Hundreds mourn San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee at City Hall
SAN FRANCISCO -- Mayor Ed Lee, who oversaw a technology-driven economic boom in San Francisco that brought with it sky-high housing prices despite his lifelong commitment to economic equality, died suddenly early Tuesday at age 65.
Here's the latest on the death of Lee (all times local):
4:20 p.m.
A spokeswoman for Safeway stores is declining to confirm reports that San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee collapsed while shopping at a store Monday night.
Lee Houskeeper, a publicist and friend of the mayor, says the mayor collapsed while shopping at a neighborhood Safeway.
Safeway spokeswoman Wendy Gutshall said Tuesday that the company won't comment out of respect for Lee's family.
But she says the store's employees "will miss seeing him in the neighborhood."
A doctor who treated Lee says he arrived at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital in critical condition around 10 p.m. Monday but the 65-year-old died just after 1 a.m.
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12:05 p.m.
Hundreds of city workers and community members went to at San Francisco's City Hall to mourn the death of Mayor Ed Lee and hear acting Mayor London Breed honor Lee.
They crowded on a balcony outside the mayor's office on the second floor Tuesday overlooking the building's main floor and swarmed upper floors as Breed gave a short speech honoring Lee as a sweet and humble man who she said never wanted to be a politician.
Elected officials wiped away tears and hugged.
Breed says Lee never gave great political sound bites when he spoke but occasionally delivered a perfectly timed corny joke.
Sheriff's deputies guarded the door to the mayor's office, where a single bunch of flowers was propped against the wall.
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11 a.m.
A doctor who treated San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee says the mayor arrived at the hospital in critical condition by ambulance shortly after 10 p.m. Monday.
Dr. Susan Ehrlich of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital says doctors tried lifesaving measures for several hours but Lee died at 1:11 a.m.
She says an autopsy will determine the cause of death.
No other details will be released now because of the wishes of Lee's family.
RELATED: What we know about San Francisco Acting Mayor London Breed
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10:30 a.m.
San Francisco Supervisor Jeff Sheehy says Mayor Ed Lee collapsed at a Safeway store while grocery shopping Monday night.
A statement from the mayor's office said the 65-year-old Lee died just after 1 a.m. at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
A spokeswoman for Safeway, Wendy Gutshall, did not respond to telephone and email messages sent Tuesday morning about what happened after Lee collapsed.
Lee and his wife regularly shopped at the store.
PHOTOS: From advocacy work to light-hearted fun, here's a look at San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee's career
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9:30 a.m.
Former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom says Mayor Ed Lee steered San Francisco with an unshakable hand, an indomitable spirit, and a great sense of humor.
Newsom says he and his wife were heartbroken to learn of Lee's death early Tuesday. Newsom called Lee him a dear friend.
Newsom led the city until 2011, when he ran for California lieutenant governor, his current post.
He says Lee's contagious love for San Francisco "elevated the city to greater heights."
VIDEO: San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee's final interview with ABC7 News
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8:45 a.m.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee stood up for "human decency" as a leader of a welcoming and inclusive city.
He said Lee was in Chicago last week in a shared fight against climate change.
Emanuel said Lee was a trailblazer as San Francisco's first Asian American mayor and he was proud to call Lee a friend and colleague.
Lee died just after 1 a.m. at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital surrounded by family and friends after collapsing suddenly at a supermarket. He was 65 years old.
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7:40 a.m.
State Sen. Scott Wiener says he was "floored" to learn of the sudden death of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee on Tuesday morning.
He tells KTVU-TV that he just held a press conference with Lee on Monday and the mayor was his normal friendly and jovial self.
Wiener, a former member of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors, says Lee "wasn't the flashiest guy in the world, but he worked hard and it was an honor to work with him."
Wiener says Lee has not been given enough credit for his work on affordable housing, but he believes he is arguably the most pro-housing mayor in the city's history.
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7:10 a.m.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is praising former San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee as "a true gentleman of great warmth, positivity and kindness."
Pelosi, a former House Speaker and San Francisco Democrat, says Lee's priority was always people and communities. She called him an effective and pragmatic man who led the economic expansion of San Francisco. She called him her friend.
Pelosi said he "never had an unkind word for anyone, and no one ever had an unkind word for him." She expressed condolences to Lee's wife, Anita, and two daughters.
Lee died Tuesday at 1 a.m. at a hospital after collapsing at his neighborhood Safeway store.
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6:45 a.m.
Former Mayor Willie Brown says his friend Ed Lee will be remembered as the man who stepped up to bring Silicon Valley to San Francisco.
Lee was a low-key mustachioed mayor better known as city bureaucrat than a flashy politician.
Brown and the late power broker Rose Pak talked Lee into filling out the rest of Gavin Newsom's term when he was elected state lieutenant governor in 2010. Brown said Lee was uncomfortable in the office but as he saw the deep fractions of the city, he thought he could be the healer San Francisco needed to bridge its factions.
Brown says Lee was motivated at all times by a deep love of the city.
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4:30 a.m.
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that Mayor Edwin Lee has died. He was 65.
The newspaper is citing a statement by the mayor's office that states that Lee passed away Tuesday just after 1 a.m. at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
The statement says family, friends and colleagues were at Lee's side.
Lee was not known to be ill. No other details have been released.
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