synonymous with union square. i just want to take a moment to acknowledge all the folks behind me today. it takes a village to ensure that our community is safe vibrant and beautiful as it is today. this time last year, was very difficult for all of us, we were still in the throws of the pandemic and we were coming out of some very challenging times. in fact, throughout the country, we were seeing a rash of retail crime bu. here in san francisco, there was a response like no other. i want to thank our mayor, london breed, our police chief bill scott, for leaning in and ensuring that this was going to be not only a good year but one of the best years that we've experienced since that day here in union square. soy just want to take a moment to thank them for their leadership and all that they've done. i want to also acknowledge kate of oewd and of rec and park who's park we are in now and all the work that he and his team have done to create this welcoming and safe and enjoyable environment. this work, yes, thank yo

reporter: we saw a lot of shoppers in union square today. many say they feel safer than in years past. holiday thieves are still at work and some are calling for more police in the area. >> i feel like it is pretty calm. reporter: stephanie ramirez started her holiday shopping in union square and she was not alone. a san francisco cabdriver said he has been taking more riders here. >> more people are coming this year than last year. which is really good. reporter: many believe there is more foot traffic and more ice skaters at the rink compared to 20 20 and 2021. >> last year i felt like there was a lot of insecurity around union square. reporter: after numerous brazen robberies targeting high-end retailers rocked the city in 2021 forcing an increase in police presence around union square but on saturday we first showed you this surveillance video of four people getting out of a gray sudan -- gray sedan near union square and robbing a camera shop. days ago, the police chief william scott assured the people of additional safety measures. >> o

that union square in san francisco. we told you about the increased security and police to deter crime and theft, but there are still a large number of empty storefronts and vacant retail space. ktvu is brooks jarocz joins us now with a look at the strategies to get those businesses back. brooks the alliance just released its new strategic recovery plan. it aims to fill the vacant storefronts and bring people back to the shopping district. and that means getting creative and focusing on key priorities. deck down for the holidays. san francisco's union square is on the verge of what many hope is part revival part transformation . it is night and day out here. there are no buildings for windows boarded up, people are out and about the energy is palpable. marisa rodriguez, ceo of the union square alliance, says visitors are coming back still, foot traffic is down compared to pre pandemic and empty storefronts account for 15% in the shopping district, close to 150. he of them, so the alliance took much of this year to devel

synonymous with union square. i just want to take a moment to acknowledge all the folks behind me today. it takes a village to ensure that our community is safe vibrant and beautiful as it is today. this time last year, was very difficult for all of us, we were still in the throws of the pandemic and we were coming out of some very challenging times. in fact, throughout the country, we were seeing a rash of retail crime bu. here in san francisco, there was a response like no other. i want to thank our mayor, london breed, our police chief bill scott, for leaning in and ensuring that this was going to be not only a good year but one of the best years that we've experienced since that day here in union square. soy just want to take a moment to thank them for their leadership and all that they've done. i want to also acknowledge kate of oewd and of rec and park who's park we are in now and all the work that he and his team have done to create this welcoming and safe and enjoyable environment. this work, yes, thank yo

a camera store in san francisco's union square is closed. a sign on the window reading due to unfortunate circumstances like a store, san francisco will be temporarily closed until further notice like a camera

we find out if people feel safe shopping in union square and get an early indication about how sales are going. deadly gunfire. police killed a man in fairfield. details about what led up to the shooting and more toilet trouble for san francisco. the issue with the newest free public bathroom. abc7news is next. >> building a better bay area, moving forward and finding solutions. anchor: our concerns about crime keeping shoppers away from san francisco's union square this holiday season? that question is top of mind for retailers in the area. we begin with an su affecting the economy at cash we begin with it -- we begin with an issue affecting our economy. we gauge how holiday shopping is going and whether violent robberies are making any difference? meteorologist: we talked to a lot of people today. we thought a lot -- we saw a lot of shoppers in the square today. people say they feel much safer than in years past. but some are calling for more police in the area. >> i feel like it is pretty calm. reporter: stephanie ramirez started her holiday shopping in union square and it looks l

