This week at City Hall: evictions, data centers and another Bruce Lee homecoming
San Francisco’s City Hall returns to business this week with a busy agenda that touches on some of the city’s most contentious issues: housing costs, artificial intelligence, historic preservation, police accountability, and sexual assault. Here are the meetings and issues worth watching: Monday: Rent emergency, data centers and Compton’s Cafeteria The Board of Supervisors’…
When Sexual Assault Allegations Become Political Ammunition
Sexual assault is a grave offense. Allegations of sexual assault demand serious attention, thorough investigation, and accountability when wrongdoing is established. They should never be dismissed because the accused is…
Fact check: Could California lawmakers expand the billionaire tax to everyone?
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Opponents of Proposition 40 have a message for voters: Don’t be fooled. The billionaire tax is a “Trojan horse” for new…
Woman attacked by dog in Tenderloin lied to police: Sources say she was ‘watching it for a friend’ against her boyfriend’s wishes
I have been writing about the lack of enforcement on the homeless and their mistreated, out of control dogs for decades. As a pit bull advocate and rescuer, it pains me to see they are the dog of choice for drug addicts, dog fighters, and other criminals. All four of…
Out and about Oct.1–7, 2026
Lots of music over the next few days, plus film showcasing music. There’s also art, dance, opera, and more, including the opening of Fleet Week. Read on for my picks. Thursday, Oct. 1 Renée Fleming Sings Strauss will feature the award-winning soprano performing a program of Richard Strauss (Four Last…
Clipper 2.0 fixes continue as nearly 4 million cards transition to new system
After a disheveled rollout of the Bay Area’s public transit fare payment system last December, transit leaders are cautiously optimistic that the contracted vendor and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) will complete the remaining fixes before decommissioning the old fare payment system. Officials at the MTC, which oversees and administers…
The Museum of African Diaspora announces three new fall exhibitions
The Museum of African Diaspora (MoAD) announces its fall exhibitions featuring Oakland-based artist and muralist Dewey Crumpler: Sonic Lineages, Richmond-based artist Dorian Reid: Calling All…
Three D10 candidates signal endorsement pact, echoing D8 alliance
Shawn Richard, one of 10 candidates running for San Francisco’s District 10 supervisor seat, told The Voice he plans to endorse fellow candidates DJ Brookter and JR Eppler. Sources close to the other campaigns confirmed…
Sunset Boulevard recycled water project moves ahead
San Francisco is moving ahead with a project to replace drinking water used to irrigate Sunset Boulevard’s landscaped medians and green spaces with recycled water, a change city officials say will conserve water and help…
Double your impact and support quality journalism
Help us keep The Voice of San Francisco free. Every dollar you donate will be matched—doubling your impact. Support our growth and contribute to quality journalism. Donate now! Your donation is tax-deductible.
by Nomi Kane | @Nomikane
The insiders selling Measure RTM
Can we trust the sales pitch when the same interests help write the tax measure, finance the campaign, and produce the research telling us to approve it? That is the question behind Measure RTM, a projected $17 billion sales-tax increase to fund Bay Area transit on November ballots. Follow the…
The AI hydra: Controversy about everything, everywhere all at once
So, this nearly happened, as told in a recent headline: “AI hallucination of Chinese nuclear components almost led to US military attack.” The fact that an artificial intelligence made a possibly grave error is less interesting than the fact that the American military is apparently deploying bad AI in mission-critical…
Yes, we can save transit with capital funds
Can Bay Area transit be saved from major service cuts next year without a tax increase by redirecting capital funds to operations? Advocates of the Bay Area transit sales tax are dismissive, and now a senior transportation policy advisor at SPUR, Sebastian Petty, has echoed their skepticism. But the pro-tax…
The best of us: Joshua Wong versus the CCP
From Hong Kong comes the news that pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has pleaded guilty to further political charges and is facing anywhere from 3 to 10 additional years — and possibly life. Wong, now 29 years old, has been harassed and arrested by China’s Communist Party (CCP) for years as…
Protesters gather outside OpenAI DevDay conference in San Francisco
Approximately 50 people gathered Tuesday to protest the San Francisco-based artificial intelligence company OpenAI and its cofounder and CEO, Sam Altman. The demonstration, titled “No…
Lurie tightens Flock camera rules amid backlash; Haney proposes criminal penalties for misuse
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced Tuesday that the city will impose tighter controls on its use of Flock Safety license plate reader cameras, arguing…
Comedy roots and flourishing branches
That proverb about mighty oaks growing from tiny acorns came to mind after watching the new documentary You Had to Be There: How the Toronto…
City Hall highlights: Palmer defenestration begins; Mahmood looks to clean up projects; settling airline labor gripes; Flower Market changes
San Francisco supervisors this week will take the first formal steps toward removing Sheriff’s Oversight Board President William Palmer, whose alleged abuses of office, history…
Asian Art Museum presents a celebrated Korean painter in ‘Ha Chong-Hyun: Retrospective’
The pioneering Korean contemporary artist Ha Chong-Hyun is the subject of a retrospective at the Asian Art Museum, his first major North American museum exhibition.…
San Francisco Open Studios returns for its 52nd year
ArtSpan’s San Francisco Open Studios is back for its 52nd run, with ArtSpan once again building a bridge for artists and aficionados to meet. Like…
When treachery abounds, entertainment resounds
Betrayal is disheartening and debilitating, unless it’s happening to someone in a movie. Then, it’s diverting. For example, The Weight is a tension-loaded drama that…
Fort Mason Center turns historic loading docks into massive sunrise-to-moonrise mural
Created in the passageway between Landmark Buildings B and C at Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture is a new 18-panel public mural by…
Listen to the Voice
The Voice of San Francisco produces podcasts covering the people and issues of interest to San Francisco. Monday through Friday, John F. Rothmann hosts his Voice podcast featuring his take on the hot issues in the City by the Bay.
Subscribe to these podcasts wherever you get your favorite podcasts, or listen to them on our podcast player below.