/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fcard%2Fimage%2F674847%2F79cb3a49-55fe-4b7c-9470-2cf6fd80e61d.jpg)
San Francisco mayor Ed Lee died early Tuesday morning, leaving behind a conflicted legacy in a city known for innovation but afflicted with homelessness, income inequality, and rising housing costs.
The champion of local tech and industry died of undisclosed causes at age 65 in the recently renamed Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, which had benefitted from a $75 million-donation from the Facebook founder.
Lee, who first got into politics as a lawyer fighting for tenants' rights, was often criticized for what seemed to be a soft spot for tech companies and the money and people the industry brought into the Bay Area.
The tech community came out to remember the city leader that embraced local business Tuesday. Twitter co-founder Biz Stone led the charge, tweeting about the "all around good guy" early in the morning morning. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey retweeted the post.
RIP Ed Lee, San Francisco’s first Asian American mayor and all around good guy.
— Biz Stone (@biz) December 12, 2017
Stone was joined by Salesforce's Marc Benioff, PayPal cofounder Max Levchin and others in the tech community locally and across the country.
I’m so sad to hear of the passing of Mayor Ed Lee, one of the nicest & kindest leaders I’ve ever known. I’ll always remember my favorite lunch with him where he asked me to focus Salesforce on improving the SFUSD Middle Schools. May the one who brings peace bring peace to all. pic.twitter.com/YGiQNBb7Mb
— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) December 12, 2017
I am deeply saddened by the passing of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. He was a tireless advocate for civil rights, raising the minimum wage and affordable housing. Today, San Francisco mourns and celebrates his public service. #Sanfrancisco #mayoredlee #SF https://t.co/BjcN0xH9zp pic.twitter.com/UaCNv90zyJ
— Max Levchin (@mlevchin) December 12, 2017
So sad to hear of the passing of Mayor Ed Lee. He stretched the limits for city innovations, and was a tremendous collaborator with #DCTech on @startupinres & @globalcitycios. Today we lost a friend and unmatched tech champion. Our thoughts are with #SanFrancisco.
— OCTO (@OCTODC) December 12, 2017
My heart is with San Francisco today. My career would not exist if it weren't for leaders who were so tech friendly like Ed Lee.
Hope all my friends down there celebrate his life tonight 💕— Kelly Clay (@kellyhclay) December 12, 2017
This is sad news to wake up to. Thanks @mayoredlee for having been a good friend of @zendesk and for your unselfishly work for creating a better San Francisco. https://t.co/QWMkkwpcNn
— Mikkel Svane (@mikkelsvane) December 12, 2017
Worked with Mayor Lee for so many years, we will miss him and his steady and pragmatic leadership. Sad day for SF. https://t.co/DkcuqsTAa0
— Jeremy Stoppelman (@jeremys) December 12, 2017
Sad to read of the passing of San Francisco mayor, Ed Lee. He worked long and hard with the tech industry for the betterment of his city...
— Ben Kepes (@benkepes) December 12, 2017
Lee became known for a policy known as the "Twitter tax break" that let companies like Twitter, Yelp, Airbnb and Zendesk avoid some $34 million in city payroll taxes to keep headquarters in a San Francisco neighborhood. Uber's headquarters are a block from Twitter.
The ride-hailing app also tweeted its condolences about Lee's death.
Everyone @Uber sends their thoughts and prayers to the family of SF Mayor Ed Lee. A huge loss for our hometown.
— Uber San Francisco (@Uber_SF) December 12, 2017
A San Francisco magazine profile from 2012 talked about Lee's "Tech Tuesday" tradition where he met with workers from SF-based companies like Yelp or Pinterest. The article noted his tech coziness, insisting, "Lee has been moving quickly to align his administration with the booming technology industry, shrugging off complaints from the city’s powerful progressives that he’s gotten too cozy with tech moguls, such as investor Ron Conway."
Others voiced criticism of the mayor's relationship with tech companies.
SF Mayor Ed Lee leaves behind a conflicted legacy in a city known for being sanctuary for immigrants and unbridled tech vultures. #RIPEdLee
— francesca fiorentini (@franifio) December 12, 2017
So sad to hear about Ed Lee. 65 is too young. I didn't always agree w/ him, particularly the way he catered to tech co's, but I remember moving to SF and thinking it was pretty cool, and rare, to live in a city with an Asian American mayor.
— 🇹🇭☃️sabrina claus ☃️🇹🇭 (@sabrina) December 12, 2017
Wow, this is a surprise. I met Ed Lee once, interviewing him about his pursuit — some say favoritism — of tech companies. San Francisco's Chinatown political machine helped elect him. Unsure of his legacy at this point. https://t.co/GnT7rFoggi
— Stu Woo (@stuwoo) December 12, 2017
Despite the differing takes on Lee's legacy, almost 40,000 tweets were posted about the mayor in the San Francisco area since his death was reported.