you remember this, crowds of shoplifters rushing stores in union square, taking off everything they could carry. this year there is a strong police presence with a mobile command center set up on each side , as well as private security. ambassadors are adding another layer of security, you may have noticed them wearing those bright blue jackets but the city has made a big focus on recruiting retired sf pd officers. lauren thoms joined a pair of ambassadors for the day in union square. >> we are out there to bring back support. >> joe garrity , more than 60 have experienced -- >> in a perfect world , you would have to 30 to 25-year-old men and women doing this in uniform . now, you've got senior citizens . >> reporter: during their 10 hour shifts, the retired squad walked thousands of steps through the union square district, monitoring activity. unlike their day as patrol officers, today, they are only armed with radios and narcan. >> we are limited in what we can do. every day is a different day. both have people stealing stuff from the stores, we try to de-escalate, tell them to put it b

how safe will it be to shop in union square? >> i love seeing that christmas tree lit up. >>> the man accused of attacking pelosi with a hammer has been indicted by a federal garage. depape is charged with assault of a u.s. official and attempted kidnapping. paul pelosi is recovering after home after undergoing surgery to fix a skull fracture. >>> a live look at melbourne florida. hurricane nicole made landfall overnight. the storm surge is unleashing severe beach erosion. up to eight inches of rain can hit some places. people are still recovering from hurricane ian. we'll have a live report from florida. >>> checking on our weather in the bay area, we are dealing with cooler temperatures. >>> it's been very chilly no matter if you are in our inland areas, north bay, even the coast with the breezy conditions. we are still under a frost advisory. this is issued by national weather service due to temperatures literally below freezing. this extends to the sacramento valley too but just keep in mind whenever these are issued, you wa

ceo who is making union square's post-pandemic recovery remain focus. attracting new tenants to fill empty retail and office space the biggest challenge. >> flexibility is the name of the game. if you want to come to union square and open three levels of retail, please do so. italy, are you listening? >> rodriguez and the mayor agreed zoning laws need to change to allow more mixed-use tenants making restaurants, retail and a museum possible under one roof calling all visionaries. >> now is the time for those of you who have any interest in doing something different, doing something creative and fun down here. now is the time to make it happen. >> the hotel industry says occupancy rates are increasing post-pandemic. >> groups that are coming are picking up. there is a lot of activity short-term. so it is a very positive environment to >> creating a safer experience is the next goal around union square. today the police presence is hard to miss after last year's smash and grab robberies at high-end retail stores that kept many frightened shoppers away. po

there's no place like union square here . this this is the heartbeat of san francisco holiday season arriving in san francisco, drawing thousands of tourists in union square of the city is making sure visitors feel safe. and what was the scene of several crime sprees last year? plus the bay area's business. busiest ports is back to normal operations this morning. we'll tell you how long truckers say it will take the catch up following the one day work stoppage organized by union workers. theft and gun violence plaguing once every cisco grocery store will tell you the latest crimes happening at the safeway grocery store. ny city leaders say they hired security is not enough. from ktvu. fox two news this morning's onto eight o'clock on the dot welcome the mornings onto i'm andres. senior good morning. i'm gasia mikaelian. it is thursday , november 3rd awfully pretty. at the back window. lots of gold and sunshine. steve paulson. i think we're all wearing our puffy jackets to work today. it's cold enough not only inland but also

we were intentional with piloting this program in union square. i'm happy to say that we met those expectations of the mayor and i firmly believe we metropolitan the expectation of everybody in that room when the mayor made that announcement. today we have 50 ambassadors. and we have a list of retirees who want to be an ambassador. in addition to union square, we have ambassadors in chinatown, fisherman's wharf and haight. mainly what they do is help us reduce harm to our community. the harms we see day in and day out. the harms that we get complaints about,mthe harms we get demanded to do something about. the harms that we as a city can make boater. better. they increase visibility and presence. they are an arm of the san francisco police department and free up personnel so they can focus on policing. ambassadors have police radios. they know how to communicate cuss. wust. they are a force multiplier in a time when our staffing has been reduced to critical lows. i'm going to read to you an example of this ambassador's program. this was an e-mail

