Many high-profile attendees are not expected to arrive in San Francisco until Wednesday; however, lane closures on the Bay Bridge and other roadway impacts have taken effect, with traffic backing up to Richmond during Tuesday morning’s commute.

Throughout the week organizers are expecting protests small and big to break out around the conference. 

Latest updates:

U.S., Japan leaders issue joint statement on agreements

Leaders of Japan and the U.S. issued a joint statement saying they held bilateral discussions Tuesday at APEC to enhance the "rules-based international economic order and making our economies more competitive and resilient." The leaders were Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko; Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi; U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken; and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

They addressed more than a dozen topics, including efforts to fight climate change and advance peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. The economic leaders also said they would be monitoring export restrictions on "critical minerals which could significantly affect production of solar panels, semiconductors, and other essential inputs for electric vehicles, computers, and smart devices."

Also discussed were Japan's practice of releasing water from nuclear power plants, saying International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international experts have found Japan's practices to be safe, science-based, and transparent.

Other topics included building transparent, resilient, and sustainable supply chains; concerns about cybersecurity, export controls, food security, energy security, biotechnology and personal data protection and privacy.

Biden on Trump: 'Damn, he shouldn't be president'

President Biden denounced former President Donald Trump during a fundraiser in San Francisco tonight, saying he shouldn’t be president, and Trump’s racist remarks were similar to what was heard in Nazi Germany.

“There’s a lot of reasons to be against Donald Trump but, damn, he shouldn’t be president,” he said.

Biden also criticized Trump for his verbal attacks on Nancy and Paul Pelosi, the same week Paul Pelosi’s attacker took the stand in his criminal trial.

“On more than one occasion in recent weeks, he’s made a joke about the assaults on Nancy Pelosi’s husband,” Biden said. “There’s no place in America for political violence.”

Biden tried to inject a note of optimism among troubling polls for Democrats that show lagging approval ratings.

“At the start of last week, everybody was telling us that if (Kentucky) Governor Andy Beshear lost, Republicans won the Virginia House and the Senate, the Constitutional right to choose went down in Ohio, if that had occurred it would have been a very bad day for Joe Biden. You remember all that? But here’s the funny part. Beshear won, Republicans in Virginia lost the House and Senate, Ohio enshrined in the constitution the right to choose. Sounds like a pretty good day for Joe Biden.”

Biden, Harris attend fundraiser at Merchants Exchange building

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris arrived at The Merchants Exchange building Tuesday evening as pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated outside the building.

Biden and Harris mingled with dignitaries and politicians including Mayor London Breed and former Mayor Willie Brown, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Clint Reilly, a political consultant and mayoral candidate who became a commercial real estate developer. Reilly and his wife, Janet, co-hosted the event and own the building.

“It is indeed good to be home,” Harris said after a standing ovation. She spoke from the stage lit in blue.

Harris said she joked with Newsom that between the two of them they could identify many of the building’s rooms just by feel and with their eyes closed because they’d spent so many days and nights gathering at events with the owners over the years.

She also described the current political climate across America and fighting Republican “extremists” who have threatened reproductive rights and the right to vote.

“This election is a fight for our most fundamental freedoms,” she said. “We have a responsibility, dare I say a duty, to preserve and protect our nation’s most sacred ideals, freedoms, liberty and justice.”

Protest crowd disbands after three-hour gathering

The crowd that gathered in San Francisco to demand a cease-fire in Gaza began to disband shortly before 8 p.m.

Protest march returns to Market Street

About an hour after Market Street reopened to Muni buses, protesters — who had left Market Street to march on side streets — returned to Market Street and were marching westbound. Among the protest participants was San Francisco resident Jay Lyon, 71, who said, “It is obscene that in this very city that we have people sleeping in the street when billions is sent to murder people with weapons. I am a Jew and I have never been prouder than I am now. So many Jews hate the occupation, we are not zionists. We hate the fact that zionists pretend that all the Jews in the world are on their side. The Jewish religion honors justice. And Zionism is not justice.” Read the full story here.

Gwen Stefani to perform at APEC following allegations of cultural appropriation

Pop singer and “The Voice” star Gwen Stefani, set to headline a reception for APEC leaders on Wednesday, has long faced criticism for perpetuating perceived stereotypes of Japanese people in her marketing and use of backup dancers.

