Obama urges local cities to work more with federal government
SAN FRANCISCO -- President Barack Obama landed in the Bay Area Friday afternoon and headed to the 83rd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors at Hilton San Francisco Union Square. Obama was the keynote speaker at the conference, hosted by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, where economic health of U.S. cities is the focus.
He is also scheduled to attend a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser with U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, at the home of hedge fund manager Tom Steyer and his wife, Kat Taylor.
VIDEO: President Obama attends Pacific Heights fundraiser
Democratic National Committee officials said Obama will join a roundtable at the home of venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar, with around 30 supporters attending and donating $33,400 each.
Obama will spend the night in San Francisco before he departs at about 9:40 a.m. Saturday from SFO.
The President's last visit to the Bay Area was in October when he attended a DNC fundraiser in San Francisco.
Obama arrived on Air Force One that landed at San Francisco International Airport at 12:57 p.m. to breezy conditions and sunny skies.
Obama was met by cheers from a group of roughly 100 family members of the U.S. Secret Service when he landed at SFO. Many people in the crowd held their cellphones in the air to capture a picture of the president as he shook hands and exchanged words with them.
Briana Branch, 10, said it was "cool" to see Obama for the first time in person and the president complimented her 8-year-old brother's mohawk.
Briana's cousin, 9-year-old Jordan, said he felt "great and important" to see the president and was able to shake his hand. Obama's handshake was "very firm," according to Jordan.
Obama gave a final wave to the crowd before stepping into a Chevrolet Suburban and left in a motorcade that included California Highway Patrol and San Francisco police vehicles.
