THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2025
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by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
D4 DRAMA CONTINUES: Last night, amid complaints of online bullying and race-baiting, the Joel Engardio Recall Horror Show showed up at the latest stop on its baleful tour, the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House.
The grand old building hosted the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, which found itself unable to take a position on the matter, with the vote split right down the middle between opposing the recall and those taking an affirmative “no endorsement” stance.
The body announced the vote as eleven votes against, eleven votes for no endorsement, and six abstentions. Immediately following, an unidentified political operative muttered the word “sh*t” under his breath loudly enough for the entire hall to hear, likely before skulking out a back door.
Shortly thereafter, the official stance of “no position” was announced, to the mass cheers of the scores of recall supporters who had attended and given over two emotional hours of public comment earlier.
It was clear that many members were torn between respect for the sore sentiment of constituents and party loyalty. Among the votes from local elected officials on the committee, a proxy for Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi voted to oppose the recall, while one for State Treasurer Fiona Ma, herself a former District 4 supervisor, voted for no endorsement.
In urging colleagues on the committee to vote no endorsement, Gordon Mar, Engardio’s predecessor as supervisor, said “much of his campaign for supervisor in 2022, and I had a front row seat for that one, was really built on fueling the divisiveness of the 2022 (school board and district attorney) recalls, but now he argues that he shouldn’t be subject to similar anger when it comes to neighborhood street issues, which he’s really stirred up.”
It was a statement people on both sides of the issue could concede was both cogent and infuriating.
Conventional wisdom has it that Engardio will lose his seat, and last night did nothing to change that, despite the massive campaign war chest he has amassed to fend off his recall. So what happens next?
At least one rumor going around is that if he is recalled, he will run for the job again. We’ll leave that one for the busboy to clean up later.
Other questions are who Mayor Daniel Lurie could appoint to replace Engardio, at least in the short term? The Standard’s politics newsletter listed several candidates last night, including perennial losing candidate David Lee and “real estate agent” Jessica Ho, who is perhaps better known in context as a former aide to then District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang. Tang has also been mentioned as a possible caretaker appointment.
The Standard mentioned another Sunset realtor as a possible candidate: Anthony Leung, who also had a high-profile post on Aaron Peskin’s recent campaign for mayor. Leung’s name has been persistent for months, not only due to his connection with Peskin, but also because he’s a scion of Joseph Leung, the publisher of Sing Tao Daily. In the post-recall environment, Leung may well be the one with the most ducks in a row.
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Top News
DRUGS
Housing first, morgue second
First in a series about San Francisco’s drug overdose crisis.
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
3,772 people have died of drug overdoses in San Francisco since 2020 — the top five providers account for 60 percent of fatalities inside permanent supportive housing
“HSH enters into agreements with vendors to run homeless facilities, but doesn’t have total control over the agreements because the nonprofits that operate the sites have their own, like, are their own entities.”
— Emily Cohen, deputy director for Communications & Legislative Affairs, San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, during Roe v. CCSF motion for preliminary injunction deposition, Aug. 25, 2025
While monthly drug overdose deaths in San Francisco are tracked regularly, The Voice of San Francisco wanted to do a deeper dive by tracking the numbers over the past five years. In this series, we will explore not only how many people have lost their lives to drugs (over 70 percent involved the deadly opioid fentanyl) but also where those deaths occurred. Here, we will examine the nonprofit providers contracted by the city’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.
HOMELESSNESS
Dogs and ghosts at the Civic Center Inn
Just blocks away from City Hall, tragedies were revealed as squatters are evicted from defunct hotel.
by Erica Sandberg
TRANSPORTATION
Clipper 2.0 launch remains uncertain despite rollout of BART open payment system
Bay Area transit riders and leaders are still waiting for a Clipper 2.0 launch date, even as BART now allows for credit and debit cards for fare payment.
by Jerold Chinn
Quote of the week
“Commissioner Matt Alexander added that the staff members believe that commissioners ask so many annoying questions and suggested that commissioners would be better served by asking questions at regular nonpublic briefings.”
— A school board member relays complaints of too many questions, in “‘Good governance’ planning may shrink the public’s voice in public schools.”
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
VOICE BOX
Trump is determined to clear encampments. Here’s how to do it right.
Sweeping humans down the street merely creates a momentary, hyper-local illusion of progress.
by Elizabeth Funk
EDUCATION
‘Good governance’ planning may shrink the public’s voice in public schools
Details emerge from a virtually closed-door Sunday morning school board meeting.
by John Trasviña
EDUCATION
Four ways to have better homework conversations with your teenager
Kids need your support to go deeper.
by Elizabeth Statmore
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EVENTS
Out and About
What to do this weekend
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
Looks like the weather will cooperate for enjoying some events outside, like music, a park festival, a walking tour, and more, like Shakespeare in the Park and an art fair. Inside, there are two theater productions to choose from and a wine celebration. Have a great long weekend.
Thursday, Aug. 28
Hokum Hotshots will play blues at Rincon Center as part of the People in Plazas summer music festival, as a nice way to spend your lunch break. Free.
Explore the neighborhood while supporting the community and small businesses at SOMA Nights, a monthly art, food, and cultural event on Folsom Street (between Sixth and 12 streets). Free.
Friday, Aug. 29
The cozy Hôtel Biron Wine Bar & Art Gallery wants to celebrate National Red Wine Day with you. Enjoy red wine from around the world and food, which sounds delicious, prepared by their guest chef, whose photography is displayed along with others in their gallery. 5 p.m. Wine: $11; food: free.
Magic Theatre’s Jerry Garcia/San Francisco/Dead music story, Jerry Garcia in the Lower Mission, explores the imagined childhood, memories, dreams, and ghosts of the folk and rock icon. Through Saturday. Tickets: $50
Two Sisters and a Piano is set in Havana in 1991, follows two sisters under house arrest — one a pianist, the other a writer — who use art as a refuge and as resistance, demonstrating the power of creativity in the face of oppression. The performance features live music and storytelling. Through Sunday. Tickets from $10.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Shakespeare in the Park will perform The Two Gentlemen of Verona in McLaren Park, which is sure to “show all the beauty of the sun.” In this adaptation, two young men travel from a small Midwestern town to California, and confront their inner conflicts and the possibility of “love, success, and reinvention.” Through Monday and Sept. 6–7. Free.
The Kings Mountain Art Fair is a personal favorite. What could be better than strolling through the redwoods? Strolling through the redwoods looking at exceptional artworks. This juried fair, in its 62nd year, has a reputation as one of the premier art events on the West Coast, and will feature over 120 artists. It’s also run wholly operated by volunteers, has a goal of zero waste, and supports the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade and Kings Mountain Elementary. All around win. Go early (8–10:30 a.m.) for breakfast (for purchase); fair opens at 10 a.m. Free.
Enjoy and be safe while you’re out and about.
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