Lecturer David Lee Comments on Passing of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee

KPCC-FM (LOS ANGELES) -- David Lee, a Political Science lecturer at San Francisco State University, was a friend of Edwin Lee. He said the mayor was not a politician but a San Franciscan, first and foremost.

“He had a reputation for being a fierce advocate for community,” Lee said. “He fought for more affordable housing at a time when Chinese were marginalized in the city.”

Ed Lee also worked to encourage more Asian-Americans to vote and run for office. Just a week before his death, the mayor was concerned about the lack of Asian-American leadership in government at a time when Asians make up a third of San Francisco's population, David Lee said.