Mayor Ed Lee dies; Breed becomes acting mayor

UPDATE: Read Tim Redmond’s live coverage of reactions at City Hall, and what will happen next.

Mayor Ed Lee has died at 65. The mayor’s death was announced outside Zuckerberg San Francisco General, where he was taken after he suffered a heart attack while shopping at his neighborhood Safeway. Lee, the 43rd mayor of San Francisco, was said to have been suffering from no previous health issues. The time of death was 1:11am.  

The announcement of the mayor’s sudden death was made at a news conference at 3:40 am by Board of Supervisors President London Breed, who also announced that she is now acting mayor. According to the SF Examiner, the news conference was attended by city officials including City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Police Chief Bill Scott, and supervisors Aaron Peskin, Jane Kim, Ahsha Safai, and Norman Yee. 

“Our thoughts are with his wife Anita, his daughters Tania and Brianna, and his entire family,” Breed said. “In accordance with the city charter, I assume the role as mayor of San Francisco effective immediately.” Breed also said there would be another press conference at City Hall at 10am today.

The mayor’s office released a statement: “It is with profound sadness and terrible grief that we confirm that Mayor Edwin M. Lee passed away on Tuesday, December 12 at 1:11 a.m. at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Family, friends and colleagues were at his side.”

We’ll have more on this story as it develops.