Major questions for school district leaders after the teachers’ strike
Following the settlement of San Francisco’s first teacher strike in 47 years, which closed schools for five days, Superintendent Maria Su and the school board face critical questions that will shape the district’s success, resources, and future. Meanwhile, the district remains under the watchful eyes of the state Department of Education, whose cooperation and…
Two felonies, one essay, one murder
A San Francisco judge granted pretrial diversion to a man arrested with a loaded pistol, ordering a gun safety course and a “reflective essay.” Thirty-six days later, he allegedly murdered…
BART’s doomsday gambit: Pay up or lose your station
I grew up taking BART. As a working-class kid taking BART from my home in Fremont to U.C. Berkeley for my first computer science classes, or to San Francisco to…
Out and about Feb. 26–March 4, 2026
From music to dance to flowers, authors on tour, and more, here are my picks for the upcoming days. Thursday, Feb. 26 Although I usually focus on events in our fine city, there are three reasons why I’m including the climate crisis After Happy production in Berkeley. First, it’s a…
California Governor’s race: Too many choices?
Last Friday, the California Democratic Party kicked off its convention in San Francisco with what can only be described as a binge-watching session of fireside chats, as local party chair Nancy Tung interviewed all nine Democratic hopefuls in the race for California governor at the Commonwealth Club downtown. By the…
Carly Schwartz: From San Francisco to Panama and back home
You don’t need to move to the jungle to learn about yourself, but sometimes it helps. I met Carly Schwartz on March 30, 2012, when she was a panelist on a political roundtable I hosted. Schwartz, founding editor of the San Francisco bureau of HuffPost, appeared alongside political scientist Dr.…
The Museum of Craft and Design bridges media and material in ‘Video Craft’
The Museum of Craft and Design (MCD) presents Video Craft, an exhibition exploring the unlikely partnership between the heavily embodied practices of craft and the…
Group working to reform city charter proposes to cut funding for sports, libraries, arts, and music
A proposal to cut funding for sports, libraries, arts, and music in the San Francisco Unified School District is working its way through the city bureaucracy, and it must be stopped in its tracks. When…
Supervisors mull future of Post Street shelter
For Part 1, click here. Outside the shelter While the array of services at 711 Post Street may be attractive to those within, the residents and businesses outside have been suffering from the fallout. Lower…
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“Short-Term Fix,” By Nomi Kane | @Nomikane
The ghost in the room: A journey from the streets to sobriety
In San Francisco, we are told that “Housing First” is the ultimate cure. But for years, I lived on the dark side of that promise. I was awarded a Section 8 voucher — the “golden ticket” — but without accountability, it became a license to disappear into my addiction. When…
The antidote to disrespect is self-respect
It was almost too dark to see this morning near Lowell when a group of teachers were setting up a canopy to protect against the rain that had just started falling. I overheard a dispute about how the canopy’s legs should be arranged and the best angles to use. Somebody…
Hey SFUSD: Can’t manage your budget? The state wants to step in to help
A little-noticed provision of the proposed California state budget requires greater accountability in the San Francisco Unified School District and county budgets. Unlike most other school districts, there is no independent oversight of the school district’s budget. Most school districts must have their budgets reviewed and approved by an independent…
Diversion graduates gone wrong: Five cases
San Francisco had five attempted murders last July; four of them are in mental health diversion
Supervisors adopt Sunset District shuttle final report, but funding remains a concern
San Francisco supervisors have cleared the way for transportation planners to seek funding for a potential community shuttle serving residents of District 4. Sitting as…
Overwhelming bipartisan federal support for housing action
Momentum continues to build in Washington for an omnibus approach to the nation’s housing challenges. The Housing for the 21st Century Act is, of course,…
From historic hostel to overcrowded, drug-saturated homeless shelter
Lower Nob Hill was once best known for its classic San Francisco architecture, relatively affordable residential properties, and thriving businesses. Travelers, especially those wanting easy,…
California schools face a new budget hit: Soaring insurance costs after sex abuse lawsuits
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Since California made it easier for sexual abuse survivors to sue government agencies, victims have brought…
Southland stories run the gamut
While Las Vegas, Nev., and Branson, Mo., have each co-opted the title in recent years, Los Angeles was touted as the Entertainment Capital of the…
Welcome the Year of the Horse with the Chinese Culture Center
The Chinese Culture Center will transform the 600 block of Grant Avenue into an “Art Zone” to usher in the Lunar New Year and the…
Best burritos and tacos in San Francisco
“First stop in San Fran. A mission burrito at La Taqueria,” John Zannis, president of CLNS Media Boston Sports Network, posted on the social media…
Art Week S.F.: The glitz, the glitches, and the tax deductions
Art Week in San Francisco was a 10-day onslaught of fairs, galleries, and museums kneeling at the altar of what makes us most human: tax…
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