THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026
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by Mike Ege
Editor in chief, The Voice of San Francisco
Manny Yekutiel is a man on a mission.
“I’m very interested in people. I used to try to spend Passover with my grandparents on the East Coast; it was the only time that we would really fly as a family, and I always used to beg my parents to let me sit next to strangers on the plane, because I wanted so badly to meet strangers,” the former commissioner, Mission district entrepreneur, civic impresario and now candidate for District 8 Supervisor told us in an interview this week.
That desire to reach out to people is reflected in how much his campaign has already done, and it’s not even July, which in past years was the start of the ground game for many races. Yekutiel says he’s already held 128 house parties in the district and expects to have held 200 by September. His campaign has already knocked on 5,000 doors.
That pace is an indicator of how consequential the District 8 race will be. It covers a territory representing both the geographic and ideological center of the city, a historical home to defining civil liberties struggles and to calls for “back to basics” neighborhood politics. Yekutiel, along with nonprofit executive and political consultant Gary McCoy, is a frontrunner in what is expected to be a close and hard-fought race.
Major figures have already stepped in with support for both sides. Yekutiel has the support of six current supervisors (three of whom have also endorsed McCoy, given the politics of ranked-choice voting), including current District 8 member and board president Rafael Mandelman; McCoy also has the support of his boss, Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi. Some heavy hitters, notably Mayor Daniel Lurie, have yet to weigh in.
There’s already been some major powermongering, especially because District 8 is swayed by the power of two heavyweight LGBTQ political groups, the progressive Harvey Milk Club and the liberal Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club.
Both have endorsed McCoy, but Alice’s early endorsement sparked controversy. Yekutiel has significant support among its members and base, while McCoy, a long-time board member of the club, was able to garner support for an early sole endorsement vote, which generated something of a “turf war,” according to insiders.
“I know he’s given a lot to the club, worked hard with that club, and so certainly going into the endorsement conversation, you know, there’s a lot there, but given that the endorsement of the current supervisor, the ground game we put on, I just thought it would have been nice to have a full process. I wish it could have gone differently, but I congratulate Gary on the early endorsement,” Yekutiel tells us. “It’s not that I don’t have respect for these clubs, but I only have so many hours in the day, and I’m choosing to spend as much of those hours in the district with district voters as possible.”
Look for more from Manny and other contenders here at The Voice in the coming weeks.
Speaking of supervisors, we’ve heard concerning news about John Avalos, who served on the board representing District 11 from 2008 to 2016. He is stepping down from the Democratic County Central Committee for health reasons.
“For the last several months, I have been managing a rare and serious medical condition that requires my full attention and care at this time,” Avalos wrote in his notice to the DCCC. “I did not make this decision to resign lightly.”
Avalos has asked DCCC Chair Nancy Tung to appoint as replacement “a strong, progressive Latina leader with a proven track record of service and accountability to vulnerable communities.”
Here’s hoping Avalos, outspoken but always cordial in person, gets the support and care he needs now.
Finally, we’d like to offer a shout-out to our contributors whose articles in The Voice were cited in the recent civil grand jury report on homelessness services: Susan Dyer Reynolds’s “Housing first, morgue second” series and Erica Sandberg’s story on 711 Post Street. Congratulations!
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
HOMELESSNESS
Civil grand jury charges weak oversight of S.F.’s homelessness system
Safety of supportive housing residents a particular concern
by Mike Ege
San Francisco’s civil grand jury released a report today saying the city’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) is failing to use the data it collects to hold service providers accountable and protect vulnerable residents. The report calls for significant reform.
