Muni Fix Helps Keep Levi's in San Francisco
Company to hold on to headquarters until at least 2021
Luis Villa
The renewed lease means Levi's landlord won't have to rename Levi's Plaza.
It turns out the mayor can fix Muni to make it more convenient for riders -- as long as those riders work at Levi's.
The company was considering moving from its location on Battery Street in San Francisco.
But Mayor Gavin Newsom stepped in and managed to sweeten the deal with tax breaks and other concessions in order to keep the 156-year old company in its home town.
Even his wife, Jennifer Siebel-Newsom, pitched in with a little publicity stunt of her own.
One of the selling points was a promise to work with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to make Muni service to the offices better. Muni had announced plans to reroute the 10-Townsend, the only bus with all-day service to the Levi's Plaza area on the northern waterfront, as part of service changes set for later this year.
So, yes, Levi's will be paying less in taxes and getting more in Muni service even as everyone else is paying more for less service thanks to the latest fare increase and route reductions.
Wonder if the mayor can work the same magic to keep the San Francisco 49ers in town -- a Muni party bus for the players on game day, perhaps?
Photo by Luis Villa.
Jackson West doubts the mayor would pull any strings to keep freelance writers in San Francisco.
Copyright NBC Owned Television Stations
Posted Monday, Jul 13, 2009 - 1:31 PM PST
