Pols, public react to passing of Ed Lee

San Francisco residents awoke Tuesday morning to the jolting news that Mayor Ed Lee died at 1:11 a.m. at San Francisco Zuckerberg General Hospital. Lee was 65.

Lee’s office sent out a press release around 2:23 a.m. announcing Lee had died in a statement:

“It is with profound sadness and terrible grief that we confirm that Mayor Edwin M. Lee passed away on Tuesday, December 12 at 1:11 a.m. at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Family, friends and colleagues were at his side. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Anita, his two daughters, Brianna and Tania, and his family. In accordance with the City Charter, Board of Supervisors President London Breed became Acting Mayor of San Francisco, effectively immediately.”

Many Bay Area officials issued condolences on Twitter and Facebook, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf put out this tweet Tuesday morning:

San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said in a statement:

“Mayor Ed Lee cared deeply about our City, the safety of its people and the well-being of the men and women of the San Francisco Police Department. Our City has lost a great leader and we are shocked and saddened by his passing. During this time of sorrow, our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Anita, his daughters and his family.”

Former San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos wrote on his Facebook profile that he was shock upon hearing the news of Lee’s death:

“Shocking news about Mayor Ed Lee this morning. My heart goes out to his family. I didn’t always agree with his politics but he worked endlessly and with great attention to detail to run San Francisco. He should have had many years of happy retirement with his loved ones. Instead, the city called, and he sorted it through tremendous forces of cataclysmic change. I have only an inkling of the selfless sacrifice he made and of the pressures he endured. My deepest condolences to his wife Anita, his daughters and all who will deeply feel this great loss. Rest In peace Ed Lee.”

Here are just a few reactions from Twitter users on Tuesday morning: