digital and national currencies, precious metals and fractional US equities. Uphold’s unique trading experience – ‘Anything-to-Anything’ – allows customers to trade directly between asset classes, saving time and money. Uphold customers have easy access to tomorrow’s financial services, today. To learn more, please visit https://uphold.com/en-gb

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1927078/Uphold.jpg

SOURCE Uphold

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“Every time I walk by it, I just now wonder about this mysterious courtyard-slash-private street,” Eng says. “This has been haunting me ever since.”

So she tapped Bay Curious for help. “Why are there private streets at all?” she wrote. “Who owns these streets and why would someone want to own one of these streets?”

Private street 101

There are 288 private streets in the city, according to San Francisco Public Works Director of Policy and Communications Rachel Gordon. Most of them are unglamorous access roads used for commercial purposes. That might mean a little road that leads to a warehouse or a business park, or it could mean a long driveway leading up to an institution like a college or hospital. The property owners maintain these roads, not the city.

What do you wonder about the Bay Area, its culture or people that you want KQED to investigate? Ask Bay Curious.

There are also some residential private streets, usually owned by a group of property owners who live on the street. These are much less common, Gordon says, but she wasn’t able to provide an estimate of how many there are today.

Another category of streets that aren’t maintained by the city are referred to as “unaccepted” streets. There are 148 miles of them in San Francisco, Gordon says. These streets aren’t privately owned, but they don’t meet the city’s standards for a legitimate street.

Glen Park’s unpaved alleyways are a good example. “Those streets are very delightful to walk through,” Gordon says. “A lot of times the adjacent property owners will plant flowers or put up sculptures there.”

To be “accepted” by the city, a street has to be at least 40 feet wide and have a curb and sidewalk, among other things. If a street meets those standards, the city will take responsibility for cleaning it, filling potholes and doing all the other maintenance required. Unaccepted streets aren’t privately owned, but Gordon says they do end up being privately maintained, usually by the fronting property owners, if anybody takes care of them at all.

Usually people can freely use private driveways or access roads owned by businesses or institutions that are open to the public.

According to a San Francisco Police Department spokesperson, emergency services have access to both public and private streets and the department responds the same way regardless of who owns the street.

Unaccepted streets are public, too.

But residential private streets are a different story.

The Presidio Terrace debacle

A street sign on Presidio Terrace on August 9, 2017, in San Francisco. California couple Tina Lam and Michael Cheng purchased the streets and sidewalks of Presidio Terrace, a private cul-de-sac that features several multimillion-dollar mansions, for $90,000 at public auction. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The city’s most notorious private street saga involves Presidio Terrace. One of the wealthiest areas in the city, Presidio Terrace is both a neighborhood and the oval-shaped street that runs through it. It’s a gated community of multimillion-dollar houses, and its common areas, including its street, are owned and maintained by the neighborhood’s homeowners association.

Presidio Terrace was built on the idea of ​​exclusion. It was created in 1905 and explicitly advertised as a community for “Caucasians.” A racial covenant barring non-white folks from living there was one of the key selling points in an early brochure for the development. The covenant was invalidated in 1948 when the Supreme Court made the enforcement of those kinds of restrictions illegal — but the gate is still there.

In 2015, the city put the street up for sale because the homeowners association hadn’t paid taxes on it for decades. They’d apparently forgotten to provide an updated billing address, so they defaulted on a $14 annual property tax. By 2015, they owed the city about $1,000 in outstanding fees.

At the time, San Jose couple Michael Cheng and Tina Lam were looking for real estate investments.

“This parcel came up in San Francisco. It had a great address,” Cheng recalls. So they bid on it and won it for just over $90,000.

But they had no idea what they’d just bought.

“Because when we were looking at it, it was really confusing,” he says. “It said it was part of a street and part of the HOA, and it was a vacant land parcel.”

Cheng says they had to go to City Hall and dig through title records to figure it out. And when they finally did, they weren’t sure what to do with the street.

“We thought it was pretty cool to have, just for the sake of having something in San Francisco,” Cheng says, “But it was also not a great property that we could build on.”

Cheng and his wife were considering charging for parking spaces — either charging the residents or charging the public for parking access. They figured that would make enough money to cover the taxes and maintenance.

Cheng says they also considered holding events there. “That’s what people with private streets could do: They can hold community activities without blocking off city streets. So we could do like a fair or farmers market,” he says. “I wanted to make it open to the public because it’s a great-looking street, but nobody can see it.”