Paul Osaki, executive director of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, told the Chronicle that if summit organizers “want representation of the Japanese culture at the reception, there are several Japanese cultural performing arts groups that are more authentic, not stereotypical and of actual Japanese ancestry.”  Osaki also expressed disappointment that neither Biden nor Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had announced plans to visit the historic district during APEC. Full story here.

Muni buses blocked by protest march on Market Street

SFMTA rerouted several Muni routes after marching protesters blocked buses traveling on Market Street, SFMTA said. It recommended using underground subway service.

Traffic snarls in downtown San Francisco

As a protest began on Market and Powell streets after the first main day of the APEC summit, nearby streets in South of Market and Nob Hill were already clogged with traffic, according to 511.org. Traffic is also moving slow on Highway 101 North from Cesar Chavez to the entrance of the Bay Bridge, partly because of the closure of the far right lane of Interstate 80 on the bridge.

War protest on Market Street begins

Hours after President Biden arrived in San Francisco, protesters gathered at the intersection of Market and Powell streets to demand a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and an end to all U.S. aid for Israel. The protest organized by several Bay Area pro-Palestinian groups is one of many seeking to gain Biden’s attention. 

Additional protests are planned for Wednesday, when some 1,200 CEOs are scheduled to meet.

Muni warns of train switchbacks

The N Judah and T Third trains switched back for a short spell at Embarcadero Station on Tuesday afternoon, as world leaders arrived in San Francisco for the summit. While the switchbacks ended around 4 p.m., Muni warned that “similar switchbacks remain possible later in the day.”

Where Janet Yellen is eating

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has been spotted at several well known Bay Area dining establishments since arriving in the area for APEC. A manager at Chez Panisse confirmed that the former UC Berkeley professor dined at the restaurant Friday, and today she was seen economizing with a trip to In-N-Out, reportedly on her way to the airport to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Read more here about Yellen’s trip to Chez Panisse and In-N-Out.

Popular bakery far from exclusion zone closing temporarily

Citing APEC disruptions and unexpectedly slow business, a number of well known S.F. food businesses have decided to temporarily close — including bakery B. Patisserie, on California and Divisadero, which is shutting on Wednesday and Thursday due to parking restrictions on California and Pine streets. Read more about the closures here.

Xi lands in SF

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at San Francisco International Airport Tuesday afternoon, where he was received by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, according to NBC Bay Area. Hundreds of people waving Chinese flags stood at Third Street by the Moscone Center, as the motorcade rolled past.  — Roland Li

Inside the International Media Center at Moscone

The sprawling Moscone North press room has space for the over 1,500 journalists expected to attend APEC. Features include a cable car for television spots, samples of local snacks including Thatcher’s popcorn and chicharrones from 4505 Burgers and BBQ, an Asian Art Museum both and a free book shelf from the Pubic Library. Google also has a promotional booth with screens showing artificial intelligence products, and Meta has a virtual reality station where attendees can its headset. — Roland Li

Bay Bridge commuters appeared to heed warnings

With the Bay Bridge surrendering one of its five lanes to APEC security Tuesday morning, traffic predictably stalled, with an I-80 backup that stretched about 17 miles at one point. But it could have been far worse. According to figures from the Bay Area Toll Authority, traffic across the bridge was down about 26% between midnight and noon Tuesday heading into San Francisco compared to totals a year ago.

Between midnight and 5 a.m., hourly traffic counts were up slightly over last year. But when it counted — during the brunt of the morning commute — they fell sharply.  During the busiest hour of the commute, between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., nearly 2,000 fewer drivers crossed the bay. Between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., about 2,300 fewer cars passed through the toll plaza.

Lane closures on the bridge will continue through Friday at 9 p.m. — Michael Cabanatuan

Biden, Xi reportedly meeting at Filoli Estate

President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping plan to meet Wednesday at the Filoli estate in San Mateo County, according to Voice of America. Filoli is a popular visitor attraction on the Peninsula. It was formerly owned by a wealthy family and features a large house with extensive grounds that include orchards and gardens. The Filoli website says that the estate, which is normally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, is “closed Nov. 13-15 while we deck the halls for the holidays!” Read more here about Filoli and the Biden-Xi meeting.

