Election Section

SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor Willie Brown’s State of the City address Monday wasn’t as optimistic as it’s been in past years, but he said he’s confident San Francisco will rebound from the dot-com crash and current economic slump. 

Brown called the dot-com collapse an “absolute disaster,” and said the city much switch its attention from dot-coms and tourism to biotechnology. 

“The one segment of the U.S. economy that has not been touched ... and that’s the world of biotechnology,” Brown said. 

He said a new biotechnology firm just signed a 10-year lease in the city, and he’s welcoming others. 

Brown asked for a moment of silence to remember those who died in the terrorist attacks Sept. 11 and assured citizens that everything is being done to boost city security measures and come up with a positive economic strategy to help relieve the $60 million to $100 million deficit. 

“That means without touching the surplus we’re in a position to manage our city,” Brown said. 

The mayor also discussed how hard the tourism industry has been hit as a result of the attacks and slowing economy. In response, he said the city has created a tourism outreach plan that is urging people to come to San Francisco, including calling potential visitors on the phone and personally inviting them.