Dennis Herrera proposes SF office of innovation

A Q&A with San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera.

Technology has emerged as a central issue in San Francisco's mayoral race. And no wonder: It's the sector producing jobs and filling up real estate, while providing products and services that connect, entertain or enlighten many residents. But technology is also the sector generating many of the divisive policy issues of the day, like cell-phone-tower construction, AT&T's recently approved utility boxes, and the tax breaks being granted to certain young businesses. If elected mayor, Herrera says he would immediately establish an office of innovation and hire a chief digital officer. The department would be assigned to find new ways to use social media and other technology tools to improve local government's ability to interact with citizens. Herrera has also made reforming the city's payroll tax a central plank of his economic plan, an issue of great concern to technology companies, as well as other large employers.