Biden greeted by Newsom, Breed

President Biden deplaned from Air Force One around 1:29 pm. After walking down the stairs from the aircraft, he was greeted by Gov. Gavin Newsom, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Mayor London Breed and Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo. Biden spent a few minutes speaking to them on the tarmac before his motorcade left at about 1:37pm.

Air Force One touches down

President Biden arrived at SFO at 1:16 p.m., after departing the Washington area at 11:35 a.m. The flight was uneventful, according to a pool report, with a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline as the plane descended.

Harris arrives at SFO

Vice President Kamala Harris has arrived at San Francisco International Airport. Air Force Two landed about 12:50 pm. Harris could be spotted exiting the plane about 10 minutes later. She was greeted by Mayor London Breed. President Biden is expected to touch down shortly in Air Force One.

Iowa farmers reportedly invited to dinner with Xi in Bay Area

A group of Iowans who once hosted President Xi Jinping in their homes and farms, decades before he became China’s premier, have been invited to a dinner he will attend in the Bay Area after the APEC conference, according to Bloomberg. At the time, in 1985, he visited the country as part of a food processing delegation, and the invitation is a sign of his diplomatic efforts toward the United States, the report said.

With APEC protests, Biden faces California-sized preview of 2024 challenges

Bay Area protesters are sending a message that they don’t believe Biden is doing enough to support Palestinians in the battle between Israel and Hamas. The potential result could reverberate at home as well as internationally: 46% of people disapprove of the way Biden is handling the Mideast conflict, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center poll out last week.

Activists drape “Stop Palestinian genocide” banner over the Vermont Street overpass

Commuters slogging through traffic on Highway 101 this morning may have seen a green and red “Stop Palestinian genocide” banner, meant to draw attention as world leaders gather for the APEC conference. — Rachel Swan

After armed robbery, Czech journalists meet Breed

City leaders rallied around two Czech public television journalists who were robbed at gunpoint Sunday evening in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood. Local news stations offered to donate equipment; Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin proposed dinner and a guided walking tour; and local news stations tried to donate equipment, to replace more than $18,000 in stolen gear. The TV crew also got an exclusive interview with Mayor London Breed, during which they kept the conversation focused on APEC. 

Israel-Hamas peace vigil timed for Biden’s arrival in San Francisco

A few dozen women gathered outside the federal office building in Civic Center at noon Tuesday for a peace vigil in memory of mothers and children killed in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, ahead of President Biden’s visit.

The group held signs saying “Mom’s Vigil for Peace” in Spanish, English and Arabic. Organizers made clear they are not protesting anything and are not political; rather, they gathered chiefly to mourn the tragedy subjected to innocent children and mothers. “We are all here together to mourn the loss of the innocent children and mothers who have died,” said 18-year-old Malak Alameri, who translated for mothers speaking in Arabic. “We are here for moms and children that have died, not for one side or another. Peace for all is all we’re asking.”  — Aldo Toledo

Conditions drier than expected

After lighter-than-expected rainfall in San Francisco and Oakland overnight, bulk shower activity around the area is expected to gradually taper off by noon, with mostly cloudy skies and a slight chance of drizzle in the afternoon and evening across the Bay Area. Light rain could persist in the North Bay, but the rest of the region will remain dry overnight and into Wednesday morning, when another round of rain is set to arrive. — Gerry Díaz

Gwen Stefani to headline Biden’s welcome reception in S.F.

Pop superstar Gwen Stefani is set to perform at the welcome reception for APEC leaders at an event hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on Wednesday, sources close to the event confirmed. Noteworthy dignitaries, including Vice President Kamala Harris, accompanied by Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, are scheduled to be in attendance, alongside various members of the Democratic party and other visitors. Stefani, best known as the former lead vocalist of No Doubt whose solo career has garnered acclaim with hits such as “Hollaback Girl” and “The Sweet Escape,” will perform at the exclusive event with a group of backup dancers.

