THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2025
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by Mike Ege
Editor in chief, The Voice of San Francisco
At this rate, the race for California governor this year could be its own streaming series, with its chaotic plot twists, seemingly still wide-open rankings, and bizarre missteps. And that’s just looking at the frontrunners, and not the rest of the 61 hopefuls for the job.
Conventional wisdom continues to have Republican Steve Hilton making it past June’s “jungle primary,” with the other spot going to one of two leading Democrats: the former Obama cabinet member Xavier Becerra and self-funded billionaire Tom Steyer.
At a time when you would think the popular backlash to letting the rich run things would figure in this race, especially on the very left side of things, the Democratic Socialists of America and League of Pissed-Off Voters are backing billionaire Steyer. So is Jane Fonda, coincidentally after the former hedge fund founder donated over $300 thousand to her political action committee.
No Kings, indeed.
Meanwhile, in a preview of the power politics of November’s supervisorial races, the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club is set to endorse its longtime board member and HealthRight360 V. P. Gary McCoy for the District 8 seat, but not before what one of our sources called “a raging turf war” had to be won. McCoy is running against local impresario and former SFMTA board member Manny Yekutiel and civil rights lawyer and Democratic Central Committee member Michael Nguyen.
Speaking of DCCC members: Labor lawyer and SFPUC President Josh Arce is a man of many hats. He’s the new executive director of the California Alliance for Jobs, a statewide association of construction companies and unions focused on infrastructure investment.
Finally, some more on last Friday’s passing of Jack Davis, the larger-than-life campaign manager who helped define the 1990s and 2000s politically in San Francisco: Willie Brown told us that Davis insisted on leaving hospice care in his Mission District condo to have lunch with Brown one last time at Sam’s. Davis died in his San Francisco home but is being buried in his other home in Cowbridge, Wales, along with his beloved dog Chiquita, who passed in 2021.
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This article has been updated.
Top News
DRUGS
Housing First, Morgue Second, Part 3: the top 99 sites for SF overdose deaths
Since 2020, there have been 1,081 drug overdose deaths at these 99 locations — nearly 75 percent were in Permanent Supportive Housing. Third in a series about San Francisco’s drug overdose crisis.
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
In part two of our series Housing First, Morgue Second, we revealed that 4,090 people have died from accidental drug overdose in San Francisco between 2020 and 2025, and that nearly one in four of those deaths occurred inside Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). For part three we broke down the 99 locations where the majority of those deaths occurred and discovered a disturbing trend — of 1,081 overdose deaths at those 99 locations, 73 percent happened inside just 68 PSH sites run by a few key providers.
HOUSING
Melgar, Lurie push restart button on affordable housing ‘grand bargain’ with new ballot measure
Voters will need to approve a $3 billion sop to nonprofit developers to accompany concessions to ease building
by Mike Ege
EDUCATION
Much like a student being sent to the principal’s office, San Francisco Schools Superintendent Maria Su has been summoned to Washington, D.C. next month to testify before a Congressional committee.
by John Trasviña
Quote of the week
“We also asked Grok to update the scores based on 2026 publicly available data regarding supervisors’ housing status (rent/own) and level of education. It struggled with the housing element — for example, stating that Shamann Walton was a “confirmed renter” when a Marina Times exposé proved his primary residence is in Vallejo. That’s one of those gray areas that the wheel can’t cope with, and neither could Grok.“
— Susan Dyer Reynolds applies SFUSD’s “Power Wheel” to Mayor Lurie and the Board of Supervisors. The brain-bending results are at “San Francisco ninth graders will now be measured by a controversial ‘Wheel of Power’ — so how would the city’s leaders fare? We put them to the test.”
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
CITY HALL
Politico behind S.F.’s controversial sanctuary city amendment is back in business
Say hello to Sheila Chung Hagen. Or rather, hello again.
by Erica Sandberg
REYNOLDS RAP
City Hall cut Jennifer Friendebach out of the homelessness conversation, so why does the media continue to give her airtime?
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
POLITICS
Jack Davis, San Francisco’s ‘Election Knight,’ 1949-2026
At once flamboyant and private, political consultant was instrumental in the election of three San Francisco mayors
by Mike Ege
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EVENTS
Out and about May 21–26, 2026
What to do this weekend and beyond
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
It’s a full three-day weekend ahead to enjoy from a Memorial Day commemoration to night markets, street fairs, free community days, and more. Read on for some ideas.
Thursday, May 21
Sunset Mercantile presents Cole Valley Nights: Cinema in the Valley, the inaugural Cole Valley All-Ages Short Film Fest with the theme “Summer Thrillers.” 4 to 9 p.m. at Cole Street between Carl and Parnassus streets. Free admission; reserve a spot here.
LionDanceMe will perform at tonight’s Third Thursdays on Treat, which will celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Also on the lineup is a D.J. set by Kendo, local vendors, a candle-making class, and more, like food from the popular Senior Sisig food truck. 5 p.m. at Treat Cut. Free admission.
Hear José Andrés, the World Central Kitchen founder and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs. 7:30 p.m. at the Sydney Goldstein Theater. Tickets from $54.
Friday, May 22
A new exhibition is opening today at the California Academy of Sciences: Vivid: Immerse Your Senses, a first-of-its-kind multisensory experience that renders six unique ecosystems in larger-than-life detail through ultra-“high-resolution video projections, ambient soundscapes, and nature-inspired scents” to create a transportive, full-body journey through some of Earth’s most mysterious realms. That means you can experience what it’s like to swim with sperm whales, and explore other realms, including smell nature-inspired scents, and have interactive animal avatars as guides. Tickets from $39.
FoodieLand Night Market, inspired by Asia’s open-air night markets, is an outdoor, family-friendly food festival featuring 175 vendors representing foods and flavors from around the world, along with entertainment, live music, and more. 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. through Sunday at the Cow Palace. Tickets: $12.
Celebrate Harvey Milk Day and gather outside of Queer Arts Featured art gallery, previously Harvey Milk’s camera shop, with music and speakers, and join a procession to Jane Warner Plaza. Free admission.
Saturday, May 23
Carnaval S.F takes over 17 blocks of the Mission District today with five main stages and five D.J. block parties, 50 local performing artists, and 400 vendors, plus a grand parade (Sunday) led by Brazilian soccer legend Romário Ku broadcast live on kpix.com. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday. Visit the link above for a schedule of events. Free admission.
Sunday, May 24
Today is a Free Community Day at SFMOMA. Visitors will have full access to the entire museum, including the new special exhibition, Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal.
And tonight is the Opening Party of the 4th Annual San Francisco AAPI Cocktail Week, celebrating AAPI bars, bartenders, and community. This year’s theme is “Spice Routes,” highlighting ingredients and flavors of AAPI cultures and regions. Tonight will feature Bangkok’s Bar Us and Kuala Lumpur’s Penrose and includes cigar rolling and bites from The Happy Crane. 6 to 10 p.m. at Pacific Cocktail Haven. Tickets: $162; passes available.
Notable next week
Monday, May 25
Today is National Parks Day, so head over to Muir Woods or down to the Maritime National Historical Park at the Hyde Street Pier to tour the historic vessels — admission will be free.
The Presidio will host its 159th Memorial Day Commemoration to honor those who have died while serving in the U.S. armed forces. The program will include a rifle volley, musical performances, and distinguished speakers. Following the ceremony, there will be a meditative piano concert with Alla Gladysheva at the Interfaith Center. 10:30 a.m. to noon at the San Francisco National Cemetery. Free admission.
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