That’s not how it worked out. When Presidio Terrace homeowners found out their street had been sold, they took legal action against the city and Cheng and Lam and started pressing city leaders.

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San Francisco lawmakers are mulling a proposed law that would allow police to use private security cameras – think: those in residential doorbells, medical clinics, and retail shops – in real time for surveillance purposes.

The US city’s Rules Committee was due to vote on the draft ordinance on Monday, and this was pushed out by at least a week by the panel; its members indicated they would vote on an amended proposal July 18 at the soonest.

Matt Cagle, an attorney for the ACLU, called the proposal for a “power grab” by the SF cops. “It is rare for a police agency to seek to tap into privately owned cameras — I haven’t seen that in California before,” he told The Register. “This is the police seeking permission to proactively and affirmatively go out to private camera owners and say hey, can we live-stream your cameras? This is unprecedented in the city’s history.”

The proposal [PDF] expands San Francisco’s 2019 surveillance ordinance, which, among other things, requires the police to seek authorization from the public and elected officials before acquiring and deploying surveillance systems. So if it weren’t for this law, the cops could monitor citizens without the public even knowing.

The 2019 law also limited the cops’ access to and usage of real-time video footage from things like Internet-of-Things cameras and security CCTV, and the police department and mayor say this hamstrings their ability to fight crime.

The new proposal – championed by Mayor London Breed after November’s wild weekend of orchestrated burglaries and theft in the San Francisco Bay Area – would authorize the police department to use non-city-owned security cameras and camera networks to monitor live “significant events with public safety concerns” and ongoing felony or misdemeanor violations.

Currently, the police can only request historical footage from private cameras related to specific times and locations, rather than blanket monitoring. Mayor Breed also complained the police can only use real-time feeds in emergencies involving “imminent danger of death or serious physical injury.”

If approved, the draft ordinance would also allow SFPD to collect historical video footage to help conduct criminal investigations and those related to officer misconduct. The draft law currently stands as the following, which indicates the cops can broadly ask for and/or get access to live real-time video streams:

Obtaining video footage from private security cameras has real public-safety benefits and would help officers arrest drug dealers and looters in real time, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott told lawmakers on Monday.

“What we’d like to do is be able to, in the appropriate circumstances, live monitor this activity as it’s occurring, so we can have a better chance of apprehending those committing those acts,” he said.

What we’d like to do is be able to, in the appropriate circumstances, live monitor this activity as it’s occurring

If the proposal successfully passes out of the committee during next week’s hearing, it still requires approval by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors before it becomes law. And it faces significant public opposition in the meantime.

Cagle said San Francisco Supervisors have received “hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of messages in just the last few days” from residents who oppose the proposal. And he pointed to a survey [PDF] of 372 likely voters, commissioned by the ACLU, that found 60 percent of San Franciscans oppose letting the police use private cameras to monitor people.

In a joint letter [PDF]17 organizations including the ACLU of Northern California, EFF, social justice center GLIDE, and the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, urged the Board of Supervisors to oppose or “significantly amend” the policy, which they say will “allow the SFPD to engage in unprecedented live surveillance” via thousands of private cameras.

It could allow SFPD to share video footage of, say, women visiting medical clinics that provide abortions with out-of-state prosecutors, or undocumented immigrants going to work with federal immigration agents, the organizations argued. We note that San Francisco is a sanctuary city.

“We are deeply concerned that SFPD’s proposal, if approved as written, threatens the privacy and safety of people going to work and school, accessing housing and seeking social services that make our city healthy and safe,” the letter said.

Opponents argue that the proposal would be used to criminalize Black and Brown people, activists, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and Muslims. And if lawmakers don’t toss the surveillance expansion outright, the groups want the supes to at least set limits on what the cops can surveil, how long they can retain the data collected from private cameras, and with whom they can share the video footage .

As it’s currently written, the proposal would allow police to spy on First Amendment activities, such as political protests or religious gatherings, and keep all footage on file for as long as officers wanted.

“This concern is far from hypothetical: EFF and the ACLU of Northern California sued the city after SFPD used a business district’s camera network to live-monitor protests for eight days following the police murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020,” EFF policy analyst Matthew Guariglia wrote in a blog post.

Over the next week, lawmakers are expected to meet police and incorporate some changes into the surveillance proposal.

