San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg jointly announced this afternoon that the bi-coastal city leaders will co-host a technology summit in their respective cities.
Speaking from credit card technology company Square headquarters at 110 Fifth St. in San Francisco, the mayors announced that business and technology leaders will come together for a session on Sept. 30 in New York City, followed by a second meeting in San Francisco in early 2014.
The summit aims to tout the benefits of developing a robust tech sector in the two cities and how the industry has helped the local economy.
"We see (technology) as the foundation of economic recovery and expansion," Lee said at the meeting attended in part by dozens of Square employees.
Lee said the so-called Digital Cities Summit will show local governments how technology can have a hand in immigration, education, public health, housing, infrastructure and other issues.
Bloomberg noted how the "Big Apple," which is becoming known as the "Big App" has become a successful digital city that supports startups, innovation and intellectual capital.
"The city government and tech sector are working together to create jobs," he said.
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The East Coast mayor said he hopes the vibrant tech scenes of San Francisco and New York can spread to other American cities. He said a key component is being able to attract companies and
bright people into cities.
"The tech industry is one where business begets business," he said.
Bloomberg emphasized the high standards San Francisco and New York both have set concerning technology and economic growth.
"This city and my city are going to be major game changers," Bloomberg said.
The summit events are sponsored by sf.citi and the NYC equivalent, Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The organization sf.citi, or San Francisco Citizens Initiative for Technology and Innovation, is devoted to supporting public-private partnerships within the city's tech industry.
Bloomberg said SF and New York City are tapped into the tech community.
"When it comes to technology, we have a city government that gets it," he said.
Bloomberg is also in the Bay Area this week to speak at the Stanford University graduation ceremony Sunday.