yes, in union square right now with the opening of the holiday. >> ice skating rink, guys having their opening ceremony night. rob, you see many of those ambassadors walking around the square >> well, that you're and i hope you can hear me walking up here to the square. i saw 2 to 3 different people wearing orange bowl is an of those are the ambassadors. this area is very you've got an ice skating rink over here. everyone is excited for it to open up. and then on other side, as a whole crowd of kids are ready to head inside of that ambassador program that you're talking about london restart about a year ago to put these people at ease as well as visitors coming to the smash-and-grabs of last year's holiday season is not what san francisco wants to be known for. >> the crimes putting the city's public safety into question and adding officers to every corner of union square. mayor london breed using the city's welcome ambassador is to put visitors at ease and the eyes and ears of the streets. but they bring a friendly face to it and it's really for the purposes of making sure that everyo

a camera store in san francisco's union square is closed. a sign on the window reading due to unfortunate circumstances like a store, san francisco will be temporarily closed until further notice like a camera store on bush street was robbed during business hours on saturday. san francisco police saying about one 15 in the afternoon. the suspects entered the store. the weapons stole thousands of dollars with a product and took off in a car. the district supervisor ahsha safa e says he's tired of seeing these types of crimes frustrated. i felt for the safety of the employees. >> thought about the customers. it's not about the reputation of the city and how we need to be doing better. after a night rampant retail crime in union square about a year ago, city leaders have been trying to ensure deaths don't escalate to that level. mayor london breed launched the safe shopping initiatives to deploy more officers to reduce crime in the area. we have to ensure the safety of the workforce. >> we have to ensure trust of the people that are coming into

san francisco's union square is bustling with pre holiday activity. now city leaders are implementing a post pandemic multi step program to help the area recover, focusing on first impressions clean and safe. you do not pass go without clean and safe, that commitment to a clean and safe experience for visitors extends from union square to the powell street bart station, the station has just wrapped up a major renovation plaza is also undergoing a holiday makeover, which will feature shopping and dining options. marilyn breeds says the idea is to have a seamless good experience as visitors arrive and shop in the city. activating so many of these spaces. we have ambassadors. we have our police officers. we have eyes and ears on the streets. we have our street cleaners. i mean, this is downtown looks really magnificent. it was thanksgiving last year when brazen thieves targeted businesses around union square. police chief bill scott says multiple factors had to come together to address crime in the area, including increased security and shops, higher pol

synonymous with union square. i just want to take a moment to acknowledge all the folks behind me today. it takes a village to ensure that our community is safe vibrant and beautiful as it is today. this time last year, was very difficult for all of us, we were still in the throws of the pandemic and we were coming out of some very challenging times. in fact, throughout the country, we were seeing a rash of retail crime bu. here in san francisco, there was a response like no other. i want to thank our mayor, london breed, our police chief bill scott, for leaning in and ensuring that this was going to be not only a good year but one of the best years that we've experienced since that day here in union square. soy just want to take a moment to thank them for their leadership and all that they've done. i want to also acknowledge kate of oewd and of rec and park who's park we are in now and all the work that he and his team have done to create this welcoming and safe and enjoyable environment. this work, yes, thank yo

shoppers were out in san francisco's union square. it is a visible difference from the past few years of the pandemic. another change, an increased police presence. abc7 news reporter luz pena met up with shoppers to see what they think. luz: the christmas tree is up. the ice rink is open. the holiday cheer is all around san francisco's union square. >> very festive. the lights make it very fun. luz: we met these two as they were walking out of macy's. >> to take santa claus photos at macy's on the sixth floor. luz: from a perfect holiday photo to a perfect christmas village, this is the winter wonderland at the holiday plaza. goers were eager to be part of the program that turned this place across the bart station into a quaint christmas square. these crowns are assigned that tourism is back. a hotel manager for the hilton san francisco is noticing the uptick. >> after a couple years of sluggishness, it's nice to see union square back to where it is. luz: the small crowds will also give you a hint of something back here at union squa