“Any time a government builds a surveillance system that collects information about people, that system can be vulnerable to misuse by other agency, and this allows the SFPD to share collected footage with very few limitations,” Cagle said. “What we are saying is, if we care about reproductive justice, if we care about stopping police violence, if we care about protecting activists, than we should do everything we can to boost protection rather than increasing surveillance.” ®

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SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–UBS Private Wealth Management announced today that Lauren Kinch and Andrew Baumgartner have joined the firm in San Francisco. Together, Lauren and Andrew will partner with UBS advisors, Chris Clifford and Kate Kennedy, to form Labyrinth Wealth Advisors.

Labyrinth Wealth Advisors will advise and serve ultra-high net worth clients in Silicon Valley and the broader Bay Area. The 12-person team includes attorneys, CFAs®, and a CFP®, with expertise in investment management, tax optimization, estate planning, wealth transfer and family legacy.

“Lauren and Andrew are valuable additions to our team as we continue to focus on Bay Area founders, early employees, and executives,” said Todd Locicero, West Coast Market Head at UBS Private Wealth Management. “Wealth creators and our ultra-high net worth clients in the Bay Area require high-caliber, experienced partners like Lauren and Andrew to help them meet their unique needs and financial goals.”

“We are committed to providing our ultra-high net worth clients with the highest level of personalized service and advice,” said John Mathews, Head of UBS Private Wealth Management. “We believe we have the strongest platform for Private Wealth Advisors in the Americas, and with our suite of ultra-high net worth capabilities, teams like Labyrinth Wealth Advisors will be able to deliver the full power of UBS to clients in the Bay Area. ”

Lauren and Andrew bring over 25 years of combined industry experience to UBS. They join the firm from BNY Mellon Wealth Management where they spent the last five years advising clients and helping develop the firm’s wealth management platform offering.

Notes to Editors

About UBS

UBS convenes the global ecosystem for investing, where people and ideas are connected and opportunities brought to life, and provides financial advice and solutions to wealthy, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as to private clients in Switzerland. UBS offers investment solutions, products and impactful thought leadership, is the leading global wealth manager, provides large-scale and diversified asset management, focused investment banking capabilities, and personal and corporate banking services in Switzerland. The firm focuses on businesses that have a strong competitive position in their target markets, are capital efficient and have an attractive long-term structural growth or profitability outlook.

UBS is present in all major financial centers worldwide. It has offices in more than 50 regions and locations, with about 30% of its employees working in the Americas, 30% in Switzerland, 19% in the rest of Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 21% in Asia Pacific. UBS Group AG employs more than 72,000 people around the world. Its shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

https://www.ubs.com

© UBS 2022. All rights reserved. The key symbol and UBS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS.

The post Lauren Kinch and Andrew Baumgartner Be a part of UBS Non-public Wealth Administration in San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

With a bold new look, ubiquitous city views, and legendary Four Seasons service, Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco At Embarcadero debuts its newly renovated 127 guestrooms and 28 suites, lobby, and fitness center, as well as its dramatic private Terrace Suites and reopening of the 40th floor open-air terrace, The Overlook.

Primely located atop a 48-story landmark building, Four Seasons Embarcadero offers unparalleled, sprawling City and Bay views spanning the Golden Gate Bridge and iconic skyline, as well as walkable access to some of San Francisco’s best neighborhoods like Jackson Square and the Embarcadero waterfront.

“We are so proud and delighted that all our guest rooms and suites at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero are now complete and open. This affords our team the opportunity to provide an enhanced, one-of-a-kind hospitality experience for sophisticated travelers looking for an unforgettable San Francisco stay,” says General manager Gigi Vega.

“As we unveil the expansive private Terrace Suites, we welcome guests to indulge in our luxury boutique atmosphere, magnificent views, and spacious accommodations, all presented with Four Seasons’ first-rate, personalized hospitality.”

Phased over the past two and a half years, the completion of the multimillion-dollar renovation included beautifully appointed rooms and suites by luxury design firm, Marzipan, a state-of-the-art fitness center with Precor cardio and strength training equipment, and a refreshed lobby, and corridors. Ideal for business trips and leisurely getaways – and times that mix a bit of both, Four Seasons Embarcadero offers spacious guestrooms and luxurious suites with ample open space and separate sleeping and living areas – perfectly equipped for lounging or remote work. The spa-like bathrooms boast deep soaking tubs, as well as plush amenities including Codage Paris bath and beauty products, for the ultimate city refuge from which to unwind and restore.

