President Obama lands in Bay Area to attend cybersecurity summit
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - President Obama arrived in the Bay Area Thursday evening to attend a cyber-security summit Friday and raise money for the Democratic Party.
Air Force One landed at SFO about 5:15 p.m. Thursday. It is familiar ground for President Obama who has been a frequent flier and fundraiser in the Bay Area.
The President waved to the welcome party as he emerged from the plane, accompanied by Bay Area Congressional representatives Zoe Lofgren, Anna Eshoo, and Eric Swalwell.
Dozens of people including Mayor Ed Lee and some military family members greeted the President and took photos before he got into a black SUV and was whisked away to San Francisco.
The President will be staying two nights at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Police blocked the streets around the hotel. Security is tight and police are positioned at every corner around the building.
"We kind of feel like we're staying in the White House for the next two nights," said Lindsay Woolrich, a Houston teacher who is staying at the Fairmont Hotel.
About 1,300 teachers are attending a national teacher's conference at the Fairmont this week. They say they learned about the President's visit two days ago.
"They notified us to let us know there was a high profile guest staying at our hotel," said Rachel Nunez, a conference attendee from Houston.
"A whole lot of security, police everywhere, the hotel's been very accommodating though." said Karen Dupree, a hotel guest.
"They've closed all the entrances from the restaurants and all the street entrances to the hotel and we have to go through the main entrance through a metal detector," said Diane Blackman, another hotel guest.
The President is expected to use Marine One to fly down to Stanford University Friday for a White House Summit on Cyber Security.
It's an issue that President Obama has been pushing into the national spotlight with the declaration earlier this week that there will be a new agency created to address cyber security.
About 1,500 people are expected to attend Friday's summit, including Silicon Valley leaders such as Apple CEO Tim Cook.
The President plans to hold a roundtable discussion after the summit with business leaders.
The President will return to San Francisco Friday evening for a fundraising dinner at the Russian Hill home of Sandy Robertson, a prominent tech investor, and his wife Jeanne.
They're expecting up to 60 donors. A seat at the table ranges from $10,000 per person for dinner and a photo with the President to $32,400 per couple to be listed as a co-chair.
On Nob Hill, police will be stationed around the Fairmont Hotel for the duration of the President's stay.
The President is scheduled to leave the Bay Area Saturday and head down to Palm Springs.