it was a year ago when smash and grab robberies were making headlines in the union square area. well today, police chief bill scott says bigger police presence and the arrest of some of the most prolific retail thieves are helping to keep shoppers safe. at the same time, there's still a large number of empty storefronts and vacant space in that major retail corridor. ktvu brooks jarocz has a look now at some of the strategies to get businesses back to union square. deck down for the holidays. san francisco's union square is on the verge of what many hope is part revival, part transformation, night and day out here. there are no buildings board windows boarded up, people are out and about the energy is palpable. marisa rodriguez, ceo of the union square alliance, says visitors are coming back still, foot traffic is down compared to pre pandemic and empty storefronts account for 15% in the shopping district, close to 150. t of them. so the alliance took much of this year to develop a revitalizing recovery plan. we want to make sure that we are taking our time . of course not so mu

a popular pet holiday attraction , returning to san francisco's union square. ktvu christien kafton joining us live from the embarcadero in the city, where they're preparing to continue a longstanding holiday tradition. hi, christian. hey that holiday spirit spreading all the way from union square down here to the embarcadero and again, a sure sign that the holiday season is underway. take a look here. you can see all the folks out here at the foot of market soon the skyline here is going to be lit up with holiday cheer again, a sign that the holiday season is officially here. 21. in union square, a sure sign of the holidays was unveiled the return of the holiday windows at macy's on union square, featuring some of the cutest holiday helpers you've ever seen. the furry friends gone for two years of the pandemic, but we definitely have missed it, so it just picks up the season haven't been down the union square in a while, but we live in san francisco, so we're like check it out. the windows are cuteness cause san francisco's spock says the annual event is a way

synonymous with union square. i just want to take a moment to acknowledge all the folks behind me today. it takes a village to ensure that our

the union square christmas tree lit up for the first time this season. it means the holidays are back, but will shoppers follow? we speak to people in union square talking about whether or not people feel safe. andria? >> reporter: it was pretty empty in the streets of san francisco. two women admit those traditions may have changed a bit during the pandemic. >> i just want to enjoy life. we get one. >> reporter: the two spent their wednesday night soaking in the holiday spirit. >> it was like come on, let's get back in and fill the spirits. >> reporter: as they scoped out presents, the lights were turned on at union square. tonight is an example of our resilience. it's an example that when we are down, we are not completely out. we bounce back better and stronger than ever before. >> reporter: the impacts of the pandemic were twofold. more people turn to online shopping. in san francisco and a lot of the rest of the bay area saw an uptick in these. this smash and grab happened if november of 2020. more than half a dozen stores were hit as looters forced

it means the holidays have begun and union square, marisa rodriguez from the union square alliance says in a matter of weeks holiday plaza powell street bart station will be transformed. the aim is to make the area a welcoming place for shoppers. it's called winter wonderland, and it's going to take everyone up. through powell street to make their way to the plaza and then from the plaza. they can go shopping and do it again. so a lot of cheer, retailers say they are optimistic that shoppers will want to return to the pre pandemic rituals of shopping together to welcome the holidays in san francisco, christien kafton ktvu, fox two news back to our veterans day coverage. a new exhibit on display the uss hornet and alameda is honoring all those who served, including those that were often overlooked. the exhibit features the first african american generals and admirals, medal of honor winners and the first black female combat pilot, many of them overcoming racism and adversity , showing great courage and strength. we don't understand our past. we will have trouble with our future. basicall

there is plenty going on, ice rink at union square, plenty activities, sports games all weekend. the weather is looking pretty beautiful just in time for our first day of the week. daytime highs like yesterday are in the upper 50s and lower 60s north of the bridge closer to san rafael. as we look at futurecast, we will see a break with the clouds with more sunshine. into saturday trickled showers with the clouds are expected especially into the afternoon hours in the north bay. our friends just north of concord and even santa rosa don't be shocked if you see a sprinkle or two. it will a quick moving system and then we are left with sunshine and a beautiful week next week. we'll have more on all the events going on in a bit. back to you. >>> veterans' day ceremony got underway a short time ago in san bruno. several hundreds showed up to hear speeches and a performance by a band. one was a former helicopter pilot in the nami who is now associate dean at stanford university. >> those who serve do so without any guarantee for what the service will require though selfless sacrifice is