Two premium private Terrace Suites – the Golden Gate Terrace Suite and the Embarcadero Terrace Suite – are newly debuted, showing panoramic views of the City and Bay. The suites offer an expansive 2,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor living space, encompassing a living room, dining room, kitchenette, powder room, rain shower, elegant freestanding soaking tub, and – at 800 square feet – some of San Francisco’s largest private terraces .

Marzipan took inspiration for the hotel’s chic interior from San Francisco’s world-class views, as well as the city’s signature character and history, with touches like furniture and lighting inspired by the famed cable cars, and ornate metallic detailing and exquisite wallcoverings woven with threads of gold to pay homage to the City’s Gold Rush past. The new design presents a distinctive aesthetic with welcoming floor plans that allows guests to truly make themselves at home. Outfitted in a clean, contemporary style and a tranquil, cool-toned palette, the guestrooms present sophisticated and eclectic interiors that seamlessly support the urban landscape and are enhanced by bright colors and abstract imagery that capture the spirit of San Francisco. Layered in luxury with natural wood floors, a warm palette of textures complements vibrant splashes of color, hand-tufted wool rugs, and bespoke millwork detailing that frames the windows, creating an intrinsic sense of place.

The completion of the renovations also coincides with the July 1 reopening of one of the property’s defining features – The Overlook, the open-air terrace located on the 40th floor, featuring panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and marina with exclusive access to hotel guests for a host of future events and activations.

Located in San Francisco’s bustling Financial District atop the iconic 345 California Center building, the lifestyle-driven property affords guests a dynamic connection to San Francisco, enhanced by Four Seasons’ signature hospitality and services. Exclusive to hotel guests, Four Seasons Embarcadero looks forward to announcing a series of experiences, in partnership with prominent Bay Area thought leaders and brands within the food and beverage, wellness, art, and fashion industries.

Four Seasons Embarcadero offers first-rate amenities and services, including a state-of-the-art fitness center on the third floor that welcomes guests with ample natural light from wall-to-wall windows which overlook the energetic Sansome Street and Financial District. As well as Sky Bridges across floors 40-48 that connect the two towers of the hotel while providing scenic views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Four Seasons Embarcadero offers all-day dining at The Lounge & Bar with a menu of elevated bar bites and hearty entrees, alongside craft cocktails, draft beers, and an exceptional list of curated wines. Additionally, guests may enjoy an impeccable menu from the comfort of their guest rooms or suites with 24-hour in-room dining. Still to come, Four Seasons Embarcadero will unveil a brand-new signature restaurant featuring the best of California cuisine that showcases locally sourced produce and the finest wines.

Four Seasons Embarcadero serves as an ideal home base for a memorable San Francisco adventure. The hotel is surrounded by renowned Michelin-starred restaurants, top global company headquarters, and just minutes from the Embarcadero waterfront, the historic Ferry Building, the California Street cable car lines, and some of the city’s best neighborhoods and attractions.

Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero is located at 222 Sansome Street.

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In San Francisco, the 5M Development Envisions Public and Private Space for the Future

Courtesy of BROOKFIELD PROPERTIES

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https://www.archdaily.com/980517/in-san-francisco-the-5m-development-envisions-public-and-private-space-for-the-future

The chance to reimagine a four-and-a-half-acre site containing both historic buildings to be preserved and lots slated for development in a major American city is rare. For the team behind 5M, a project on a nodal site in downtown San Francisco, this prospect came with exciting potential to engage with all aspects of community building and place making. Completed by SITELAB, KPF, and a host of other firms, 5M reveals a transformed, multi-use downtown site following a decade-long process.

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Significant urban design projects on the scale of 5M are “about how you string together the opportunities so that you gain momentum and gain more of the critical mass and power. It’s not about one thing acting by itself,” says Laura Crescimano, cofounder and principal of the San Francisco-based urban design firm SITELAB Urban Studio, which began work on the site a decade ago. “And that’s the same way we think about the design process.”

Developed and operated by Brookfield Properties, 5M is located at between 5th, Mission, and Howard streets in a public transit–rich area. It opened to the public with an ambitious agenda on multiple fronts. The phase of construction completed last month includes the 640,000-square-foot, 25-story 415 Natoma office building designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, The George apartments by Ankrom Moisan, The Parks at 5M, the historic Dempster printing building, and the Camelline building . Cultural programming will activate the landscaped outdoor park that contains a dedicated performance area. The over 300 units completed thus far include both affordable and market rate housing, with more to come. 5M also factors in the over 200,000 square feet of existing office space contained within the historic San Francisco Chronicle and adjacent Examiner buildings owned by the Hearst Corporation, which partnered with Brookfield on the entitlement process.

415 Natoma by Kohn Pedersen Fox Architects rises above the surrounding low- and mid-rise neighborhoods. The project was aimed at stitching the development into the urban fabric of SoMa. Photo by KYLE JEFFERS. Image Courtesy of KPF

Crescimano points to how “the idea of ​​developing truly mixed use,” beyond simply placing retail on the ground floor with residences and/or offices above, was foundational. 5M would be a snapshot of a dynamic city and a nuanced particular place in west SoMa, where old and new are juxtaposed thanks to “that stitching together and honoring the history of place,” she says. The area is home to a longstanding Filipino community and has a connection to labor history, among other significant threads.

Designers, planners and community advocates set out “to create that density and mix of uses that draws from the character here, which is a little funkier, more playful and creative,” Crescimano notes. Prioritizing elements like pedestrian needs, inclusivity and scale for all users and neighbors meant trying to be “embedded and not about creating an island.” In that sense, 5M should meet the needs of its immediate residents and tenants and be a resource for neighbors and even casual passers-by.

415 Natoma. Photo by KYLE JEFFERS. Image Courtesy of KPFThe George at 5M is one of the development’s other towers. Image Courtesy of BROOKFIELD PROPERTIES, JEFFREY MART

Extensive public outreach that included the newly formed 5M Community Advisory Committee shaped every physical and intangible aspect. “Even though it is not necessarily the fastest process, those voices make a project better,” Crescimano says of the charettes and forums organized by SITELAB Urban Studio and local partners. Changes to 5M included materials and colors, and types and diversity of seating. Public performances and programming overseen in part by CAST (Community Arts Stabilization Trust), which is located in donated space at the Dempster Building along with other non-profit cultural and arts organizations, is another community benefit. Instead of using public arts funding to commission “a sculpture and that’s the end of it,” these privately owned public parks can be “more dynamic.” (Firms !melk and Cliff Lowe Associates served as the project landscape architects.)

Trent Tesch, design principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox, echoes the value of public input, which in addition to other considerations, shifted the physical arrangement of 5M over the course of planning and entitlements. The 5M master plan contained guidelines helping regulate articulation, color and texture of new buildings. Wind testing also changed final decisions about where buildings would be sited, and with regard to determining setbacks, “this was fine tuning, and crafting a very bespoke building,” he says of 415 Natoma.

The narrative of the contemporary workplace is being rewritten in our current moment, but there were certain things that the design team was certain about. “There was a real desire not to do another building that’s just a glass box,” Tesch explains. (The team also included House & Robertson Architects.) On this parcel between 5th, Howard, Natoma and Mary streets surrounded by notable eclecticism, “we really pushed hard to make sure we were doing a building that had a lot of character and fabric on the.” The result contains an intimate lobby and series of bays along Mary Street that make for a “more inclusive” building that invests “more on the alley structure of San Francisco as opposed to the major grid,” he adds.

Courtesy of SITELAB URBAN STUDIO

The podium on the tenth floor of 415 Natoma contains two decks with contrasting, distinct views of the city and the San Francisco Bay. The tower then splits into two articulated volumes of different heights that nonetheless remain visually connected. “The idea is they hug each other,” Tesch says. KPF devised what Tesch describes as a “seven and three” system based on a 10-foot module that wraps the facade; seven of the 10 feet are glass and the others opaque, compared to a typical five-foot module on an office tower. The eliminated mullion means “you register the seven-foot window. To me, it’s a more elegant solution.”

As San Franciscans begin to visit, live in and experience the multiple features and spaces at 5M, the team’s early commitment will help spark conversations that address questions here and beyond. “What is our daily routine? What do we want out of our cities? Nobody wants a generic place. There’s a shared value in connecting to local culture and community,” SITELAB Urban Studio’s Crescimano says. “I think that puts this project in a position to fulfill the way the city can evolve.”

Photo by KYLE JEFFERS. Image Courtesy of KPFPhoto by KYLE JEFFERS. Image Courtesy of KPF

This article was originally published in Metropolis.

