San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee (L) presents United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with the key to San Francisco during a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco, California June 26, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

San Francisco's City Hall was packed with around 700 attendees on Jan 8 to witness Ed Lee's inauguration ceremony for his second term as mayor of San Francisco, the major US city with the highest density of Asian Americans.

"This is a celebration of the people of San Francisco that make our city great," said Lee. "With a strong, diverse economy as the foundation for San Francisco's continuing progress, we will tackle longstanding challenges like affordable housing and homelessness while making historic investments in our schools, transportation system and public safety network."

Before the inauguration, Lee seemed cheerful as he took several family pictures with his wife and two daughters as well as other relatives and supporters.

Among the guests were Consul General of Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco Luo Linquan; US Senator Dianne Feinstein; Lt Gov Gavin Newsom and former California State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.

"I have dedicated 26 years of service to our city to make sure everyone has a chance to succeed, and I am humbled to be sworn in as mayor of the greatest city in the world for a second term," said Lee.

In his speech, Lee said his priorities are to address the city's affordable housing problems, embrace values and implement changes. He revealed plans to build or rehabilitate 30,000 homes by 2020 and called for a second underwater tunnel to Oakland and converting Caltrain from diesel to electricity.

"In San Francisco, we have a tremendous opportunity, even responsibility, to demonstrate how a successful city can also be a progressive city - a city that doesn't fear its future, but invents it. A city that doesn't resist change, but creates it," said Lee.

Emphasizing 2016 is the Year of the Monkey according to the Chinese lunar calendar, Lee said people in this year should do more things and are expected to deliver more.

Governor Jerry Brown administered the oath of office to the mayor.

junechang@chinadailyusa.com (China Daily USA 01/11/2016 page2)