reporter: we saw a lot of shoppers in union square today. many say they feel safer than in years past. holiday thieves are still at work and some are calling for more police in the area. >> i feel like it is pretty calm. reporter: stephanie ramirez started her holiday shopping in union square and she was not alone. a san francisco cabdriver said he has been taking more riders here. >> more people are coming this year than last year. which is really good. reporter:

ktvu sema goss is at union square right now with more on this. good morning, emma. good morning, dave. you need square is just one of the places around san francisco, where you're sure to see san francisco's beloved welcome ambassadors and their distinctive golden gate orange jackets yesterday, san francisco's mayor london breed announced that the program for the ambassadors has been so successful since launching last october that 150 more ambassadors and attendance are coming to the city. some are wearing those bright orange jackets and welcome ambassadors are giving people directions, offering restaurant and sightseeing recommendations and being a friendly introduction to san francisco union square alliance of merchants and business owners also have ambassadors in blue jackets, helping to handle issues so police can focus on more serious issues. other ambassadors also serve as bart service attendance , mayor reed said the ambassadors program is one of the initiatives she's most proud of bringing to the city. we are not going to continue to let everyone determine w

it means the holidays have begun in union square, marisa rodriguez from the union square alliance says in a matter of weeks holiday plaza powell street bart station will be transformed. the aim is to make the area a welcoming place for shoppers. it's called winter wonderland, and it's going to take everyone up. through powell street to make their way to the plaza and then from the plaza. they can go shopping and do it again. so a lot of cheer, retailers say they're optimistic that shoppers will want to return to the pre pandemic rituals of shopping together to welcome the holidays in san francisco, christien kafton ktvu fox two news, san francisco and upscale clothing chain store has reopened in san francisco's hayes valley. cotopaxi is back in business with a full time security and increased police. patrols in the area. the company ceo has apologized for the statement. he made the announcement closure of the store three weeks ago ahead of the midterm elections. ceo davis smith claimed that he was forced to close due to what he called the rampant retail theft in san francisco. smith's

that's what san francisco leaders are hoping to do to make union squar >> all right. time for a look at the forecast as we take this beautiful view, looking live over san francisco in what's been a really lovely tuesday and breeze about rig is standing by to tell us it will have a lovely wednesday. yeah, it's going to be great. in fact, today was certainly a mild one. thanks to those offshore winds, those warm, dry diablo breezes actually warmed up our warmest inland valleys into the low 70's. and we should be in the mid 60's this time of year. so easily, 5 degrees above average for oakland conquered and even santa rosa. and we're going to see another round of those offshore winds tonight through your wednesday morning. and that's going help warm up our overnight low. so we're tracking more 40's from now. until then, though, very clear, calm night out there in the bay area. temperatures seeing a lot more 50's as opposed to last night's 40's 30's that are already popping up in the north bay. right now, fairfax, the chilliest location, as is napa in the upper 40's at 48

rob nesbitt does in union square. we're going to have an opening ceremony tonight for the holiday ice skating rink. >> rob, have you seen any of the in the square tonight? >> catherine, i have as i was walking on ice skating rink which is now open. you can see everybody behind and join the ic. i saw 3 or different closer to welcoming walking around and make people feel safe a program that mayor london breed started last year. >> the smash and grabs of last year's holiday season is not what san francisco wants to be known for. the crimes, putting the city's public safety into question and adding officers to every corner of union square. mayor london breed using the city's welcome ambassadors to put visitors at ease. and so far it's working put a smile people's face. i just to the pitcher with the visitors. she said, i just got help from this guy here. and i was wondering what was going on. and she said, i can tell you, this is a great program. we love this program. the program celebrating one year and tracking over 4 m

what a beautiful, sunny welcoming day here in union square. [applause] we are in the heart of san francisco, the crown rule,