After a slow commute, traffic eases up

Traffic across the newly four-lane Bay Bridge got off to an excruciatingly slow start for commuters this morning. But the backup at the toll plaza had eased to nearly normal conditions by 9:15 a.m. and traffic flowed across the bridge at close to the 50 mph speed limit. On the right side of the bridge, orange traffic cones blocked off a lane with CHP vehicles parked every half mile or so. Traffic also seemed to flow inside San Francisco by mid-morning after a sluggish start. Many streets South of Market are fenced off and closed but officers directed traffic through the area toward downtown.

Tomorrow brings a bigger challenge as Caltrans closes off-ramps into SOMA at Fifth and Sixth streets beginning at 5 a.m., and the security zone around Moscone Center blocks most vehicles from entering the area bounded by Market, Harrison, Second and Fifth Streets.

Eyes on fentanyl crisis during conference

As President Biden arrives in San Francisco for APEC, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and other mayors sent Congressional leaders a letter urging them to approve his proposed $2.7 billion in supplemental funding to address the country’s fentanyl crisis. U.S. officials hope that Biden’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the conference will provide an opportunity to discuss how to combat fentanyl trafficking.

Bay Bridge off-ramps close

The off-ramp at 4th Street from eastbound I-80 and the westbound one at 5th Street have closed for the day, according to the California Highway Patrol. They are scheduled to reopen at 9pm.

Chinese leader en route to San Francisco

China’s state media reported on Tuesday evening local time that President Xi Jinping had departed Beijing. His arrival time in San Francisco was not immediately clear, but flights from Beijing to SFO generally take over 11 hours. Xi last visited the U.S. in 2017.

Protests take to the skies

A plane is circling the skies above Moscone Center towing a banner reading: “End CCP, Free China, Free HK, Free Tibet, Free Ughur.”
Few of the people below, whether suit and badge wearing delegates or dungaree-clad laborers, seem to be paying or much attention. — Michael Cabanatuan

Political leaders are arriving

The president of Vietnam touched down shortly before 9am. President Biden is expected to arrive around 1:40 p.m., 40 minutes after Vice President Harris. Many more world leaders are expected today and tomorrow.

Some court services curtailed

While San Francisco Superior Court remains open during APEC, according to court spokesperson Ann Donlan, the court clerk’s office will close at noon this week, though drop boxes will remain open for filings until 4 p.m. An office that provides in-person assistance to people who are acting as their own lawyers in court cases is also curtailed: The court said its ACCESS Center (Assisting Court Customers with Education and Self-Help Services) would be closed Tuesday and Thursday. Self-represented parties can still get help by phone, at 415-551-0605, between 8 and 11:30 a.m. on those days, or by connecting to LiveChat from noon to 3 p.m. here. The center offers information but not legal advice. — Bob Egelko

What to expect in terms of protests Tuesday and Wednesday

Palestinian liberation protesters are planning demonstrations throughout the week, including on Tuesday at 5 p.m. on the corner of Market and Powell Streets, hours after President Joe Biden is set to arrive in San Francisco.

The biggest protests could come on Wednesday, when protesters near checkpoints and police barriers will try to prevent people from entering the APEC CEO summit.

Meanwhile, a separate demonstration is planned for outside the Chinese Consulate in the Western Addition on Wednesday, organized by Students for a Free Tibet and other China-skeptic organizations. That’s the day Biden is set to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a bilateral meeting. 

Students at UC Berkeley are also planning a protest against the APEC Study Center’s Consortium Conference, the annual gathering of all APEC Study Centers from around the world. At 8 a.m. Wednesday, students are set to sit-in and protest the conference, with a follow-up teach-in later in the day.

Towing could ramp up during APEC

With abundant street closures and detours during APEC, the chance of getting your illegally parked car towed in San Francisco are sure to increase. The SFMTA is offering tips on where to park, and where not to park. And you can sign up to get a text before you get towed (in certain circumstances) here. — Michael Cabanatuan

Ferris Wheel now operating at Fisherman’s Wharf 

Traffic continues to crawl into San Francisco | 8:41 a.m.

With one of the five westbound lanes of the Bay Bridge closed, traffic is slower than usual, creeping toward the toll plaza and beyond. It eases slightly after Yerba Buena Island but continues to be slow onto the skyway.

