In 2025, The Voice continued its mission of fearlessly exploring San Francisco’s most pressing issues with a clearer-eyed perspective. Our readership is growing, our team of writers is expanding, and we’ve received recognition from local media, including awards from the San Francisco Press Club for impactful reporting, such as our exposé of the deranged attitude of San Francisco’s public health bureaucracy and our coverage of the city’s housing policy debate.
In addition to those stories, we wanted to highlight other articles that resonated with readers. These are some of our most-read articles of the year — so here’s a shout-out to our contributors for their work! We appreciate your support in making these stories possible and meaningful for our community.
Grading for Equity coming to San Francisco high schools this fall, by John Trasviña
The San Francisco Unified School District attempted to implement a controversial “Grading for Equity” system across multiple high schools, prompting significant parent opposition over whether the policy truly addressed achievement gaps or simply masks them. This article garnered national attention when we published it in May, which prompted the district to pause the plan. Our investigative work helps hold authorities accountable and builds trust with our readers.
Exclusive: California Department of Corrections ignored serious felony violations in Troy McAlister case, by Susan Dyer Reynolds
In the months before Troy McAlister fatally struck and killed two pedestrians in San Francisco on Dec. 31, 2020, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and local parole agents repeatedly failed to act on serious parole violations that should have triggered a parole hold. Had CDCR and parole agents followed statutory procedures to revoke his parole, the deadly crash that killed Elizabeth Platt and Hanako Abe might have been prevented.
All Rise: San Francisco’s escalation is separate and unequal, by Erica Sandberg
While San Francisco shows signs of economic and cultural revival in some neighborhoods — with new shops, restaurants, and civic pride — many residents in areas like the Tenderloin, Mid- and South of Market, and parts of the Mission face ongoing challenges. These stories reveal the stark divide affecting our neighbors’ daily lives, emphasizing why local journalism matters to our community’s well-being.
Clipper 2.0 launch remains uncertain despite rollout of BART open payment system, by Jerold Chinn
In August, Bay Area transit riders still had no date set for the new Clipper 2.0 fare system, even as BART rolled out tap-to-pay with credit and debit cards. At a meeting, MTC’s electronic payments director cited remaining technical tasks and risks and declined to provide even a tentative transition timeline, leaving transit chiefs frustrated. Meanwhile, BART’s new open payment option showed that over 5 percent of trips, and 19 percent of SFO-related trips, were already being paid with bank cards. (The Next Generation Clipper system did finally roll out earlier this month, but not without some bugs.)
Tensions rise in two high-profile San Francisco cases By Liz Le and J. Richard
Two emotionally charged criminal cases in the San Francisco Superior Court involving the killings of Asian women are both drawing significant public attention and controversy. Both cases underscore rising tension and public scrutiny in San Francisco’s criminal justice process, especially when cases involve violent deaths of Asian elders and complex courtroom dynamics, from self-representation to controversial diversion decisions.