. >>> and taking a live look at san francisco's union square this morning, where the city kicked off the holiday shopping season. the mayor announced a new partnership with businesses to keep downtown safe and clean. not only during the holidays, but year round. >> we have a larger, both uniform and you know, those who are undercover, who are going to be out here, who have been out here, making sure that we are addressing a lot of the public safety concerns. >>> the mayor also announcing 150 new community beds will be deployed throughout the city and downtown bart stations. some of them are retired police officers. >> reporter: this gentleman is a wheelchair user. he just got out of the hospital. >> so i called the union square dispatch and they are going to call the crisis response team to come out. it is human dignity. he needs services. >> reporter: the beds don't carry weapons, but they do have radios and narcan to treat drug users who overdose on the streets. the da's office and police are working to prevent a repeat of the rash of retail robberies, like last year. >>> the city

. >> the holidays are in san francisco's union square. we're asking shoppers if they feel safe and ready for the shopping season. >>> and it's almost here, black panther rakunda forever hits theaters this week. and thanks for the warriors, hundreds of students in oak hrabd oakland are getting a sneak peak. >> we're speaking to the executive director about the event about the inperson's return. >> david depape is charged with assault of a u.s. official and attempted kidnapping. he faces decade in prison if convicted. this comes after the richmond man pleaded not guilty to state charges of attempted murder, burglary and elder abuse. pelosi is recovering at home after under going surgery for a skull fracture. >>> hurricane nicole's storm surge is unleashing severe beach erosion. people are still recovering from hurricane ian. here's jess with a look at our local weather. >> here in the bay area it's mostly sunny as we extend into this afternoon. we will have high cloud pushing through for our friday forecast but nonetheless these temperature

despite breed's announcement a camera shot near union square. it was the target of a robbery early saturday afternoon and kron four's met. harry has an update now on what is happening with that story. how leaders are trying to make the city safer. >> after night to rampant retail crime in union square about a year ago. city leaders have been trying to ensure thefts don't escalate to that level, but some are still happening. san francisco police say saturday at about one 15 in the afternoon. officers responded to like a camera store on bush street for robbery. the victims told police the suspect entered the store with weapons, stole thousands of dollars of the product and took off in a car. the district supervisor ahsha safa e says he's tired of seeing these types of crimes, frustrated. i felt for the safety of the employees. >> thought about the customers. it's not about the reputation of the city and how we need to be doing better. the crime happened during the store's business hours. now there's a sign on the window saying they're closed. it s

san francisco's union square is bustling with pre holiday activity. now city leaders are implementing a post pandemic multi step program to help the area recover, focusing on first impressions clean and safe. you do not pass go without clean and safe commitment to a clean and safe experience for visitors extends from union square to the powell street bart station, the station has just wrapped up a major renovation. holiday plaza is also undergoing a holiday makeover, which will feature shopping and dining options. maryland breeds says the idea is to have a seamless good experience as visitors arrive and shop in the city activating so many of these spaces. we have ambassadors. we have our police officers. we have eyes and ears on the streets. we have our street cleaners. i mean, this is downtown looks really magnificent. it was thanksgiving last year when brazen thieves targeted businesses around union square police chief bill scott says multiple factors had to come together to address crime in the area, including increased security and shops. higher p

san francisco's union square holiday ice rain held its grand opening tonight the city is open. it will draw people to shop and support the downtown area. this has the city does ramp up security to prevent crime and keep the upcoming holiday season a safe one. ktvu is jana katsuyama has the story. cable cars climbing to the stars aren't the only attraction now at san francisco's union square. grand opening of the ice rink wednesday evening brought out little ice skating princesses. this is the heartbeat of san francisco and the december cisco people love this ring. it's the 15th year of the ice rink, a partnership between san francisco safeway and kaiser permanente to draw families, shoppers and tourists into the downtown business district. the main message is fun and safety to back up that message. the city is devoting extra resources to the area. in attempt to avoid last year string of smash and grab thefts at several high end union square shops. we've increased the police presence. we have retired police officers who are down here as ambassadors , the city's ambassador progra

