Google hangs with San Francisco mayor
Back in April, Travel + Leisure asked of San Francisco: Is this the world's first true 21st century city?
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom assured the magazine that San Francisco was the model of 21st century urbanism, a place that draws people from all over the world, not for Coit Tower or the cable cars, but for its values.
So, it's only natural that Google should eventually open an office here, the mayor and gubernatorial hopeful proclaimed Thursday night in officially welcoming to his city the company with the "don't be evil" slogan.
After all, nearly every other mayor in the country boasts a Google office, Newsom joked. And Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are the mayor's jet-setting buds.
"I have been beating on Larry and Sergey for years" to open an office in San Francisco. City-dwelling employees who traded city fog for the sun that beams over Google's Mountain View headquarters seemed pleased with their shorter, shuttle-less commutes.
The open house was attended by employees from all facets of Google's massive organization, including Google.org and the newbies from the Doubleclick acquisition. Headlining the event was one of Google's top executives and public faces, Marissa Mayer.
"This is a city of doers and dreamers," overflowing with technology and new-media companies drawn to a place that celebrates, not just tolerates, diversity, Newsom said, drawing applause.
Newsom is internationally known for his controversial stand on gay marriage. "Gayglers" -- gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees at Google -- organize a presence in pride parades around the world, including San Francisco.
"The values of this city are the values of Google," Newsom concluded.
Sounds good to us, what with the free food and doctor checkups. Let the pampering begin.
-- Jessica Guynn
Photo (top): Gavin Newsom. Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Photo (bottom): Larry Page, left, and Sergey Brin. Credit: Ben Margot / Associated Press
