THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, NOV. 6, 2025
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by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
Around the time you’re reading this, San Francisco’s newest District 4 Supervisor, Isabella Alcaraz, will be sworn in by Mayor Daniel Lurie at the Ortega Branch Library near 40th Avenue in the Sunset. Our intrepid Editorial Director Susan Dyer Reynolds got the tip late last night and broke the story on X.com.
Alcaraz’s appointment has some aspects that can best be described as interesting. District 4 residents have already been chafing over the votes at the Board of Supervisors as we advance, while the seat that ousted her predecessor, the recalled Joel Engardio, remained empty. And Alcaraz herself is an unusual choice, given her lack of political experience. While her Asian heritage and youth may work in her favor, she’s not exactly an open book.
It’s clear Lurie was under some pressure to make an appointment sooner than later, and that there was some preparation: A blog maintained by Alcaraz in the 2010s has been scrubbed along with some of her social media accounts. There’s no word yet on who her staffers will be at City Hall, but you can bet that at least one of them will be one of Lurie consultant Max Szabo’s LinkedIn connections. Needless to say, Alcaraz and her staff will be fielding lots of questions in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz, if she wants to keep her job, will have to stand for election twice next year, in June and November. So far, her likely most formidable opponents are also women: Progressive/labor soldier Natalie Gee and neighborhood activist Selena Chu. As an appointed incumbent, the odds are already against Alcaraz.
But then again, given all the curveballs that appeared all at once this week, who knows? We’re already witnessing the beginning of the long, loud, and fitful decline of the Donald Trump political enterprise. Additionally, with the retirement of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, the fight for the national face of that very real national political institution, christened long ago by Jeane Kirkpatrick, the San Francisco Democrats, is underway.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
CITY HALL
Supervisors’ committee sends mixed signals on business zoning
Largest industrial development in recent history cleared, but more hurdles for new small businesses
by Mike Ege
The Land Use Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors had a hectic day on Monday as they cleared for approval what will likely be the city’s largest industrial development project in recent history, along with more protections for legacy small businesses.
LAW AND ORDER
Tensions rise in two high-profile San Francisco cases
The killing of two Asian women continues to spark public outcry in emotionally charged trial, diversion hearing
by Liz Le
POLITICS
Back from the dead: The meaning of the Democrats’ rebound in Tuesday’s elections
Not only did Newsom pull off a win, he did what a leader does: Convince his electorate to do something they wouldn’t have done otherwise.
by John Zipperer
Quote of the week
“This case was an extremely high priority for us.The San Francisco Police Department poured resources into this case to get the suspect in custody and bring peace of mind to our youth, parents, and everyone else in San Francisco. We will never tolerate violence in our city, especially sexual violence. Moreover, we take crimes against minors extremely seriously, and we will do everything within our power to make sure the suspect, in this case, faces justice.”
— Interim Chief Paul Yep in Arrest announced in shocking assault on minor in Golden Gate Park
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
CULTURE
A night at the museum: Legion of Honor’s Halloween debut
Costumed revelers enjoy D.J.s, ‘haunted artworks,’ and other surprises
by Liz Le
CRIME
Arrest announced in shocking assault on minor in Golden Gate Park
Police are confident that there “is no further threat.”
by Mike Ege
A&E
‘Judith Schaechter: Super/Natural’ and ‘Wunderkammer: The Collection of Susan Beech’
An immersive meditation installation and an eclectic jewelry collection from two women artists
by Sharon Anderson
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EVENTS
Out and about Nov. 7–12, 2025
What to do this weekend and beyond
Looking for something to do? Several street festivals are coming up, featuring cider, street food, dance, and a tribute to Leonard Cohen. There are also some Veterans Day commemorations, chamber music, and more. Keep reading.
Thursday, Nov. 6
Noises Off is a slapstick comedy that follows a dysfunctional British theater troupe struggling to stage the farce Nothing On. Both onstage and behind the scenes are missed cues, misplaced props, and romantic entanglements. Through Saturday. Tickets from $52.
Friday, Nov. 7
The San Francisco Leonard Cohen Festival is a three-night tribute series with a different theme, performers, and venue each night, including A Conspiracy of Beards, a 30-plus a cappella all-male choir that exclusively performs Cohen’s songs. Through Sunday. Tickets from $40 and change.
Enjoy German food and drinks, games, live performances, and a lantern-lighted walk through the charming streets of Eureka Valley at the German Autumn Lantern Festival, which supports the German International School of Silicon Valley. Free admission.
Listen to our podcasts
- The battle is on to succeed Nancy Pelosi, the G.O.P. says it is going to court to stop Proposition 50 and we are truly at a political crossroads
- Is Newsom the big winner in the aftermath of the victory of Proposition 50 and what about driverless cars and their future?
- The political pot continues to boil in S.F. and beyond
- On this Halloween, celebrating the City of Souls: Colma
- Plus more (and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible or everywhere else you get your favorite podcasts)
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