The lane closure, part of the security plans for the APEC meetings in San Francisco, started at 5 a.m. — just in time for the morning commute. By 7 a.m., traffic was backed up well beyond the toll plaza to El Cerrito on Interstate 80. An hour later, the backup extended into Richmond and the slowdown continued to grow.

Traffic on the 580 and 880 approaches is lighter but, of course, slows and stops as it merges into the toll plaza. Road closures around Moscone Center, where most of the APEC events will take place, have not been fully put in place, but traffic is moving slowly heading into the downtown area from the Skyway.

Starting tomorrow, things are likely to get worse. At 5 a.m., the I-80 off-ramps into the South of Market area — Fifth Street westbound and Fourth Street eastbound — will be closed, and the so-called vehicle exclusion zone bound by Market and Harrison and Second and Fifth streets will take effect. — Michael Cabanatuan

S.F.’s approach to homelessness ahead of APEC

The city didn’t open any new shelters specifically because of APEC, but it did launch its nighttime winter shelter program. The program rotates among different sites, with the first at Natoma and Eighth streets offering space for 30 people to sleep overnight. City officials are also in the process of adding 300 beds to existing shelters in the coming months, but it’s still not clear how many of those will be available this week during APEC.

In the days leading up to the conference, the city tried to be aggressive about clearing encampments from some well-known hot spots while working within the bounds of a federal injunction that limits San Francisco’s ability to remove tent camps without offering unhoused residents adequate shelter. — J.D. Morris 

Biden and Xi to unveil fentanyl crackdown effort in S.F.

President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are reportedly set to announcement an agreement Wednesday cracking down on the manufacture and exportation of fentanyl from Beijing, according to Bloomberg.

The two presidents have a planned meeting scheduled on Tuesday during APEC in San Francisco. The deal would allow China to crackdown on companies that make the chemicals for the deadly drug in exchange for the U.S. lifting restrictions on China’s forensic police institute, Bloomberg reported. — Jessica Flores

Traffic backing up on Bay Bridge, deep into East Bay | 7:35 a.m.

With APEC gearing up, traffic is backing up — as expected.

As part of the security plan for the international trade conference in San Francisco, a lane in each direction of the Bay Bridge has been shut down — and with predictable results — especially in the westbound direction.

Traffic on Interstate 80, always sluggish in the morning, was backed up through El Cerrito and into Richmond. Slick roads from light rain this morning was also slowing traffic. — Michael Cabanatuan 

Biden to meet with Xi in San Francisco on Wednesday 

President Joe Biden is meeting with Chinese President Xi Jingping on Wednesday and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Friday during APEC this week, according to White House officials.

It was not immediately clear where these meetings will happen. Biden’s schedule  through Friday is also packed with lunches, dinners and meetings with world leaders at the international conference in San Francisco. Biden leaves San Francisco on Friday, White House officials said. — Jessica Flores

Biden, Harris arrive in S.F. today  

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will arrive in San Francisco Tuesday afternoon for the APEC conference. 

Harris, a former San Francisco District Attorney, will arrive at 1 p.m. Biden will arrive 40 minutes later, according to White House officials. 

Both are scheduled to attend a campaign reception Tuesday evening. 

APEC forecast: What to expect from the weather today | 6:57 a.m.

The Bay Area is in for some wet days this week, just in time for APEC. Don’t forget that raincoat, because the forecast calls for lines of showers with occasional heavy rainfall Tuesday morning. The cloudy skies and showers will keep temperatures in the upper 60s throughout San Francisco. Rain will gradually taper off by the evening.

Wednesday is when things get a bit more stormy in San Francisco. Heavier showers are expected to arrive in the afternoon, continuing into the evening. There’s a slight chance of a rumble of thunder or two. Rainfall totals are likely to surpass half an inch, leading to some ponding on roads.

Rain is expected to become more intermittent by the last day of APEC. That said, you’ll want to keep an umbrella handy because pesky pop up showers are in the forecast through Saturday.

Traffic headaches could get worse today | 6:40 a.m.

