THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025
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Coalitions are not conspiracies, but neither are they necessarily better
The apparently inevitable vote to recall Sunset Supervisor Joel Engardio continues to inject more drama into the city’s Asian American and Democratic Party politics as mainstream media confirms our observation of operatives connected to Progressive Ōogosho Aaron Peskin taking over the campaign. State Senator Scott Wiener has also weighed in, in language that allowed some outlets to dismiss his observations as conspiracy theory.
Both approaches are wrong. What we’re seeing in the Sunset is the maintenance of a coalition built decades ago, not a conspiracy. Longtime political observers know that there are many coalitions in the city that share political goals for different reasons, and the united front of westside homeowner groups and Progressive poverty pimps that hold land use policy hostage in San Francisco is no exception.
The dynamics of this coalition’s attempts to co-opt Asian voters are nothing new either. One drama related to this may play out at the Democratic Central Committee next week. Richmond Supervisor Connie Chan, also a member of the committee, has put forth a resolution “condemning anti-Asian hate and racial scapegoating” for approval by the body.
The resolution frames “anti-Asian hate and racial scapegoating” exclusively in the context of Trump administration rhetoric seeking to paint Chinese Americans as potentially disloyal. While not without foundation, Asian Americans in San Francisco also continue to be concerned about more common criminals seeing them as easy pickings, and would prefer to see more focus on local public safety policy in Chan’s statement. But that’s probably a tall order for her since she’s part of the wrong coalition.
Look for a further exploration of this issue at The Voice in the coming days.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
ASIAN VOICES
Asian American values are American values
Part of a continuing series amplifying Asian voices in our city
by Garry Tan
Ididn’t grow up thinking of myself as political. Like a lot of Asian Americans, I grew up just trying to survive. I grew up in a country that never let me forget I didn’t quite belong.
I was born in Winnipeg to Chinese and Burmese immigrant parents who crossed continents for a shot at something better. We moved to the Bay Area in the early ’90s, settling in Fremont before it became the Fremont people talk about today. It wasn’t polished or prosperous yet, but it was livable. My parents saw something in it, just like they saw something in this country. They saw the promise, and they did what immigrants do: they bet everything on it.
TRANSPORTATION
S.F. taxi pilot program letting drivers accept Uber requests becomes permanent
Taxi drivers who participated in the pilot program say they earned more revenue.
by Jerold Chinn
CITY HALL
San Francisco’s budget: The grant program has ballooned with little oversight
One of the most dramatic and least scrutinized areas of San Francisco’s spending growth lies in the City Grant Program, money given to nonprofit organizations to deliver services on the city’s behalf.
by Marie Hurabiell
Quote of the week
“Just at a time where we should be doubling down on the investment in how AI could impact our health, everybody has hit pause, and this is going to slow down the discoveries that could really revolutionize health care just at a moment where we should be accelerating. That’s the most tragic part of this situation.”
— Dr. Deepak Srivastava of Gladstone Institutes on the impact of Trump administration cuts to the National Institutes of Health
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
STREETS
San Francisco pedestrian advocates push for new traffic safety plan from mayor
Traffic safety advocates are urging San Francisco officials to act swiftly on a new Vision Zero plan.
by Jerold Chinn
NEWS
Dr. Deepak Srivastava: NIH cuts threaten health, economy
The Gladstone Institutes’ director decries the effect of Trump administration cuts on biotech
by John Zipperer
A&E
Summer exhibitions dazzle at the Museum of Craft and Design
Works by artists inspired by astronomy and buttons are on display.
by Sharon Anderson
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EVENTS
Out and About May 22–28, 2025
What to do this week and beyond.
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
There’s lot going on to get you out and about to enjoy your long weekend from music and art, dance festivals, Pride celebrations, more, including Memorial Day commemorations.
Thursday, May 22
Tickets go on sale today for A Tribute to Emmylou Harris and 25 Years of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass on Oct. 2. The concert will feature Buddy Miller, Rosanne Cash, Shawn Colvin, and quite a few others, like Emmylou herself. All proceeds will benefit Bonaparte’s Retreat, Harris’s nonprofit dog rescue that helps neglected and forgotten senior dogs or those needing imminent medical care.
The Fort Mason Art Walk Summer 2025 is pushing the season a bit with the “summer” bit, but no matter, there will still be great things to be had, like pop-up artist talks, tours, workshops, exhibitions, and more. Free.
Mary Blair: Mid-Century Magic opens today at the Walt Disney Family Museum. Blaire’s whimsical work spanning multiple mediums is a legend in the Disney sphere and have been described as on par to Henri Matisse. The exhibition features nearly 150 of her artworks and historical photographs, art activities, and augmented reality interactives. Through Sept. 7. Tickets from $15.
Friday, May 23
Spend your Friday evening at Salsa in the Square with D.J. JuanLove’s music, with the help of Pablo Dinámico, who will teach a short class of Rumba, Timba, and Reparto, so you know what to do and how to move. Free.$49.
Listen to our podcasts
- Our commitment: No coverups at the Voice of San Francisco
- Barbara Lee, Daniel Lurie, and the importance of leadership
- There must be no room for fear in San Francisco
- FEMA money drying up, approval of a housing project on Mission, and trouble in the Parks Alliance
- Plus more (and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible or everywhere else you get your favorite podcasts)
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