TRANSPORTATION
New SFMTA program brightens up daylighted spaces with help from community groups
Under a new SFMTA pilot program, community organizations can add murals and planters to daylighted intersections with a goal of safety and beautification.
by Jerold Chinn
OPINION
Giants pitchers balk at team’s LGBTQ Pride Night uniform
The clash between sincerely held religious beliefs and an attempt to demonstrate corporate social responsibility to foster widespread local community values of diversity and acceptance has sparked heated debate and raised difficult questions.
by John Trasviña
Quote of the week
“HSH described Urban Alchemy’s 711 Post Street as a success based on its contractual service and outcome objectives. At the same time, community neighbors reported ongoing safety and quality of life issues were not considered or assessed by HSH”
—The San Francisco civil grand jury citing one of two articles from The Voice in its report on homelessness services, in “At Scale, At Risk
Upgrading Data and Oversight to Improve Homelessness Services”
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
OPINION
Two ways to play the gay card
Pride month gets examples from the Giants and a giant of entertainment.
by John Zipperer
A&E
A personal tribute to David Hockney: The artist who taught us how to see
“I want to know why you said that David Hockney was your favorite living painter,” she asked.
by Sharon Anderson
VOICE BOX
Don’t take away our Veterans Affairs Commission
‘At a time when veterans are struggling with housing, health care, mental health, employment, and access to earned benefits, we should be strengthening veterans’ representation not weakening it.
by Hanley Chan
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EVENTS
Out and about June 25–July 1, 2026
What to do this weekend and beyond.
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
t’s a busy, busy weekend out there with Pride celebrations and more from music, magic, and yes, more.
Thursday, June 25
As of earlier this week, the Gardens of the Golden Gate says Scarlet the Corpse Flower’s bloom is imminent. She’ll only be showy and smelly for two days, so be sure to reserve your timed entry tickets in advance (and be prepared for long wait times). Follow the Gardens of the Golden Gate on their livestream, Instagram, and Facebook, for Scarlet updates. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with special After-Hours tickets (5 to 9 p.m.) available once she blooms at the Conservatory of Flowers. Free admission for San Francisco residents.
Award-winning singer-songwriter Roberta Donnay and four members of The Prohibition Mob will perform a new show, From Bessie to Billie, honoring the pioneering women of the Jazz Age with vintage swing and smoky blues. 7 p.m. at the Keys Jazz Bistro. Tickets: $30.
I’m a big fan of the acclaimed Merola Opera Program, a tuition-free training program for rising opera stars. The program culminates with the Merola Summer Festival, which opens tonight with a vocal and piano recital of L’Anima Napoletana, songs celebrating “the lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and distinctive character of Southern Italy,” blending folk-inspired melodies with romantic harmonies. 7 p.m. at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Tickets: $75
Friday, June 26
Circus Bella is always all in for providing entertainment for the whole family with a troupe of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and clowns from the Bay Area and beyond, along with the six-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band. Noon (today) through Sunday (with an additional show at 2:15) at Great Lawn at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. Free.
San Francisco resident Andrew Evans is an internationally celebrated magician and mentalist who performed his first magic show here in the city at age 6. He eventually created his own magic theater, The Magic Patio. His new show, Andrew Evans: Magical Origins takes the audience on that journey and premieres new magic specifically designed for the venue. 7:30 p.m. at the Presidio Theatre through Sunday (2 p.m.). Tickets from $44.
Kick off Pride Weekend at the San Francisco Opera Pride Concert with the Opera Orchestra and featured guests performing a high-energy program with music by Michael Tilson Thomas, K.D. Lang, Brandi Carlile, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, and others. 8 p.m. at the War Memorial Opera House. Tickets from $30.
Saturday, June 27
If you missed the Pier Party at the Wharf earlier in the month, here’s another chance to enjoy premium craft cocktails, bistro-style seating, dancing, and more. Today, DJ Umami opens the party, followed by Bobby Friday, then Analog Dog performing “genre fluid music.” 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (visit the website above for performance schedule) at the Crab Wheel Plaza through Sept. 26. Free admission.
The San Francisco Pride Celebration begins today with multiple stages spaces, and themes from the Soul of Pride Stage, Leather Alley, lots of music, and more. Visit the link above for schedule. Noon to 6 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza through Sunday.
Sunday, June 28
The 56th annual Pride Parade is the big event today, starting at Market Street and Beale streets to Market and Eighth streets, and concluding in a celebration at Civic Center Plaza. 10:30 a.m. Free admission.
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