The traffic and transit tie-ups that threaten to clog San Francisco during APEC could grow worse today as a lane on each deck of the Bay Bridge closes along with freeway off-ramps serving the South of Market and downtown and the first of two “vehicle exclusion zones” begins restricting travelers in and around Nob Hill.

One lane in each direction on the Bay Bridge will be closed to general traffic at 5 a.m. this morning and is expected to remain closed until Friday at 9 p.m. The right lane of the westbound upper deck and the left lane of the eastbound lower deck are closing to allow for traffic monitoring and quick access for law enforcement officers.

The daily closures of  the Fourth and Fifth street off-ramps from the Skyway in SOMA will also shut down starting from 5 a.m.-9 p.m. and continuing daily through Friday. The ramps will be open overnight.

The secured zone around the Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill is also expected to be in full effect by this morning. Only authorized vehicles, including those of residents and business owners, will be allowed into the area — and only after identification checks and vehicle inspections.   

The large “vehicle exclusion zone” around Moscone Center is expected to impact traffic beginning at 10 p.m. Tuesday but to be in full effect by Wednesday morning.

Along with the vehicle restrictions, several Muni bus lines have been rerouted, two stations on the Central Subway have been shut down, the California cable car has been halted and the Powell cable car lines are no longer climbing half way to the stars, instead traveling only between Washington Street and Fisherman’s Wharf. — Michael Cabanatuan

What’s happened so far at APEC, and what to expect Tuesday | 6:23 a.m.

World leaders and other officials from 21 economies have been meeting throughout the Moscone Center starting Saturday, with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen chairing the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting at the beginning of the week.

Meetings including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Trade Representative Katherine Tai will continue on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the parallel APEC CEO Summit 2023 will hold its opening reception on Tuesday, with the main conference taking place at Moscone West on the following two days. Some 1,200 CEOs are expected to attend, including speakers including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Tesla, SpaceX and X chief Elon Musk. — Roland Li

Protest slogans light up S.F. Ferry Building

A light show of phrases including “Ceasefire now” and “Stop bombing children” lit up San Francisco’s Ferry Building Monday night as the third day of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit came to a close. 

The political protest was not the only light show in downtown San Francisco Monday night, as local groups also organized lasers to beam across Market Street, cast from Harry Bridges Plaza by the Ferry Building.

The $150,000 Market Street lasers are set to shine sunset to sunrise, Monday night through Friday morning, according to organizers. 

Who is attending APEC? What’s on the agenda?

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in San Francisco is expected to be a jam-packed week of policy advancements, idea-sharing and diplomacy, including a critical meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Top priorities for the leaders of 21 economies — including the United States, the Russian Federation, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, South Korea, China and Mexico — will be some of the biggest challenges facing the world right now, including climate change, trade competition, equitable growth and grappling with new technologies like artificial intelligence.

Presidents or the country’s equivalent position will be appearing from:

Among other APEC members: Hong Kong is sending its financial minister, not its CEO; Taiwan is sending a special envoy; and Russia is sending officials, but not President Vladimir Putin, who is subject to U.S. sanctions.

This year’s summit will have an increased focus on how the private sector can work with governments, and 1,200 CEOs are expected to attend a business convention that will also run for part of next week. Here are some of the bold-faced names that will be speaking at the summit:

Inside the media room in Moscone Center

On Sunday, the media center was sparsely populated by international journalists, who were welcomed to San Francisco with information booths from the Asian Art Museum, the city tourism bureau and local snack samples including Thatcher’s Gourmet Popcorn and 4505 Burgers and BBQ’s bags of chicharrons. There was also a cable car and various San Francisco-themed heart sculptures.

What APEC could mean for S.F.’s image

The stakes are especially high for Mayor London Breed, who’s facing a tough re-election campaign next year and has been trying to push back on the narrative that San Francisco is a city in decline, beset by closing retail stores, homeless camps, public drug markets and hollowed-out downtown office buildings.

Before APEC, the city embarked on a beautification campaign that included taking down scaffolding around the Ferry Building, painting a pedestrian bridge in Japantown and decorating crosswalks in North Beach and Chinatown. But San Francisco’s image took another hit when  Czech journalists in town for APEC said they were robbed at gunpoint Sunday while filming in front of the iconic City Lights bookstore. — J.D. Morris