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San Francisco-based middle-market private equity firm Gryphon Investors announced Monday it has acquired Ed’s Supply Company Inc.

Financial terms of the deal for the Nashville-based wholesale distributor of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) equipment, parts and supplies company were not disclosed in a release.

Founded in 1957 and with its main office located in downtown’s Pie Town district, Ed’s Supply operates 19 locations in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Courtesy of Ed’s Supply

Gryphon plans to operate the HVAC/R company as an independent division of its Heritage Distribution Holdings platform, which recently rebranded from Wittichen Supply Holding Company.

Steve Byram, former president of Ed’s Supply, will become an adviser to the Heritage Distribution Holdings management team. His son Tucker Byram, most recently vice president of operations, will serve as president. In addition, the current management team will remain with the company.

Ed’s Supply seems to retain its name. Of note, the company also owns the property (located at 711 Sixth Ave. S.) from which the business operates. It is unclear if Ed’s Supply might now attempt to sell that property, as company officials could not be reached for comment.

“We are delighted to become part of Gryphon’s Heritage Distribution Holdings platform with its broad financial and operational resources,” Steve Byram said in the release. “As part of a larger organization with a reputation for superior customer service, Ed’s Supply will continue to deliver premium service as we take advantage of additional growth opportunities.”

Gryphon Investors has managed more than $8.3 billion of equity investments and capital since 1997. The company focuses on investments of $50 million to $300 million in portfolio companies with enterprise values ​​ranging from approximately $100 million to $600 million.

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The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SFSPCA) is selling its longtime facility in Pacific Heights and using the proceeds to fund a new community clinic that will serve lower-income neighborhoods in the southeast quadrant of the city.

The SFSPCA announced the move Thursday, closing up its animal hospital at Fillmore and Washington streets and shifting its focus to a new community veterinary clinic in the Excelsior District, as the Chronicle reports.

The Pacific Heights hospital isn’t going away, though. The SFSPCA sold it to a team of Bay Area veterinarians who partnered with a San Francisco-based veterinary services company called Curo Pet Care, and it will continue operating as a veterinary hospital.

That should come as a major relief to pet owners nearby, given that that particular animal hospital sees 16,000 patients each year.

The SFSPCA says its mission is to ensure access to care for all pets (Photo: SFSPCA)

The money from the hospital sale is being used to fund the new community clinic, which will be mainly dedicated to serving the Excelsior, Bayview, and Hunters Point neighborhoods, as the president of the SFSPCA, Jennifer Scarlett, told the Chronicle.

“It feels like we’re sort of coming home to what is our true calling, and that is thinking about those animals that are not going to get care unless we come up with creative ways to do it, and do it where it’s in the greatest need,” said Scarlett. Selling the Pacific Heights hospital is bittersweet, she said, “but I am absolutely 100% sure it is the right thing to do, for Pac Heights as well as the area that we’re trying to serve.”

The SFSPCA says the move is less about saving money that it is about dedicating resources more appropriately and effectively. Scarlett says that animals from southeast San Francisco were frequently showing up at animal hospitals and shelters with infections that can be prevented with a vaccine. Investigating that trend, the SPCA learned people living in the southeast corner of the city often had challenges with transportation that kept them from getting proper veterinary care for their pets.

With the shift in resources, the SFSPCA says it’ll be able to help the Excelsior area while still knowing the Pacific Heights area will have access to pet care.

Equal access to pet health care is something that’s needed all over the country. The US Department of Agriculture says 45 out of 50 states have at least one area with a shortage of veterinarians. A study by Banfield Pet Hospital estimates 75 million pets in the US may not have access to veterinary care by the year 2030.

The SFSPCA has been around for over 150 years. The organization says it wants to impact five million animals by the year 2030. And the SPCA says that impact isn’t just about getting cats and dogs into shelters and homes, but also ensuring they have access to care and a better quality of life overall .

The new clinic in the Excelsior is expected to be open by the end of summer. It will offer low-cost basic vet services like wellness checks, vaccinations, treatments for simple skin and ear issues, and medications to ward off parasites.

The new hospital in Pacific Heights reopens Monday as the San Francisco Animal Medical Center. In time, its operators plan to expand the services it offers to include oncology and cardiology, along with 24-hour emergency services. And, as the Chronicle reports, everyone who had appointments at the SPCA facility will have those appointments honored at the new facility.

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