plus, san francisco's union square. pretty busy this weekend. what shoppers had to say about how safe they felt and soccer fans know where to go. catch all the action report from san francisco's world cup village next. you run a small business, u need the most from ery investment. at's why comcast business ves you more. re innovation... th our new gig-speed wi-fi, us unlimited data. re speed... from the largest, stest, reliable network... d more savavgs- to 60% a year th comcast business mobile. l from the company that wers more businesses an any other provider. t started with fast speeds d advanced security r $49.99 a month r 12 months. us ask how to get up a $750 prepaid card th a qualifying bundle. pre-rinsing your dishes? you could be using the wrong detergent. and wasting up to 20 gallons of water. skip the rinse with finish quantum. its activelift technology provides an unbeatable clean on 24 hour dried-on stains. skip the rinse with finish to save our water. okay care coalition, alaska airlines is still frontrunner for most caring airline

big screen was the source of excitement in san francisco's union square. three games, all eyes were on the goal of kicking heavily favored england to the sidelines as minute by minute ticked away. fans were getting fired up. it's amazing. it's just amazing to be in this crowd of people see all the flags and you know it's just the energy. that's years. it's the third time the teams have met on soccer's biggest stage. the u. s famously won in 1950. then it was a drawing 2010, which brings us to friday after missing out on the 2018 world cup. it just feels good to be back. you know, they got to the second youngest team in the tournament, so get some experience under our belts and coming for it. in 2026. scoreless at intermission, the crowded union square rally. it's absolutely electric. let me just start by saying look around the crowd were getting crazy. right now. we're going to beat england soon it was clear. this game was a nail biter. and even the eagle was on edge. my heart is still palpitating. it hasn't quite calm down yet in the end a draw but not to

that is where union square officers were here. leah melendez explains why it may be the safest place in the city. >> sure, union square has picturesque views and the number of attractions worthy of visiting but convincing people that it is safe has been a challenging task for the city. >> i know that oftentimes there are a number of videos that continue to go viral that try to paint overly harsh picture of our beautiful city. i am here to tell you that things have changed. >> a year ago, the nation witnessed a city in chaos as leaders were caught on camera stealing and vandalizing high-end retail stores. it quickly force the city to focus on security and the city's tarnished image. >> during the holiday season, you could not come to this area without bumping into a police officer. that is what will happen this year. grace the board of supervisors approved more funds for police overtime. this year, the union square alliance has added people on the ground, the welcome ambassadors and unarmed retired police officers will assist law e

we are excited for a big blow out in union square. of course, winter market and the ice rink is opening today. yes it is opening today i know you will all be there i want to thank our mayor for all of her support and all of you. it does not happen without great vision. i want to thank you, mayor and certainly to our board of supervisors for recognizing the importance of that, too. we do better when we work together. our ambassador in blue appreciate you in union square. thank you so much. with this i like to welcome up moanna. [applause]. >> hello i'm moanna saul [inaudible]. and i have been with the welcome ambassador program since the beginning. one year ago. when i applied for this position, as a welcome ambassador i did not know what to expect. all i knew was i was going to make a difference i look forward to greeting commuters on their way to work. school kids crowding the 30 and 8 bus. saying hello to cable car conductors and welcoming our visitors to the great city of san francisco. i think that this program is important becaus

on union square, featuring some of the cutest holiday helpers you've ever seen. the furry friends gone for two years of the pandemic, but we definitely have missed it, so it just picks up the season haven't been down the union square in a while, but we live in san francisco, so we're like i'll check it out. the windows are cuteness for a cause. san francisco's spock says the annual event is a way for them to connect puppies and kittens with their forever families. this year is a little bit different. it's a mix of the digital plus the life but we expect to adopt probably close to 500 animals this month between being here at macy's and our adoption center admission. and there are volunteers on hand, even if passersby can't bring home a furry friend if we're not able to, um adult right now, um, you can leave a little donation and the animals and we will will be great really appreciate it on the embarcadero , the 36th annual building lighting ceremony and carnival got underway. there were photo ops with the characters from frozen games and even a visit from saint ni